What comes to your mind when you think of the summer time? Are you envisioning freshly squeezed lemonade, cookouts and swimming? How about wedding dresses and vows? Research has shown that the most popular month to get married is the summer time, especially June. If you are a summer bride or groom here’s a startling statistic for your budget. The average wedding costs $25,631! That is a lot of money, and in these economic times many of us can’t afford to spend that much money on the big day.
Most brides dream of their weddings from the time they are little girls and want the day to be perfect just like the fairy tales that they watched over and over. The good news is a fairy tale wedding is still possible without breaking the bank. It just takes some time and planning. The first thing you and your significant other must do is set a budget so you have guidelines to stick to. After creating a budget, please see the tips below to cut costs, while still having the perfect wedding.
Ceremony & Reception
• Get married in the off-season months, which are January, February, March and November.
• Don’t get married on a Saturday. Saturday is the most expensive day to get married. If you must have your big day on Saturday consider having a brunch or lunch wedding.
• Guest list. The more people the more money. You don’t have to invite everyone you know. You can set limits, such as no coworkers, no children or only very close relatives. It is your day and you only need the people that are the closest to you.
• Say your vows at the same venue you have your reception. This will reduce costs, such as limos and vendors that you pay by the hour.
• Reduce the amount of tables you have by seating more guests at each table. This will eliminate some costs for centerpieces and table cloths.
• Hire a DJ instead of band.
• Ask around if anyone you know can officiate the wedding.
• Photographs and videos are your only lasting memories of your big day. Be sure you research the photography company. You can get a good photographer without going to the most expensive. Look at their work and referrals. Best advice I can offer when choosing a photographer is to have the CD of images included. By doing this you are able to make as many copies as you would like on your own.
Alcohol
• Have a dry wedding, where no alcohol is served.
• Offer beer and wine only.
• Some couples decide to have a cash bar, where everyone will pay for their own drinks.
• Find out if your venue will allow you to bring your own alcohol. Be wary though about the corkage fees. Sometimes the fees are so high you are better off just purchasing the drinks from the venue directly.
• Forget the champagne with the champagne toast! You can do the toast with the beverage of everyone’s choice.
• Have last call 1 hour before reception is over. You will save on drinks, as well as the bartender services.
Food
• A sit down formal dinner will cost significantly more than buffet style.
• Choose carefully when it comes to food. Steaks cost a lot more than chicken dishes. Think about your guests nutritional values. You may have guests that are vegetarians or have allergies. Traditionally, couples offer two different entrees with sit down meals.
• Hands passed appetizers are more expensive than having a station set up. Inquire if the venue can accommodate a place where people can help themselves during cocktail hour. This will reduce costs drastically.
Attire
• Rent or borrow your wedding dress.
• Shop the sales. Many bridal stores have sales twice a year to get rid of older inventory. You can save hundreds and in some cases thousands.
• Ladies can do their own hair and makeup. Always do a trial a few days before to be sure you have it just perfect for your special day.
• Gentlemen can wear suits instead of tuxes.
Flowers
• Do it yourself. Jump on the internet and look at different arrangements. You would be amazed how simple some are to duplicate.
• Always use flowers that are in season.
• Use a lot of greenery. Greenery is cheaper than flowers so it will save you money if you mix with the flowers.
• Consider silk flowers. Not only are the very pretty, but you can keep them as keepsakes.
• If you are marrying in a church around the holidays take advantage of the flowers that are already there.

Summer is officially here! This is an exciting time of the year for many of us. It is a time where we enjoy fresh cut watermelon and BBQ food, while the children splash around in the pool. Some people have saved all year for that trip to visit out of state loved ones or take a much needed family vacation. While others have decided, due to increased costs it is best to just stay local and save money. Regardless of your summer plans we all want to be entertained without breaking the bank. Please read below for some tips to save money on summer activities.
Local Family Fun
• Look into local entertainment provided by the area you live in. Often times they have free concerts and movies. Pack a snack or dinner and enjoy the outdoors without opening your wallet.
• Take advantage of matinees for the movies. A family of four will spend on average $60 at the ticket booth of the local theatre during peak times. You can cut the cost in half by going earlier.
• If you live close to an attraction that you will be visiting more than once inquire about annual or summer passes.
• Take day trips when possible. This will save money on the lodging, as well as food.
• Look into your local library. You can rent books, movies and magazines for free. In addition to borrowing items they often have free classes, such as fitness (yoga), arts and crafts and story time.
• Forget the water park instead invest in some water entertainment at home, such as a slip and slide.
Traveling
-Rental Cars
• Prior to purchasing insurance on your rental car renting check with your credit card to see if they offer car insurance. Many credit card companies offer this service for free.
• Choose the cheapest car to meet your needs. Also look for coupons online for free upgrades.
• Do NOT forget to fill the car with gas before returning it. If you return the car without filling up you will be charged a premium amount.
• Don’t be late returning the vehicle or you will be charged for another day.
-Air Travel
• Be a flexible traveler. Shop around for discounts on flights. Many times if you avoid weekends you can save money.
• Shop around and compare fees when flying. Nowadays, almost all airlines charge fees for luggage. Compare the fees to make sure you are getting the best deal.
• Look at nearby airports that may be cheaper to fly into. It is convenient to fly into directly to where you are staying, however if it is a major city the prices may be steep. Sometimes you can fly into another airport and save money. It may mean more driving but the savings could prove to be worth it.
-Hotels/ Accommodations
• Be flexible with dates. If you can stay at a hotel in off season you will save a lot of money.
• Look at neighboring areas. Typically you can save more than half by staying in a city close to the attraction. Many times you are saving hundreds of dollars and only having to drive 10-15 minutes out of your way.
• Inquire about what is included. Don’t discount free breakfast. Think about how much money you could save each morning by having breakfast included. If you are going to a tourist attraction look for free shuttles. Take this all into account to see where you get the most bang for your buck.
• Look at ALL fees. Hotels often times have some fees that we don’t realize until we arrive, such as $20 per day parking.
• Call the hotel directly to book your room. You can ask for free upgrades and find out about any specials they are running.
Summer Camps
• Register early to take advantage of early bird specials.
• If you have more than one child attending ask for a discount.
• Inquire if there are scholarships or financial aid available to those who qualify.
• Volunteer if you have the time for a reduced tuition fee.
• Pay in full.

Ask American Debt Counseling
American Debt Counseling is committed to helping our clients to the best of our ability. We want to take that commitment a step further by asking you, our readers and clients, what your financial questions are. We understand that many of you reading have questions that you would love an answer to but don’t know where to turn. Therefore, each month we will dedicate a section of our newsletter to answer your financial questions or lend you advice on a financial situation you may be facing. You may submit questions through our Facebook or Twitter. Questions may be asked anonymously. We look forward to hearing from you.
Hi ADC,
I know that you typically answer questions that have to do with finances, however since May is Stroke Month I was hoping you could tell me what the signs of a stroke are?
Thank you,
Annonymous
Hello,
Thank you for writing this letter and asking this question. Considering it is Stroke Awareness Month, I would be happy to review the signs.
The information I am giving you is off the National Stroke Association website: http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=symp
Use FAST to remember the warning signs:
F: Face-ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face drop?
A: Arms-ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech-ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time- If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Hope this information helps. Please visit their website for more lifesaving tips.