How to Plan a Beautiful Wedding…in Budget.
5.8.09
As we have recently posted, there are a lot of things you can do to minimize your wedding expenses. The Mint.com Blog offers some opportunities to save on your dream wedding. As a ripe newlywed, I will also share some of our recent experiences also:
1. “Pick a less-popular day…”
As a couple that chose to have a destination wedding in the off season. I will vouch for this one. Many tropical locations are still very pleasant in the winter. It may not be prime sun bathing weather, but you certainly won’t get cold feet.
2. “For destination weddings, think locally…”
Our plan B included a ‘local’ destination. Depending on your area, a mountain/lake/beach/etc wedding could provide a beautiful backdrop. Additionally, we chose a location that was equally convenient to both families.
3. “Cut your flowers-but not entirely…”
Operating off of the ‘Less is More’ principle, there is a lot of flexibility in flowers. If you are not picky (or have no clue what the differences are), choosing in-season and cheaper options can be just as wonderful.
4. “For décor, raid stores like IKEA, Pier One and Cost Plus for things like candle holders…”
We found that purchasing was as cheap as renting, for many of the accessories we priced. There really ought to be a swap meet for wedding accessories. Buying candles online or at Walmart can also save you a bundle.
5. “Serve beer and wine-but try not to go the cash bar route…”
We offered a hybrid. We set a cash limit for the bar. Once that limit was met, the bar turned into a cash bar. We just wanted to protect against any surprises. Luckily, we did a good job guess-timating. There was no cash necessary and plenty of booze.
6. “If you have your heart set on a high-end dress designer, try to find a trunk show…”
My wife used to work in a wedding dress boutique, so we had the inside track here. Even though, she still purchased a relatively simple dress. She then took it to a seamstress (specializing in wedding dress alterations) and had her incorporate pieces of her mother’s wedding dress. The end result was a one-of-a-kind creation. They did a great job and it was very cost effective.
7. “Don’t go crazy with your jewelry…”
Unless you have the availability to borrow, expensive jewelry is not a wedding necessity. No one will no the difference.
8. “On your wedding day, travel to the makeup and hair stylists…”
Agreed. Having the stylist come to us was going to be 4 times the cost. Well worth the 5 minute drive. Plus, the girls seemed to enjoy getting away for a few hours.
9. “Think “station” instead of “buffet” for food…”
Honestly, we did not see much price difference between a buffet & a seated dinner. We opted for the buffet for two reasons: to encourage a casual atmosphere & to give our guests more choices.
10. “Pare down your invitations…”
We made our own invitations for a fraction of the cost. We were very pleased. It is amazing what you can do with templates from Target and Mac. Additionally, we used custom postcards as thank you cards. This was great for two reasons: price & there wasn’t much room for writing. Thus, our thank you’s had to be short & sweet. Just the way I like them.
11. “Go the DJ route…”
A band does not cost much more than a DJ. However a good band does cost a lot more than a DJ. We provided our DJ with an iTunes playlist of songs and subsequently left him with very little room for ‘creativity’.
