Seasonal Splendor-Use the Seasons to Save Money on Your Wedding

If you haven't chosen a theme for your wedding, consider using the natural season of the time of year to beautifully unify everything in your wedding from color to flowers, decor and food. By using the bounty of what is available during the seasons- winter, spring, summer and fall- you'll be able to decorate beautifully while saving a fortune.

If you know at least a year ahead of time what date you'll be getting married you can save even more money by purchasing seasonal items on clearance- ribbons, specialty papers, napkins, plates, candles, silk flowers, fall theme specialties like artificial leaves, or Christmas lights and decorations (if you are having a seasonal/Christmas wedding).

By incorporating seasonal flowers and foods you can take advantage of cheaper prices and use locally grown crops to save on special orders and shipping.

Winter Weddings

Use seasonal items like pine cones, pine boughs, holly and mistletoe in floral arrangements and decorations, you'll save money because they are readily available.

Winter wonderland themes can incorporate items like mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, ice skates, icicles and snowflakes into decorating.

Christmas themes are beautiful and can use a multitude of holiday decorations and themes from a red and green color scheme to wrapped favors, candy canes, egg nog or Christmas cookies. Christmas lights can be bought cheaply and used to elegantly decorate your location.

Enjoy the rich sumptuous fabrics of winter: velvet, cashmere, warm wools and rich knits.

Add elements of the season to your menu, spiced warm cider, coffees with liqueurs, spiked egg nog, and foods you associate with the holidays.

For a New Year's wedding consider having a black tie affair. Everyone loves to get dressed up on that night. Include New Year's Eve party favors instead of other favors. Make it an elegant event by using bold black, white and red color schemes or just black and white. Perhaps add another element of glamour and make it a vintage Hollywood theme.

For a Valentine wedding go all out with hearts and cupids, and a color scheme of red, white and pink. For a real unique Valentine wedding consider a Victorian theme. Victorian Valentines were the epitome of romance, cupids, flowers, lace...

Spring Weddings

The splendor of spring can manifest in so many ways from fresh blooms of lilac or hyacinths to Easter eggs and baskets.

Bulb flowers are a plenty during this time of year: tulips, daffodils, etc. Use these in your bouquets and flower arrangements.

A May wedding could use maypoles and ribbons for unique centerpieces or tiny favors.

Pastel colors are great for this time of year, use pastels in your color scheme for dresses, decorations and more.

Menus in spring could include light salads and deviled eggs.

Summer Weddings

Summer is a great time to have outdoor weddings from a day in the park to a ceremony on the beach, enjoy the warm summer sun.

Think of barbeques and picnics and use these as themes for your wedding, especially for an informal affair. Include a menu of grilled foods and summer specialties like potato salad.

Wildflowers are abloom, use these in floral bouquets and centerpieces.

Use seasonal foods or consider having a cool menu of finger foods, cold smoothies, cold punch or an ice cream buffet.

Other seasonal foods for summer include fresh picked berries, melons, corn on the cob, tomatoes, pepper and zucchini.

Have fun in the sun with bright colors.

Use summer elements like beach balls or sunglasses in your decorations.

Fall Weddings

Fall is a truly rich time to plan a wedding, the beautiful rich colors, the bounty of the Autumn harvest, you have many options.

Incorporate the rich fall colors into your color scheme; burnt oranges, deep reds and burgundies, rich purples, forest green, golden yellows.

Autumn foods include squash, pumpkins, apple dishes, apple cider, sweet potatoes, grapes and dishes made with roast vegetables.

Use squash, gourds and pumpkins in your decorating along with fall foliage and branches.

Consider a Halloween theme that could incorporate the fun of the holiday along with an orange and black color scheme or kick it up a notch and hold an elegant masquerade ball.

Have your flower girl leave a trail of leaves instead of flower petals.

Consider having your wedding near Thanksgiving and serve a traditional feast of turkey, stuffing, potatoes and pie. You'll save a fortune on catering, especially if you have a family member do the cooking.

~ Wenona Napolitano

Wenona Napolitano, married mother of three, is a freelance writer, poet, editor and small business owner. She is also a certified floral designer and trained bridal consultant.