Are you planning a wedding? Congratulations! Unfortunately, it can be expensive and stressful to plan a wedding. You have to choose a venue, craft your guest list, find a photographer, a caterer, and most importantly, find a dress! You require simple, practical personal finance management skills to spend wisely on these items. This helps you create a unique, memorable, stylish occasion without breaking the bank. Keep reading for other practical money-saving tips when planning your wedding.
Hire a Planner
An event planner helps you do the homework. For instance, relying on your bridal party or family members to clean up after a wedding would be unwise. According to Thimble, cleaning services typically cost about $150 per job. So, your event planner can help you pick the best cleaning service with the experience and abilities to do the task effectively.
Additionally, specific vendors can provide their pricing, but an event planner helps you understand the overall budget and how to allocate money appropriately. Rather than swimming in a sea of options, an event planner can save money and time by narrowing the list to quality, proven vendors that fit your budget. They understand your event’s budget and priorities. That’s why they recommend areas to cut costs without sacrificing the overall look or quality of the ceremony.
Trim Your Menu
You can whittle down your menu budget by inviting fewer guests or changing what they’ll eat. Most couples prefer sit-down dinners, but buffet-style service has increased in popularity over the last decades. However, sit-down dinners can be even stuffy or overly formal.
Formal is fine if you’re planning for a black-tie event, but the confines of a three-course dish may not work for a more relaxed ceremony. Here are tips to save money on catering.
- Offer cocktails and passed apps instead of a full meal.
- Bring in food trucks and give your guests tickets to use at each vendor.
- Schedule a brunch reception or breakfast instead of dinner.
- Instead of an open bar, limit alcohol to a few types of wine, beer, and liquor, or stick with two signature cocktails.
- Have a theme that embraces affordable food options like taco Tuesday, BBQ, picnic-style reception, summer fun, or comfort food (cheese, macaroni, mashed potatoes, or fried chicken).
Go Paperless
Cutting down on your wedding paper can save you a few bucks and significantly impact the environment. Remember, paper is one of the most recycled materials, according to Reader’s Digest. This minimizes wastage and conserves the environment. Plus, skipping paper invitations can save you money if you have a lot of guests. That price can increase once you add escort cards, menus, place cards, ceremony programs, etc.
In line with invitations, you might reduce your usage by opting for digital invitations from a site that offers wedding-website hosting. This helps you collect RSVPs through an integrated system.
Timing
When considering your budget, it helps to be mindful of time and dates. There is nothing wrong with picking a popular wedding date because they’re popular for good reasons. For example, historically mild temperatures, great weather, and during times when guest travel most.
Consider these factors before selecting a date. How long do you intend to plan till the wedding? Is the date appealing to your guests? Usually, venues and vendors are fully booked on popular days.
So, if your budget is tight, consider choosing alternative dates, as some venues provide weekday or off-season discounts. Selecting the time of the event is an essential consideration too. For example, a daytime brunch ceremony with light mimosas and bites is more affordable than an evening wedding where your guest expect to be served dinner with a sumptuous meal and drink options.
Budget for the Worst-Case Scenario
Your wedding is supposed to be the most unique, refined, and memorable day. But an accident after the reception can sour the sweetest wedding memories. According to CDC statistics, nearly 1.8% of California’s licensed drivers admit to DUI charges due to too much drinking.
So, hope for the best but budget for the worst. Create a weather contingency plan and cost into your budget. In case of a best-case scenario, the unspent funds stay in your pocket! If an issue strikes abruptly, it won’t be a surprise expense that unexpectedly breaks the bank.
Hopefully, these practical personal finance management tips for your wedding have been valuable and inspirational. Implement them to save cash on your big day and use it for the lifetime of new happiness that awaits you as newlyweds.
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