Published on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 by Ask Fran This photograph of a rare double wedding in Malaysia is my absolute favorite photo of a double wedding anywhere in the world!  Photographer Asrul Sani has done a wonderful job of capturing the ambiance of this most exquisite day! Planning a double wedding with your sister or best friend can and you save half the price of your wedding right from the beginning.  Th...

Published on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 by Fran Hansen Gone are the days of the bride's family paying for the wedding, or the groom's parents getting off of the hook completely! Today's couples are actually picking up a greater portion of the wedding costs themselves rather than going to their parents. The first step in coming up with your wedding budget is to sit down together with a pencil, paper and a calculator. Fi...

Published on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 by Ask Fran As a bride-to-be, one of the most difficult decisions you will face will be to determine the number of attendants you should have.  Obviously, there will need to be fewer attendants than guests, even though you don’t want to make any of your family or friends feel left out. Think about who you want to be closest to you during the preparation and the celeb...

Published on Friday, December 4, 2009 by Fran Hansen When trying to save money and still have an amazing wedding, seriously think about scheduling your nuptials for the "off season!" During the off-season, reception venues are typically less expensive for obvious reasons. There are not nearly as many brides competing for the space - meaning you have a greater chance for a discount. Of course, off-season depends en...

Published on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by Fran Hansen Plan your wedding for a Friday or Sunday night and save big bucks!  Saturdays are obviously the most popular day for weddings – but popular comes at a premium price. Unbelievable but true, if you were to decide on a mid-week wedding at your favorite hotel or reception venue you could save as much as 35% off the Saturday evening bid for the exact same services an...

Published on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 by Ask Fran Little girls all dream about their perfect wedding with lots of guests, an extravagant dress and beautiful flowers. Unfortunately the dream and the costs involved don’t always meet eye to eye. Having a sit-down meal as well as providing the drinks or having an open bar can add up to a massive amount at the end of the day. Removing just a few people from you...

Published on Sunday, January 18, 2009 by Ask Fran Have your wedding at home !  An old fashioned idea, but one that is coming back strong, thanks to the economy and THANKS to good common sense!  Home weddings are perfect for an intimate ceremony and reception. Candles, flowers and soft music set the stage for a romantic evening wedding. Whether your wedding is held in your own home or that of a close frien...