Getting Married: Planning Your Wedding on a Budget
Congratulations! You've decided to make the leap. Now you have to figure out how to make the big event happen on a budget that won't hurt you in the long run. Here are a few ideas to help you control your spending while planning a stylish celebration of your new life together.
Establish Your Budget
The first thing you have to do is establish the amount of money you have available to spend. If you've planned for a long engagement, it will give you some time to save. Think of ways you can cut back on your spending to contribute to the wedding fund. If your family is willing and able to help financially, it's a good idea to determine a comfortable amount from them as soon as you can. Having a clear idea of your finances will not only give you a solid idea of what you have to work with, but it might also save everyone from stress and even hurt feelings as the big day approaches.
Make a List of What's Most Important
Making a list of your priorities will let you focus your spending on what's important. You and your fiancé can decide together on your top picks, which can ultimately help you decide the style of ceremony and reception that would work best for you.
Accept and Ask for Help
Close friends and family are often great resources when it comes to pulling off a successful wedding on a budget. Ask about their experiences to see if they have any suggestions about what worked or didn't work well for them. If someone you trust offers a creative skill, like a proven ability to create spectacular flower arrangements, consider accepting it.
Control Your Guest List
This is one of the easiest ways to keep wedding spending from getting out of control. Start by inviting those closest to you, and slowly extend your list to dear friends and relatives until you hit your targeted number of invited guests.
Avoid Saturday Night
In many instances, you may spend around 20% less per person if you schedule your wedding on a Friday evening, a Saturday afternoon, or a Sunday. You can also keep costs down by setting your date outside of traditional wedding months, especially May and June.
Keep Your Invitations Simple
This is a great way to cut significant costs. Avoid unusual shapes; they cost more to mail. Also be wary of using multiple enclosures, envelopes, and shades of ink. You could even consider making your R.S.V.P. a postcard.
Use Less Expensive Flowers
Choose flowers that will be in season, and consider simple, elegant arrangements with stunning blooms.
Keep Food and Drink Elegant but Simple
Remember that you're not required to spend a fortune on an open bar or on providing your guests with a five-course meal in order to have a wedding everyone will enjoy. Keep the food high-quality, but offer a salad with an entrée, or consider a menu of heavy hors d'oeuvres. Consider having a champagne toast while offering a simple wine and beer selection for most of the reception.
Get Creative
Just accepting the conventional approach to a wedding as the only approach is a surefire way to accept bigger bills in the end. Instead, be creative with your ceremony and reception. Think of celebration techniques that reflect who you are instead of simply sticking to popular wedding trends. Instead of a giant fondant-iced, multi-tiered wedding cake, consider having a small, beautiful cake supplemented by simple, delicious desserts you actually like. Instead of an enormous, elaborate dress, consider using a family dress with sentimental value, or consider purchasing something simple that makes you feel beautiful. Once you get your creativity flowing, you'll also end up with an event that feels much more personal and special in the end.
