Money is a very precious commodity these days which is why prudence in spending is very important especially when planning for your wedding day. The first thing you need to set a budget for the entire event. You have to start planning for the wedding with this fact in mind: you only have this much money to spend and you cannot afford anything beyond that limit.
A lot of couples go into debt very early in their married life because they had a very lavish wedding. If your goal is to save somewhere in the neighbourhood of $2000 or more, you have to learn which corners to cut and how.
Here are some very useful tips that will come in handy when you are planning the most special day of your life:
- Go for a small and dignified event. It is no secret that you would want to have all your friends and family to celebrate with you but you should also note that the more people you invite, the more money you need to spend on the reception. 25-50 people will be sufficient.
- Rent a Tux and Choose a Less Extravagant Wedding Gown. You are only going to wear them once so there is really no need to buy a tux and have a designer wedding gown. Just find something that is comfortable and appropriate for the event.
- Find Inexpensive Wedding Favors.
- Let the Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Pick Their Own Attire. One of the best ways to cut back on your wedding expenses is to let the entourage pick their own dresses and tuxedoes. Do not be embarrassed to ask them to pay for their own attires since they are going to keep them anyway. This way, they will be as comfortable as they can be with their own choice of wardrobe. However, it would be advisable to still have a certain standard that they have to abide by as regards the length, color and the cut so that there is still a little semblance of uniformity.
- Forgo the Wedding Planner. If you are having a small wedding, you will not have any need for a wedding coordinator. Instead, you can plan the entire event yourself with the help of your future spouse. This way you can save a lot of money on professional fees and you can personally oversee the progress of the planning stage.
- Forget the Buffet. Stick to a sit down dinner because you will end up paying a lot less. Most couples have a misconception about this setting because they think that formal sit down meals are more expensive. The truth is, you will save a lot more because you can control the sizes or portions of each course. Ideally, you should have one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert for the reception.
- No Open Bars. If you want your guests to enjoy a little bit of alcohol, you can still let them by allocating 2 bottles of wine for each table. A fine California red will go well with almost any dish.
Another great way to save money is to price shop for the following: Wedding Party Gifts (including bridesmaid gifts and groomsmen gifts), Bridal Shower Favors, and Wedding Favors.
