News Releases

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Jul 23, 2013) - BMO Harris Bank celebrates wedding season this year by offering tips on how to save on common wedding expenses.With the latest average cost of over $28,000 in 2012* weddings can become one of the most expensive summer activities, even if you're only a guest. However, most couples also look to buy their first home together, or make another large purchase, shortly after getting married -- so how can people save enough money on their wedding to keep them on the right track?

Many brides and grooms look back after their wedding day and realize all the alternative routes they could've taken with expenses that put them over the edge, including:

• Dinner: Many couples arrange for the traditional sit-down plate dinner where each guest is served their meal of choice in 3-courses or more throughou t the reception. Brides and grooms-to-be now consider more often the buffet alternative for dinner, which keeps guests happy with a variety of food selections, and averages from around $15 per person compared to $25 per person for a sit-down plate dinner.
  
  
• Reception: No matter the location, most reception halls or venues are cheaper depending on the day and timing of your reception. Many couples choose to have their weddings on Friday evening because booking expenses can be significantly cheaper. Other couples who may hold a private ceremony out of the region return to their hometowns to hold large reception parties at a relative's or friend's house, giving more control over the budget for liqour and food as well. Simliarly, by holding the ceremony and reception at the same venue, couples can save at average $1,000.
  
  
• Music: With the wide array of guests at a wedding, bands have become more rare a choice when DJ's can provide almost any song on demand. Not only are they logistically easier, but DJ's can save up couples up to $2,500 when deciding between live entertainment or a DJ.
  
  
• Flowers: Flower arrangements can be a suprisingly high expense for couples on the big day, costing on average $2,000. Most often, the whole wedding party is equipped with bouquets, or the venue is decorated with larger-than-life arrangements, but there are a couple alternatives that may save hundreds. If your mind is set on having a flower-filled ceremony, perhaps consider a nature setting for a venue, such as a park or garden that is already blooming with flowers and plants. Instead of flower arrangements for dinner tables, get crafty and make your own centerpieces with vases, floating candles, and throw in a touch of nature with fruits, pine cones, or flowering branches. Some brides also put their o wn creative touches on their wedding party's bouquets, and instead have bouquets made of silk flowers, brooch pins, or even have bridesmaids carry a single rose as a simple but classic alternative.

*Average wedding cost according to TheKnot.com's annual survey of weddings in 2012.

About BMO Harris Bank
BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank(SM) is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and approximately $555 billion in assets (as of April 30, 2013).