No matter how conscientious and organized you are, wedding planning can be stressful. The number one culprit? Sticking to your budget. According to research performed by the Wedding Wire, 74 percent of couples go over their budget by 40 percent!
How do you avoid spending more than you can afford while still creating the wedding of your dreams? Don’t worry; we’re here to help.
1. Set a Realistic Budget
Before you dive right into exploring color schemes, researching vendors, and finding the perfect wedding dress, you’ll want to set a budget. While it’s not the most fun part of wedding planning, it’s an essential place to start and will help avoid a lot of headaches of having to change plans down the road. Sit down with those who will be contributing to your special day and come up with a realistic number everyone feels comfortable with.
2. Stay Flexible
Your vendors are used to working with people on budgets and are likely to contribute creative ways to help you save where it counts. The best way to accomplish this is to stay flexible. This could mean letting your florist recreate the bouquet you’ve fallen in love with featuring a pricey flower for a similar creation with more cost-saving blooms. The more open you are to suggestions, the easier it will be on your bank account.
3. Trim the Guest List
One of the fastest ways to cut dollars of your wedding cost is to scale down your guest list. Choosing 50 of your immediate family and closest friends (as opposed to a 200+ guest list) could help you pull off a premium-wedding experience with even the modest of budgets.
4. Consider a “Free” Venue
Outdoor weddings can be as beautiful as they are enchanting when the weather is right, so why not choose a venue that contributes to cost-savings? Look for nearby parks, lakes, and fields that are open to the public, or talk to friends and family that have outdoor space big enough for a wedding. Plus outdoor weddings are a great way to be more flexible with your guest list!
5. Use Your Connections
Have a best friend who’s a gifted graphic designer, or a family friend in a cover band? What about a cousin who adores crafts? If so, find out if they’d like to help with your wedding! Working with people you know is a great way to cut down on regular retail costs, and some may even offer their talents a wedding gift. Just don’t forget to show your gratitude!
6. Get Married On a Weekday
If you’ve already started planning your wedding, you’ve likely discovered that Saturday is the most expensive day of the week – for nearly everything! Not only are you competing with a ton of other brides to be, but other events as well. To save the most money, consider a weekday in wedding “off-season.” Don’t worry too much about your guests not being able to make it. People have all types of different schedules and are likely to take time off to show their support for your special day.
7. Focus on What’s Important
Last but not least, focus on what’s most important to you and your spouse. While it’s easy to get caught up in the frills and thrills of planning the perfect wedding, your special day is really about your love for each other. Think about the things that you two enjoy the most and reserve more money for those areas while cutting down on costs on things you two could live without.
Source: creditabsolute.com