It goes without saying that your wedding day is a special. It doesn’t matter how much you spend or how big/small your day is, it is going to be a day that you remember forever. Many people are under the impression that you need to spend large amounts of money in order to make your big day perfect. However, that is not the case at all. If you look into it you’ll find that there are lots of ways to save money on your wedding, without having to cut too many corners.
Setting a Budget
Before you go ahead and arrange your wedding you need to decide on a budget. You will probably go over a little on your budget, so don’t be too generous with the figure when you first set it. Once you have a budget in place you can start to think about where different money and spends should be allocated.
There are probably going to be items that you want to splash out on. So think about the most important things to you and get these checked off the list first. Jewelry from Orla James, a wedding cake from your favourite baker and the wedding venue, for example. Once you have done this you have your main budget and you can set about arranging your wedding.
Being Organized
Unless you are quite organized arranging a wedding can be a bit of a stress. Without a doubt you need to make a checklist of things to do and items that you need to book. It might all seem easy now but a few weeks down the line you won’t be able to remember what you have booked and what still needs to be done. It can be a good idea to buy a planner so you can note down anyone that you need to call back, who you have booked for certain items etc. That way you always have something to refer back to and always know where you are at.
Know Your Limits
As much as it is possible to cut down on the cost of your wedding you have to be realistic. If you want 500 guests to a party then the costs are going to soon add up. One good idea is to split the day in two. You can have family and close friends for a sit down meal and then the rest to the wedding reception afterwards. This gives you the best of both worlds without you having to worry too much about the cost of having lots of people there.
Food & Drink
It is much the same when it comes to the food and drink you are providing for the big day. A lavish sit down meal is lovely, but it can be expensive. Mostly people just appreciate good tasting food and they don’t mind what it is. So speak to your caterer about simple food dishes and try to keep the costs down that way. You should also ask people to RSVP to invites as soon as possible. This allows you to know how many people you are going to need to cater for and therefore how much it is all going to cost. You really don’t want to end up spending money on food that goes to waste, so knowing numbers from the start is a really good idea.
Rope in Friends and Family
You are likely to have a talented bunch of friends and family so make sure you ask for their help in the lead up to the big day. A lot of people will be more than happy to donate their services in place of a wedding present. So put feelers out when you start to arrange your wedding for what people can help you with. For example if you have someone that is good at photography then you could save loads of money by asking them to take the photos for you. The same goes for if you know anyone can bake, make wedding favors or DJ. Anything that gives you a good service and saves you money is great.
Save Money on Paper Goods
One thing that you often end up spending money on is paper goods – wedding favors, place settings, wedding invitations etc. These often cost lots of money and they’re for something that isn’t really kept. Rather than spend loads of money on paper goods like this you should look at ways you can save money. Homemade items like this are always a nice touch so this is a good idea. There are loads of guides online which can help you when it comes to making these. People won’t see this as cheap. Instead they’ll see it as a nice personalized touch to your big day.
Be Flexible
The time of day and even the day that you get married can affect the price. If you can save money by getting married at a cheaper time then this gives you more funds to spend on the rest of the day. Any small changes like this will make it much easier to arrange your wedding and stick to your budget. It also means you’re not cutting corners, simply getting married at a time that the venue say is cheapest.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to arranging their wedding is trying to keep up with the expectations of others. You have to remember that your big day is your own and you have no obligation to others. If you don’t want to spend out on a big white dress or you have a theme in mind for simple flowers then that is fine. The only people that have to be happy with the wedding set up is you and the person you are getting married to. Don’t try to play catch up or beat what other people have done for their wedding because that is not important. Instead think about what is important to you for your big day and concentrate on that.
