Whether you want to get married on a beach (I did, and it was fantastic) on in a church, in front of hundreds, you can save big money and still get her dream wedding with a bit of effort.

So, you’ve finally proposed to your gal.  She’s sporting a fiery, new rock Gibraltar would be proud of.  Now comes the stressful part (okay, maybe not so much for you).  You want to throw the wedding of her dreams, but you’re not Donald Trump’s kid.  What do you do? Heck, even The Donald’s kids probably have limits, so let’s find a way you can have your dream wedding without breaking the bank, no matter how small it might be.

You may be fortunate enough to have “pops” financing the whole shebang, but more couples are delaying their nuptials until their 30′s now, and that may not really be an option any longer. If you can’t enjoy the luxury of a spectacular wedding, all expenses paid, or if you’d like to spare your future father-in-law a call to his broker, you’ll need to get a bit creative. You can still have her dream wedding, but just calling the wedding planner and reading off your list isn’t going to cut it.

Recent statistics say the average wedding costs $20,000. In today’s economy, that’s a pretty big chunk of change.  Most young girls dream of the fairy tale wedding:  long white gown, 8 bridesmaids, a sit-down dinner, the band everyone dances to long into the night, and reception stories the relatives are regaled with for generations. You know, the whole shebang.

Many brides have been dreaming about their wedding day since childhood, and your new fiance is probably no different. Unfortunately, these dreams come with an expensive price tag and the realization of their fairytale day may be a reach, at best. Although weddings are very costly today, her dream day can happen. There are some ways to cut corners and save money without making huge sacrifices.

By taking the time to plan and investigate, you will be amazed at the amount of money that you save. Would you arrive at an interview for your dream job without prior preparation? No, you would not and that is why preparation and research will make your wedding a success without re-mortgaging the house!
It’s only natural to want the Cinderella fantasy wedding, complete with ice sculptures, a heavenly cake, and thousands of guests who’ve flown in from around the world to enjoy the accompanying dinner. It’s only human to cry at the bill that this dream can rack up.

Costs can add up quickly, and they surely will if you’re not exercising the kind of restraint that’s possibly kept you from doing all sorts of other things before the wedding.  Factor in the meal, the liquor, the music, the dress, the flowers, the photographer, the venue, the decorations and the dream wedding can seem way out of your league.  But it doesn’t have to be, if you attack the problem with the skill of a surgeon.

How can the average person have a beautiful wedding with all the bells and whistles on a working person’s salary?  Perhaps the three letters/words that say it best are – DIY (do it yourself!) Thanks to the Internet, research on where and how to get things for less in your area is but a mouse click, and a keyboard stroke away. Creativity is key here.

Spending your life savings on a big wedding day is just plumb crazy. Fortunately,you can have that elegant, beautiful wedding, just like she’s been dreaming of since she was still playing with her Barbie, without breaking the bank. In addition, financial planners say going deep into debt just as you’re starting your family is a recipe for financial disaster. Remember, you’ll have a myriad of other expenses coming along soon enough, especially if you’re planning on a few little ones, and possibly buying a home for all to live in.

Having a cheap wedding doesn’t mean giving up style or sentimentality. It means using your imagination, and enlisting your own hands or the help of friends and family.  Ask anyone you know to help out, and be creative.  Almost everyone will be happy to oblige.  They’ll be part of your special day which makes them special as well! These days, there’s no shame in trying to save money; in fact, it’s looked upon as good, old common sense!

This book will give you the best tips and tricks from the experts to cut costs without cutting class and sophistication.  No one will know that your budget only equals the monthly grocery bill of a family of 4.  It’s a secret you and your gal can just keep under the pillow. They’ll be oblivious as they toast the new couple and enjoy a party to put all other party’s to shame!

We’ll explore ways to save on all aspects of your wedding.  Don’t think you have to give up anything because it can all be covered.  All it takes is the cooperation of your family and friends coupled with a little positive self-talk and perseverance.

I know a gal who’s been married twice (don’t worry, she got it right the second time!)  For both of her weddings, she had amazing ceremonies and receptions for around $2,000.  They were the talk of the town both now and then.  Grab your copy of the book (hey, it’s FREE!), I will tell you what she did to save money and still have an amazing wedding/reception.  Hopefully, you can gain some insight into a dream event for not a lot of money – just like she had!

