Save Money on Your Wedding
Every little girl looks forward to her wedding day. It starts as an innocent fairy tale. The little girl watches a knight in shining armor sweep the princess off her feet, profess his love and they get married in a big white church. The flowers are blooming and the birds are singing and everything is perfect. Now lets fast-forward 20 years and that little girl is a grown woman ready to wed. She is successful, she’s in love with a great guy and she wants that fairy tale wedding she dreamed of as a child.
Wedding vendors know that women want the perfect fairy tale wedding day. They know that a bride believes that a perfect wedding will mean a perfect marriage. They know the bride (or her parents) will shell out the cash for what they want.
Unless you plan to elope or just want a courthouse ceremony, you might find your wedding costs are more than you budgeted for. It’s easy to get caught up in what you want, and forget about what you can actually afford. For couples trying to save money on their wedding, the most important thing to remember is this—the point of the wedding is to celebrate our love and make a commitment to each other for life. Everything else is–pardon the pun–icing on the cake.
Here are some basic tips on having your dream wedding for less. (I’ll get into more detail in future articles.)
-Keep it small, keep it simple
Big weddings usually mean big money. For every person you invite, you’re spending a certain amount of money. You have to feed each person, you have to find a venue large enough to accommodate all of your guests, you want to provide each guest with a wedding favor. It’s easy for spending to get out of control. Something that’s seemingly inexpensive can get very pricey when multiplied by the number of guests.
My advice for brides and grooms on a budget is to plan a more intimate gathering of family and close friends. You’ll spend less money and you’ll get to spend more quality time with your guests.
-Ask For Discounts
You’ll be surprised how much you can save when you simply ask for a discount. Most vendors are willing to negotiate and have a little bit of room in their pricing structures. Just express that you love their work and you really want to use them but their price is out of your budget. Ask if they can meet your budget and the vendor may be able to work with you.
-Get Creative
Whether your wedding is large or small, you can always be creative with your plans. There are lots of ways to get everything you want for less if you’re willing to think outside the box. Some common ways people save on wedding are:
DIY invitations: Download a free invitation template
or design your own. By printing them at home, you can save hundreds of dollars and still get professional results.
Hire Your Friends and Family: Have a friend or relative who is a great baker or cook? Maybe you could ask them to bake the cake in lieu of a wedding gift. Don’t be afraid to use your connections and ask people to help out. Often people will be delighted to help. Just emphasize that they shouldn’t feel obligated.
Amateurs Cost Less: Find an amateur photographer or a photo student to shoot the wedding. Most amateurs will jump at the chance to make some extra money doing what they love. Just be sure to view their prior work to make sure that it’s up to par with your expectations.
Do It In Public: This will not appeal to some folks, but there are many public places that would be beautiful locations for a wedding. Think about State or City Parks. They often have beautiful scenery and don’t charge you unless you are specifically using one of their facilities. Just be sure to get any required permits. My aunt and uncle got married in a national park below towering trees. It made a beautiful backdrop for their ceremony.
It might take a little more effort and some compromise, but you could potentially save thousands on your wedding by employing some of these ideas. Just remember, a wedding is a party. It’s an important event, but it’s the meaning behind the event that is important.
