10 Top Tips
A wedding can become very expensive very quickly. Prospective brides can easily get carried away and go way over budget, even if they can’t really afford it. Couponsophy compiled 10 top tips to help couples planning their wedding stick to their budget and not break the bank.
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Wedding on a budget tip #1 – Have a budget: Always a good place to start. Don’t start planning your wedding before you have worked out a specific budget that is realistic and affordable for you. Know in advance how much you and your prospective spouse will be able to contribute, as well as how much your respective families are willing to pay and which parts of the wedding they will be paying for. This way, you will have a good picture of your spending limit before you start with the preparations.
Wedding on a budget tip #2 – Break your budget to pieces: As essential as it is to have an overall budget in place, it’s equally essential to know how much you’re able to spend on each specific element of your wedding. Make a list of all the things and services that you’ll be needing and write down the maximum budget that you’re prepared to spend on each and every one. Make sure you stick to this when you talk and negotiate with different service providers, and let them know your spending limit. This will help you keep on top of your financial planning for the wedding.
Wedding on a budget tip #3 – Research the market: Otherwise known as shopping around. Even if you have a very busy lifestyle and limited time to look, try not to fall into the trap of going for the very first providers you visit, as this will probably end up costing you a lot more. Ask around, get quotes from different places, compare prices and offers, get the general picture of what the market rates are for each service you need. This way you’ll be making much more informed decisions and chances are you’ll end up saving a lot more than you thought.
Wedding on a budget tip #4 – Ask those who’ve done it: You probably know a few couples – friends or relatives – who got married in the past couple of years. Don’t be afraid to ask them, as they’re very likely to have done extensive research while planning their wedding. Such people will be able to offer recommendations on good and affordable providers, and also tips to help you avoid overspending mistakes – that they wish they had been given when they were getting married. This will save you time and money.
Wedding on a budget tip #5- Use your network: Just like when you’re looking for a job, let everyone know that you’re getting married and that you’re looking for X, Y, Z professionals and service providers. Chances are you’ll be inundated with recommendations because everyone knows someone whose job is useful in a wedding – a hairdresser, a florist, or a bridal salon owner. Before you know it, you’ll have loads to choose from, and quite a few will be happy to accommodate you at your budget. Another perk of using your network is that a lot of those wedding professionals will be willing to offer you a better price just because you were introduced by their friend, relative or good client.
Wedding on a budget tip #6 – Do it yourself: A growing trend that has helped couples save a lot of money on their wedding preparations. Whether it’s wedding invitations, wedding favors, flower arrangements or something else that you’ve decided to do yourself, the Internet is a great source of information that will help you make beautiful unique stuff, and will save you significant amounts of money.
Wedding on a budget tip #7 – Ask friends for help: Friends can (and will be happy to) help in many different ways, and offer serious money-saving assistance. For example: instead of paying a florist for their time to decorate your wedding venue, ask your friends to pick up the arrangements and do the decoration themselves. Have them help with making the wedding invites. Have someone who’s music-savvy be the DJ for the wedding party, and someone else who’s keen on photography take the pictures or video-shoot your special moments. Maybe a friend of yours with talent can also help with your make-up, so that you don’t have to hire a professional. Friends can be precious in many ways.
Wedding on a budget tip #8 – Set priorities: If you’re on a budget, it’s a good idea to set your priorities early. Determine the things you absolutely have to have at your wedding and those you can do without or with help from friends and family. This way you’ll have a clear idea of where and where not to stir your budget.
Wedding on a budget tip #9 – Go for smaller brands: Big names aren’t necessarily a guarantee for success. In fact, you may get worse customer service and less value for money because they’re so famous and they may not be able to (or care to) provide personalized service. And they’ll most likely be over-priced too. Smaller names and brands on the other hand – as well as new players in the industry – may be much keener to offer good service for less money. Unlike big players who can be quite inflexible with their quotes, smaller ones are often able to customize their offerings to fit your budget.
Wedding on a budget tip #10 – Shop online: With online shopping becoming increasingly popular, there is nothing wedding-related that you can’t find online – from stationery and wedding favors to shoes and actual wedding dresses for the more daring. Due to their much lower overhead costs, online providers and services are usually cheaper without lacking in quality. They’re also more likely to have special offers and discounts in place. With many places offering 100% refund and charging only for shipping costs if you decide to return their product, there’s minimal risk and cost involved. However, if shopping online, do make sure that you have chosen a trustworthy provider with a secure payment system in place.
You may also like: Wedding on a Budget: How to Save on Wedding Flowers, Wedding on a Budget: Ideas for Cheap Wedding Dresses, Wedding on a Budget: Ideas for a Cheap Wedding Reception
