There are many things that need to take place when planning a wedding. It is important to manage your money well in order to make the most out of every penny spent. This will make it easier when choosing vendors or when taking tips from others who may be able to offer advice on budgeting.
Improve your wedding by researching the cost of vendor services ahead of time. Put the money towards the things that are most important to you, then let each vendor know your budget before finalizing anything to avoid any disappointment or unexpected costs.
Having a budget is easier than you think
Wedding budgets can be a touchy subject for many couples. The fact is, starting a budget is easy. Just follow these five steps:
- Establish your budget. Get out a pen and paper and figure out how much you’ve saved toward the wedding, how much you plan to spend and how much you still need to contribute.
- Reevaluate everything in your wedding planning checklist from the perspective of your new budget. Are there any items that don’t need to be included? Can you make any substitutions? This is not a time to cut corners or skimp on quality, but it’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the bottom line.
- Compare your budgeted costs with what you’re being charged for each item by your vendors and services providers. If something seems out of whack, ask why it’s more expensive than expected or whether there’s a way to scale back without sacrificing quality or safety.
- Revisit your guest list and see if there are people who can’t attend because you’ve reached your maximum capacity for wedding expenses. Be honest with yourself – if people aren’t likely to come because your wedding is too expensive for them, don’t feel bad about cutting them from the guest list. Don’t invite more people than your venue can hold. If you have a hard time picking between two people, ask yourself which one you’d rather give the speech for at the reception.
Don’t go overboard on the cake
In the early stages of wedding planning, many couples-to-be have a tendency to go overboard. In this case, it’s important to remember the old adage: keep it simple.
There is no need to overspend with your wedding cake. The most important thing is that you and your fiance love it and that it looks great. Your cake should match your theme and it should be delicious! A great baker will make sure that the two things compliment each other and that you and your guests love your wedding cake.
Bring your own decorations
Extra decorations can add a lot to a wedding. Find out what’s included when you book your venue, and if needed buy the rest of the decorations you need from a party supply store. Most of venues look great without the need to spend extra money on decorating them.
How to save money on your venue
Venues are usually the most expensive part of planning a wedding, but you can save big by picking the right one for your planned event.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on an elaborate setting to make your dream wedding come true. Here are some tips on how to save money on your venue:
Making your own flowers
If you have a lot of money to spend, hire a florist. Otherwise, you can decorate on your own with flowers from the grocery store.
Making your own wedding flowers can be a very rewarding experience. You will be able to choose exactly what you want and how you want it to look, and it may even be cheaper than buying them. If you’re planning a wedding and still want to keep things within a modest budget, then making your own flowers can be a great way to cut costs.
If you love crafting, this could actually be a fun thing to do. If you don’t feel so creative or aren’t sure what you’d do with all those flowers after the wedding, there are lots of other ways to make your own flowers which don’t require such a big investment in time and money.
Tips to save money with your wedding photos
It will be important to take time to shop around for a photographer early on so you can get the best deal possible. Also, remember to hire an experienced photographer who knows how to work with all kinds of lighting situations. You want your photos to look good no matter what the lighting conditions are like. When hiring your photographer, keep in mind that it is very important for them to be professional and reliable, as this is one part of your wedding that requires an expert eye.
Engagement or post wedding shoots can add to a the total cost of your photography package. Skipping these can save you a small fortune.
Look for free stuff
Like with everything, look out for any free stuff, offers and promotions. Every so often this or that supplier does a competition when you can win a free or discounted service. Bear in mind these don’t come often and you might be risking it leaving it till the last minute to find out.