Don’t worry, I’ll show you how to throw a dream wedding on a shoestring budget! Sign up for the ProposeToYourGirlfriend Newsletter, over in the sidebar on the right, and get the entire book, How to Save Big Money on Your Dream Wedding Without Being Cheap, on how to throw a wedding that will be the envy of all your friends (or at least hers),  for pennies on the dollar.

You’ll not only get the entire book, a $9.95 value in itself, but a few times each month you’ll get all kinds of other ideas on how to make your wedding and honeymoon extra special, without dipping into that stash you’ve got set aside for your annual golf trip.

Just proposed and want to get married in Las Vegas? You are not alone, buster....

Are you thinking about getting married in Las Vegas? If so, you’re certainly not alone. More than 110,000 couples get married in Las Vegas every year. While not all of them get married in a chapel by Elvis, many people who want to get married in Las Vegas do so because they want to get married fast. Sometimes there is a bit too much liquid courage involved in their decision.

On other occasions however, it’s the mystique of getting married in the same chapel where such celebrities as Jon Bon Jovi, Kelly Ripa, Carmen Electra, and Lorenzo Lamas (no, not all to each other) tied the knot. In Vegas, you can get married at almost a moment’s notice, in an old fashioned church, or in one of the many themes wedding chapels strewn throughout the city.

What are the requirements to get married in Las Vegas?  According to the Clark County court, who has authority over such things, you need the following:

Non U.S. citizens should check with your local officials for special documents that may be needed to ensure that your marriage will be recognized in your country.

Applicants must be a male and a female, at least 18 years of age, and not nearer of kin than second cousins or cousins of half blood, and not having a husband or wife living.

Applicants may be required to prove their age. Those not having acceptable identification to prove age may be refused a marriage license. Faxed copies, damaged identification, privately issued I.D., check cashing cards or photocopies of identification are unacceptable.

Social Security Numbers are required on the Affidavit of Application for a Marriage License. Please know your Social Security Number. Those without knowledge of their Social Security Number may be refused a marriage license.  It is recognized that non U.S. citizens will not have a Social Security Number.
There is no blood test and no waiting period after a license is issued.

If you hail from a country outside of the U.S., but feel the need for speed, you’ll be pleased to discover that there is no difference in the requirements for U.S. citizens and non citizens.

If either of you are divorced, you need only know the exact date of your divorce, and it must be final, but you don’t need to bring it with you to get your marriage license.

What are some of the more popular wedding chapels in Las Vegas?

Graceland Wedding Chapel is certainly near the top of the list. I have even attended a wedding there myself, and no, it wasn’t my own. Rocker Jon Bon Jovi did attend his own ceremony there, however. So did music and TV star Miley Cyrus’ dad, Billy Ray. If you want to get married by Elvis, The Graceland is the chapel for you.

Another top Las Vegas Wedding Chapel is The Little Church of the West. Like the Graceland Chapel, it has had its share of celebrities get married there. Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton got hitched there, as did Betty Grable, Mickey Rooney, and Dudley Moore. It is the oldest of the “quickie” wedding chapels, opening its doors all the way back in 1942, when Vegas as we know it today didn’t really exist.

Another option if you want to get married in a Vegas chapel is the Chapel of the Flowers. This is one of the nicer chapels, and it’s right on the Las Vegas strip. Brides magazine even picked the Chapel of the Flowers as “The most beautiful and private wedding chapel in Las Vegas, without comparison.” That’s pretty high praise from a magazine that tends to know about such matters. Who has shared their sentiments? Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra were married at the Chapel of the Flowers.

One more chapel in Vegas that has gotten some well deserved attention is the Little White Wedding Chapel. The LWWC has an actual drive through tunnel, for God’s sake! It has also been hosting weddings on the Vegas strip for decades, and many celebrities have gotten hitched there. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Micheal Jordan, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, and Joan Collins are just a few of the celebrities whose weddings have taken place at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

Weather you’re looking at getting married in Las Vegas because you’ve always wanted to, you wanted to share in the celebrity mystique, or because you found the girl of your dreams and proposed last night, there are many options and few restrictions. That’s why Las Vegas has long been a favorite of people that want to get married sooner, rather than later.