It’s no secret that a wedding can be an especially expensive affair. If you’re not looking to put yourself into serious debt and you don’t have someone to cover the costs for you, then you need to be smart about how you budget it, instead. Here, we’re going to look at how you can create a budget and stick to it while still planning an unforgettable day.
Prioritize What Matters
You need to start by thinking about which aspects of your wedding are the most important and put the bulk of your budget there. Choosing the right venue is critical for all weddings, as is ensuring that everyone gets fed. Otherwise, you need to decide whether to prioritize things like photography, entertainment, decor, and the like.
Make An Affordable Venue Choice
You may have a certain idea of what look and feeling you want for your wedding, but you shouldn’t underestimate how expensive those can get. You can save a lot of money by opting for outdoor venues such as parks and gardens, or even a family-owned property. Regardless, you need to make sure that you choose a venue that can fit your guest list and is logistically easy for your vendors, too.
Be Smart About Your Catering
Food is one of the biggest expenses of any wedding, and you shouldn’t skimp out on it too much. You want your attendees to get fed, after all. However, you can work with your catering team to find solutions that work for you, such as opting for a more buffet-style meal, choosing seasonal ingredients, or limiting menu choices to avoid wasting food.
DIY Where You Can
Handmade decorations, centerpieces, and invitations can cut costs significantly. There’s a lot that you can DIY to keep your wedding easy on your bank balance. However, you can’t DIY everything, of course. You should still rely on professionals for the catering and photography to save yourself stress. Trying to handle the more important parts of the wedding yourself can lead to a lot more headaches down the line.
Keep Your Guest List Small
If you want to ensure that quality is still a priority, making sure that people get good food, good party favors, and have a good time, then being more exclusive with who you invite can help you save money, too. Deciding who to invite is easier when you keep the guest list small, too, as you can prioritize those who play the most active roles in your lives.
Look For Off-Peak Dates
If you’re looking to make big savings on your day, then you should consider having your wedding on one of the less popular days of the year. Finding out the off-season, depending on the location,n can result in savings of thousands, while Friday and Sunday weddings can see you getting discounts from many vendors, too.
For too many people, the extravagance of the wedding outweighs the purpose and meaning of the day itself. Keeping yourself to a budget helps you focus on what really matters.
Photo Credit – CC0 License
