Expert Advice from wedding guru, Sharon Naylor

Answer:

Hi Mike!

With your small guest list, you're ultra-lucky in that you can choose from a wide range of unique locations, like a small party room at a winery, a yacht, a bed and breakfast that your group takes over and then you can enjoy all of those fun events and activities in that tourist area for a fun wedding weekend. For B&B ideas, visit www.BNBFinder.com. With the size of your wedding group, an at-home wedding is definitely a possibility, so if your home isn't ideal for a party, see if maybe a relative or friend has a vacation home that might be perfect for your celebration. Your use of it is their wedding gift to you, and you would pay for its professional cleaning.

Check out my book 1001 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Dazzling Wedding for lots of ways to stretch your wedding budget and still get quality in every area, and enjoy talking with your group and the kids to see what you can DIY [Do-It-Yourself.]

Here's another option: if you'd like a small party room at a banquet hall or hotel, these establishments have lots of cancellations right now due to the economy, so you might be able to call up, ask about upcoming open slots, negotiate your wedding celebration at a fantastic location, for more than half off the price! These wedding sites would rather book a beautiful event for you on that available day -- and maybe impress your guests into booking their weddings there! -- than be closed that day. And they often throw in lots of freebies and extras when you're planning in less than 9 months. Some of these big-discount days are selling for 70% off when there's less than 3 months' notice!

Even though it's not your first wedding, you can have all the fun of a first wedding planning session and make your day unforgettable. It's all about getting the family together, making your wedding 'something different,' something personalized, and it IS possible to book a fabulous wedding on your budget no matter where you are!

One of my favorite tips for under $3,000 is to plan a dessert and champagne party with lots of great desserts and cake, fruit-based desserts, yummy treats...which is so much less $ than a traditional sit-down dinner. Check my book for more ideas! www.sharonnaylor.net.