How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget
Posted on April 29th, 2009 by Elaine
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You met your dream partner, and now it’s time for you to plan the dream wedding. The only problem is, weddings can be quite expensive, and an extravagant one can cost you as much as half a million dollars-which you don’t have. If you want to have a beautiful wedding, but still stick to a budget, here are some tips.
Consider An Intimate Affair
Big weddings cost more. You have to get a bigger reception area, more food and wedding favors. If you want to save money, lower the number of people on your guest list. Sit down with your fiance, and see which people you can remove. With only your closest relatives and friends invited, you can make the wedding intimate, but memorable.
Plan Without The Planner
Many people believe that having a wedding planner to help out with the event is important. A planner coordinates everything, from the flowers to the reception venue. Hiring one will cost you a lot of money, though. Wedding planner charges can add up to the wedding expenses. You can use the money for something else.
Don’t get a wedding planner and try to coordinate everything yourself. It might seem stressful, but if the event’s not that big, you’ll get through it. You can ask for help from you and your spouse’s mom, your friends, colleagues and other loved-ones. They’ll be honored to help out.
Print The Invitations Yourself
Most couples hire professional invitation makers, and it costs more. Why do this, when you can make the invitations yourself? If you have a computer with an Internet connection and a printer, you can simply download an invitation maker software. Just buy some fancy paper, refill your cartridge, and start printing. You can also use this to print out thank you notes.
Choose A Cost-Friendly Venue And Menu
A large part of the wedding expenses goes to the venue and the food you serve. While you’re tempted to rent a fancy hotel for this event, don’t. Opt for a large restaurant banquet area. You only need to pay a small fee to secure the place, but at least the restaurant takes care of the food and the workers. You can also find a small hotel function room if you really want to. Renting a lounge at a local club will also work great, but you have to hire a caterer.
Another great idea is to have the event at your home, or at a friend’s home. Just decorate the venue yourself with flowers confetti and a banner. Rent chairs and table for the guests. As for the menu, you can ask relatives to bring dishes, potluck-style, or you can hire a caterer.
Cut The Pricey Cake
Wedding cakes are expensive, but they don’t taste good at all. What you’re paying for is the presentation and the design. Instead of a large, four-tiered creation, opt for a smaller white cake, baked by a local bakery or someone from your family. Decorate according to the theme you chose. Not only will it look good, but it’ll taste great as well.
Wear A Hand-Me-Down Dress
If you’re planning a wedding on a budget, you can’t expect yourself to wear a Vivienne Westwood or a Chanel dress. Gowns from famous fashion gurus, designers and tailors are lovely, but they cost too much. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on wedding clothes, just pick out a beautiful dress and tuxedo from a regular designer. You’ll find plenty in department stores that will cost only a hundred dollars or less.
Another wonderful option is to use a hand-me-down wedding dress. It can be your mother’s, an aunt’s or your grandmother’s. Ask them if you can make alterations, so the dress will suit you more.
Ask A Friend To Do The Wedding Photography
Hiring photographers to cover the wedding adds to your costs. If you know someone who’s good with a digital camera, ask him to do the wedding photography for you. Chances are he’ll do it for a minimal fee or no charge at all.
A wedding doesn’t have to be expensive for it to be memorable. Remember these tips and have a lovely time with the one you love.
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