Having limited funds is causing many people to consider postponing their wedding. Don’t put it off yet! There are ways to save money and still have your dream wedding. You can actually have a wonderful dress, wedding reception and honeymoon for much less than you may realize. Here are wedding budget tips for how to plan a wedding on a budget even when it is a low budget.
First let’s talk dresses. If you don’t have the means to be on the cutting edge of style and you can appreciate the beauty of dresses that may be last season’s or earlier design, you can save substantially by buying off of the sales or clearance racks. Also there are bridal stores that during the year have major discounts or sales that future brides line up or even camp out for. If you take advantage of one of these, try to get in there before and try things on so you know some of the dresses you may like. Don’t forget about the internet. There are a number of stores and resources online, the internet has a wealth of wedding sites.
Next let’s discuss the wedding venue. If you plan to have your wedding in a Church, most require a small donation for the use of the Church and the services of the minister. You may also be able to have your reception there if you aren’t planning to have loud music or serve alcohol. This is potentially a huge savings, especially if you have friends or family members that cater. Other money saving venues are parks and homes of friends or family. Both of these are great venues for having ceremonies and/or receptions in warm weather. Reserving a pavilion in a park and renting or doing it yourself decorations can make for a really beautiful event. Plus, if it is a more natural park with fantastic natural views, this will contribute even more to the beauty of the event as well as make it more memorable for you and your guests. Having a wedding and/or reception at home or at a relative’s home has sentimental value. Here again you can rent or purchase decorations from a craft store and do it yourself. At night, candlelight is so romantic wherever you have it. Whether in the park or at home, you can have a memorable event and save a substantial amount.
To save on flowers, my first suggestion is for those having their wedding in a large Church. Many large churches have florists that they work with. You may be able to save by using the church florist. You may receive a discount for being a member of the church. This florist may allow the use of greenery for no or a very low charge. The florist may sell you candles and flowers at a discount that they can use in that Sunday’s service. My other suggestions are to not underestimate the beauty of greenery, candles and ribbons. If you use more inexpensive items like these, you may be able to get by with fewer more costly flowers. Also see if your florist will give a discount if you or a family member or friend offers some free labor.
The Honeymoon is a substantial part of the wedding budget and the one that you will probably get the most enjoyment out of. Some people spend a lot on the wedding and dress and put what is leftover into the honeymoon or skip it all together. My first idea of how to save here is to take advantage of those discount timeshare vacations. Yes I know it may mean enduring a major sales pitch for possibly half to full day while you are there. But to get a week in Hawaii or other wonderful destination for well below what it would cost otherwise it can be worth it. Besides, you may be able to book somewhere that will throw in a wedding ceremony for free or very little at a neighbor resort. Your friends and family paying to come and stay at a different hotel or resort from you could be their contribution to helping make your special day a reality. I have to warn you though, if you are a personality type that has your whole day ruined by a pushy telemarketer’s call, you might want to give this idea a miss. Do some research and find a beautiful destination or spa within driving distance.
Many people don’t know about wonderful and interesting destinations within driving distance of their homes until someone comes to visit and they are showing them around and researching places for them to go. Put in the research and you may have a wonderful honeymoon for the cost of a few nights stay. Last minute travel is another option. Who says you need to have everything completely planned out? You could set a budget and have some flexibility in your travel dates and add an element of surprise to your honeymoon. Many have friends that have told them about great trips they have taken and booked at the last minute. It’s true that you don’t know where you will be going but, if you make up your mind that you will enjoy wherever you go, you likely will. This option lends itself to the more spontaneous. If it will cause you a great deal of stress not knowing your destination in advance, this option is probably not for you. Wedding planning and the wedding day itself can be stressful enough.
There you have it – ideas and tips for saving money on your wedding dress, wedding reception and honeymoon. Hopefully following these tips will allow you to save money, not need to delay your wedding day and to still enjoy it to the fullest.
Have any wedding questions? Get all the answers you need now at Rachael West Designs.
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