Weddings inevitably involve large sums of money and the spending of money. If you’re planning a wedding on a very strict budget, there are many ways to make it fabulous and cost effective. It will be a memorable affair because it will be the reflection of you and your intened. Nothing has to be “settled ” on.
If you have a set amount that you can not go over, it becomes necessary that you plan out your wedding budget. The wedding budget should encompass all the things you hoped for in your Wedding.
Try to establish your ”big ticket items” first. The choice of venue will determine a large part of the wedding costs. If your wedding budget is major concern, then you need to start thinking outside the box. How you can pull off an elegant affair with cuttings costs is going to take some inventive thinking. Cutting costs in the right areas will be un noticeable to you guests, and make you feel like you have achieved the wedding you always wanted. Why not get married outside? If your climate supports this, then how romantic would a sunset beach wedding be? Better yet a garden wedding during the bloom season makes for a regal affair. This will cut costs considerably allowing you to have more in the budget. An evening ceremony cuts the cost of food, leaving you to only decided on a late evening buffet. Everyone can make cuts, but still have a dream wedding.
Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event – and even though you may be feeling the pressure of money constraints , you can still have a beautiful, picture perfect day without breaking the bank. You don’t need to spend a fortune on luxuries. The small details always make the day, and remember presentation is everything.
Here are 10 Great Tips to Cut Your Wedding Costs:
1. Stationary – Skip the DIY kits. Contrary to popular belief they actually will cost you more than beautifully printed inexpensive professional invitations. Search all the resources available to you. Comparison shop,it pays to take the time to sniff out that deal! For just about $300 you can have invitations, response cards, lined envelopes printed with your return address – from a professional printer who carries an inexpensive wedding line.
2. Save The Date Cards – Skippable? Probably they usually get tossed. If you want to be DIY and creative take a picture of the both of you and make them into postcards – handwriting your upcoming wedding details on the back and for less than the cost of first class postage you can mail these out. This is a great way to be original and cost effective.
3. Flowers and Floral Centerpieces -This is probably the largest, high dollar item next to your catering – and the most wasteful of your budget. You literally can spend thousands of dollars on flowers which will be tossed away or die days after. You may want to consider an alternative to a floral piece. Sometime a picture in a frame on the center of the table is enough. Try to design your centerpiece in keeping with you wedding style.
4. Transportation - Rather than getting limos for your bridal party, your parents and yourself, hire one larger limo or a limo bus for the event. Pair it down to one car only. If that isn’t going to work, look for other original ideas. Offer to pay a classic car club. These clubs usually have there cars on display, and would relish at the opportunity to show of their ride!
5. Wedding Cake -That’s just it, it’s cake. Why pay for a piece of art? It is only going to be eaten anyway. Scale down on this item. A nice floral three tier eatable cake without all the extra trimming is probably a reasonable price.
6. Entertainment -Live Bands normally cost more than a DJ, but get local prices before booking anything, or try to find a friend or relative who can DJ as their wedding present to you, then it might be a freebie.
7. Reception Decor - Rather than load the place down with flowers, lighting can set the mood even better and at a fraction of the cost. Check with your DJ and catering hall – they may have a local contract with someone already in place.
8. Seating Assignments - Skip the place card holders and opt for plain escort cards. Hand write them yourself, and skip the calligrapher to save even more cash. Save the money for quality wedding favors your guests will enjoy.
9. Wedding Time & Date – If you really must have a evening summer time wedding in the heart of June (the most expensive) – then go for it! But why not schedule it on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday evening? Not only will you save money by having it on an evening other than Saturday, its possible some of your guests may not make it – cutting your guest list and the catering costs. This might work well depending on the size of your wedding.
10. Cutting Your Guest List - Limit your guest list to people whom you actually want there. Close family and friends are all that you need to make your wedding complete. Remember this is your day, so only invite those who mean something to you.
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