How To Save Money When Planning A Wedding
With the average wedding in the US costing around $30,000 dollars, you aren’t alone if you’re on the lookout for ways to reduce this figure. After all, while it is important that you have a great time celebrating the love you share with your partner, this should not be something that puts you in massive debt!
Fortunately, there are many different ways in which you can save money while still having the wedding of your dreams. Read on to find out more!
Write down a list of everything you have to pay for. Before you can think about budgeting, it's important that you understand what you are up against when planning a wedding. For example, you should start by writing down a list of everything you have to pay for - from venue hire to flowers. Make sure to factor in the often unexpected costs of planning a wedding, too, such as alternative meal options for guests with dietary requirements.
Generally speaking, the more specific you are at this stage, the better. After all, this lets you know whether you’ve got enough money set aside for all inclusive weddings or if you need to save up for a little longer. At this point, you may also be able to rule out some expenses that don’t mean that much to you in the long run. For example, you may be happy for your friends and family to take pictures as opposed to hiring a photographer.
Make your own wedding invites. Sending out both save-the-date cards and wedding invites is a crucial step in the planning process, especially as it gives you a greater indication of the number of guests you’ll be expected to cater for. However, wedding invites can quickly get expensive. This can be remedied by designing and printing your own wedding invite, as opposed to hiring somebody to do this for you. This also means that, much like the relationship you share with your partner, your invites are entirely unique!
Rent, don’t buy your outfits. You can save a great deal of money when it comes to wedding planning by renting your outfits as opposed to buying them. However, this does mean that you may not be able to make specific adjustments to the dress/suit, so this is something that you should bear in mind when pursuing this route!
Rely on the talent you have nearby. Whether you’re hiring a musician to play music late into the night or a photographer to snap special pictures of your big day, stop first to ask whether this is a role a member of your friend or family can step into. For example, if your friend takes pictures in their spare time, they may be happy to take on this role during the wedding - and it could be in the place of a gift. However, you should be sure to offer them some money for their time and effort either way. On a similar note, you may also want to open up the stage to any musicians and performers!