Well, congratulations! You’re either looking at this blog because you just got engaged or you’re looking to get engaged sometime in the future. Whether you have a ring on your finger or not, I think finding affordable ways to celebrate life events is always important. In today’s society, people like to spend money that they don’t have to impress people that they don’t even like, all for one day that’s supposed to be about two people coming together as one. Nonetheless, I’m going to give you some tips on how to save when planning for a wedding.
Budget – Friendly Wedding Planning: Tips and Strategies
Before you make any financial decision, you need to have a great budget. I don’t need to go into detail about how important a budget is overall, but you need to have a budget for weddings. When you have a budget, you can prioritize expenses, and it will even help you find alternatives on where to spend less money. If food is important to you, spend more money on food or catering. If decor is important to you, then maybe having those real flowers is very sentimental. The biggest thing here is that you want to be able to stick to a budget before you start going out and signing contracts. That way, it will keep you honest about what you really need and what you would like to have.
Saving Money on Wedding Venues: Affordable Options and Negotiation Tips
Menus are usually where most people spend their money, and it takes up a huge chunk of the budget. One thing I will tell you to do is to check out different kinds of venue options that normally wouldn’t host a wedding. These different venue options can include outdoors or even community spaces, which often come at a cheaper price than traditional wedding venues you may see on Instagram. When it comes down to it, once you find the venue you want, don’t mention that it’s for a wedding even if they ask. Many times companies will upcharge their services just because they know it’s a wedding and they take advantage of you spending heavily on your wedding day.
DIY Wedding Decorations: Creative Ideas on a Budget
Decorations usually take up a lot of money because some people don’t know how to work around certain things, like opting for fake flowers instead of real ones or using candles instead of flowers altogether. Programs aren’t necessary, and if you have a great venue, you won’t need to dress up the area as much for it to be pretty because the space will already be beautiful.
One thing you can do is DIY the decorations that you want to have. There are literally thousands of Pinterest boards and Instagram posts that provide ideas on how to create DIY decorations, such as flower centerpieces, personalized signage, or repurposing items from places like the dollar store for your decor. This is where you can truly make it personal and add your own touch to your special day.
Finding the Perfect Dress and Suit within your Budget
Whether you’re wearing a dress, a tuxedo, or even just regular clothes, I would say you need to allocate money for clothing in your budget during the pre-planning activities. You don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money on a garment that you’re only going to wear once. There are various options available, such as renting a dress or tuxedo, or even finding a third party that offers used dresses or tuxedos. A regular suit will be fine, and even a regular dress is okay. However, if this is an important aspect for you, make sure to allocate enough money in the budget for clothes, especially if you plan on having outfit changes throughout the day.
Cutting Costs on Wedding Catering: Delicious Menu Ideas
The last thing I’m going to give you some tips on is how to cut costs when dealing with the caterer. Personally, I enjoy the idea of having small food options at the reception instead of a full plated meal because, first of all, why am I feeding all these people. However, if you want a full-course meal, there are different factors that determine the overall cost of the food. Opting for a buffet-style or family-style meal will typically be the cheapest option instead of having people serve your guests. Additionally, selecting seasonal dishes or considering alternative food and beverage options can help you save money in the long run. Remember, whatever you decide, it’s only for one day and one meal, so use this information as you see fit.
