Budgeting Tips for a Wedding

Posted by MoneySavvy on Aug 13th, 2010 | no comments home title

Weddings can be very expensive to plan. Staying on budget is not always feasible, especially when trends change and last minute purchases cannot be avoided. Getting married does not have to break the bank, though – especially if you live on a budget to begin with. To better help yourself budget for your upcoming wedding, utilize the following tips.

Do It Yourself (DIY). If you have a crafty bone in your body, many aspects of your wedding will be easier and less expensive if you put your creativity to use. For example, designing and printing your own wedding invitations is a great way to cut costs.

Many wedding invitations are expensive and the more cost-effective ones tend to lack quality. Gather your family and friends to help you make your own wedding invitations and other paper products such as programs, escort cards and table numbers. You can easily save hundreds of dollars by doing them yourself. Other items that can be done using a little creativity are favors and decorations such as flowers.

Prepare a strict budget for those items that you cannot do yourself. Obviously you will not be able to deejay the event or cater it yourself. When it comes to these two items, be sure to shop around and do comparisons. If you cannot afford a sit down dinner, a buffet will do. Instead of hiring a live band, hire a deejay which will cost considerably less. Do not skimp on quality for price, however; otherwise your experience may not be one you want to remember.

For most couples, the most important part of the wedding, besides having your family around, is the location. Virtually any place can be made over to create the perfect location for your wedding ceremony and reception. Using your landscaped backyard can be a perfect venue if it is what you want. Using rented tents and draping sashes over chairs will add elegance to the décor.

Some venues also offer discounts if you hold your wedding on a Friday or Sunday as well as holding the wedding at an earlier time. Off-season weddings are typically booked at a lower rate as well.

Limit the bar or have a cash bar only. One of the major expenses of a wedding comes from having an open bar, especially if you have friends and family who have been known to drink a lot. Consider having an open bar for only the first hour, or just have a cash bar. This will lower your expense by quite a bit.

Planning a wedding without going over budget can be exhausting. However, by taking on some tasks yourself, such as paper products and décor, you can help ease the pressure on your wallet. Other good tips are to scout for cheaper locations and holding your wedding on an off-season day or earlier in the day.

Remaining on a budget does not, however, have to mean that you cannot have the wedding you dreamed of. If you plan far enough ahead, you can make all of your dreams for your special day come true.