This summer, Wedding Paper Divas teamed up with Beau-Coup to host a contest in which engaged couples submitted their best recession-friendly wedding planning ideas. We wanted to find real money-saving wedding tips from real couples, and we were overwhelmed by all of the great ideas you submitted. You can see them all at www.resourcefulbrides.com.
Elaine and Tyler won with the following tip:
“When looking for music for the ceremony I was shocked at the costs! I wanted ‘live music.’ Some nice string music. I researched and it was going to cost me at least $500 for a 3 piece string quartet to play for an hour. Crazy! So I contacted my local university and spoke to the program director for the music department. I asked him to pass the word to seniors only that I needed a cellist, violinist and either a harp player or a flute player. I offered them $50 each. A savings of $350. Use your local college students! They are hungry for money and willing to work hard.”
Congratulations, Elaine and Tyler! Thanks for the great tip. We wish you the best of luck with your wedding planning!
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August 6th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Wow that is a great tip! I never would have thought of that! Thanks for sharing! (btw i like the picture of the violin!)
September 23rd, 2009 at 5:19 am
I understand the thinking behind this, $500 for an hour is really expensive.
However, the price you’re offering should also take into account the time spent in individual and group practice and the cost of transportation to and from the wedding. If you’re asking for a very popular or easy to play piece, an hour of practice may be fine. But if you’re only paying for college students to put in a hour worth of effort on some obscure or difficult music, don’t be upset if it sounds like they only spent an hour on it.
Unless they are music performance majors (versus music education majors or non-majors), ruining your grand entrance or reception may not matter to them.