Getting married can be one of the most exciting times in your life. Whether it’s your first marriage, your second or even your fourth, the butterflies are still likely part of the process. What shouldn’t make you nervous is having to pay for a wedding though.
The fact is that weddings can be incredibly expensive, but they don’t have to be million-dollar affairs that put you in debt for the rest of your life. Even if you don’t break the bank you’ll still have the experience of a lifetime and get married to that special someone.
Use this guide to learn more about planning a wedding on a budget without sacrificing too much.
Set an Exact Budget
Very few people getting married have unlimited money to spend on a wedding. Even if you’re financially secure, you’ve probably got a top-figure dollar amount that you’re not willing to go over for your wedding. So why don’t you have this in writing?
When you’re planning a wedding, sit down and make a real budget. You can use a yellow legal pad or an Excel spreadsheet – just make a real budget. If you’re not sure how much everything costs at first, stick with a bottom-line dollar amount.
Figuring out how you’ll spend that money you put aside through cash, credit cards or maybe even money family members have offered to help, is also an important goal.
Pick Your Venue Wisely
The venue you choose for your wedding is obviously of pretty high importance. After all, a wedding that takes place in an auto body shop is just not going to be fun even if they give you a good rate.
Taking the time to shop around for a wedding venue can be exceptionally important though. With more and more startup event spaces popping up in cities throughout the US, non-traditional venues could help you save a lot of money.
Before you pick a venue, make sure you talk to them about your particular wedding setup. They need to be able to handle food, dancing and probably a bar. They also need to be able to host the number of guests that you want to invite.
If you’re having a big wedding, that’s not always going to be a given in non-traditional spaces. Opting for something outside of the more typical hotel venues can help you save a lot of money though.
Purchase Flowers Early
Flowers are a huge part of any wedding, and without them, your venue is going to feel barren and like you’re not celebrating anything at all. Wedding flowers can also be a costly part of your budget if you’re not careful.
While you do need to set aside money for flowers, buying early can help you avoid overspending or getting locked into high arrangement rates because you didn’t provide enough time to your flower vendor. When shopping for flowers, you’ll also want somebody who specializes in weddings.
Meet with florists and talk about your needs and budget. A well-equipped florist should be able to offer you different flower arrangements and styles to meet your budget and wedding needs.
Consider Food Options
Food can drive up the price of any wedding, but you may not need a high-end caterer for your event. Instead, go casual and hire your favorite food truck or create a buffet set-up. Maybe your favorite pizza place would even want to get involved.
Think outside the box when it comes to food and you can save. As long as your guests are fed they likely won’t be too worried about what they’re eating. At least as long as you think it’s delicious!
