Weddings on a Budget
While, of course, you want to plan a beautiful and romantic wedding, you also need to keep to a budget. Having debt to deal with after the wedding should be avoided at all costs! Let’s take a look at how you can still have that wedding you are dreaming of while not eating into your finances.
One of the first things you want to do is to set a budget for your wedding. By doing this and sticking to it you can easily save thousands of dollars. Your next consideration is to really think about being realistic with your plans.
It is so easy to have visions of a beautiful wedding in an exotic location, but do you really need the expense of it? Wouldn’t you rather save the money and put it towards buying your first house instead? While dreams are wonderful your wedding day is only for one day, your relationship is going to hopefully last you a lifetime. Which one is worth putting the extra money into?
If you are like most people you no doubt collect some type of reward points or miles. You can use these points to help you save money on your wedding. You may be able to use them towards the cost of a hotel room, or to get a better airfare. If you are planning on using reward points then you will want to book any accommodation or tickets in advance.
When it comes to choosing the wedding location keep in mind that these vendors usually have recommendations for florists, caterers and even for DJ’s. They may have connections that can help you get a better price for these services.
The biggest way to save the big money on your wedding is by learning to negotiate. Usually vendors are more than willing to work with you. There are always ways to make substitutions or make a change here and there to make it fit your budget. Get into the habit of asking how can we make this work.
Another area where you can save money is on ordering flowers. If you choose local flowers that are in season they will much cheaper than going for anything exotic or out of season. Just going to your local supermarket and choosing flowers you like and then having one of your talented friends or family members make up your bouquets is very popular now too.
It is also possible to save money on your wedding invitations. Many invitations are sent out via email these days. But if you do want to keep with tradition and have printed invitations, then consider printing them yourselves. This can save a ton of money and you can find all kinds of printable templates that you can use online.
If you decide to use any type of vendor or even a wedding planner then make sure you read the fine print of any contract before signing. This can help you avoid extra costs if something unforeseen crops up.
It really is possible to have a wonderful wedding today without breaking the bank. Be open to changing the time and day of your wedding if the costs are significantly reduced. Always remember to negotiate and search out a better deal for all of your wedding needs.
