It's a new year! Now that our Facebook news feeds have blown up with pictures of sparkling rings and changes in relationship statuses, it's time for some real talk about weddings. They are expensive. Seriously, stupid expensive. And once you really get into planning, you seem to hit this wall of, "Holy crap I can't afford any of this I might as well just go to the court house and get it over with."
Stop stressing.
You can still have your dream wedding even if you don't have much of a budget.
I got married exactly one week after graduating college. Obviously, my budget wasn't high, but I still managed to have the wedding of my dreams. So here are some tried and true ways to keep the cost down, and pull-off a celebration worth remembering.
1. Prioritize.
This is something you'll be doing a lot of in the coming years. You might as well get your practice in now. Sit down with your soon-to-be life partner and figure out what is most important to you -- both of you. Is it food? The location? Or perhaps you've had your eye on that dreamy dress and absolutely have to have it. Pick a few things worth splurging on, then you'll have to make sacrifices in other areas of the budget.
2. Get crafty and DIY.
Remember those other areas of the budget you need to trim down on? Here’s how you can. Consider becoming a florist for the day. Websites like Blooms by the Box make DIY flowers a lot easier than you would think. By making your own centerpieces and bouquets, you can save thousands.
Consider making your own invites, thank you’s and programs. Pinterest is great for tutorials and inspiration. DIYing these can save you hundreds.
Get crafty for your other décor, favors, some people even DIY for music options.
We had so many girls' nights in the months leading up to my wedding. It was fun making memories with my friends, aunts, grandmothers and mom while we crafted and enjoyed cookies and wine. Just make sure that you allot yourself plenty of time because crafting tends to take a lot longer than you think.
3. Stay open-minded.
When I was planning my wedding, I had a very particular idea about how I wanted the lights at my reception. I met with a local company who specialized in lighting and wedding décor. When they priced what I wanted, I panicked. Seriously, some lanterns and bistro lights were going to send me way over budget. So I shopped around. I met with an activity rentals company who specialized in jump houses and popcorn makers, but it turned out they had everything I needed, and the only charged a tenth of what the first company quoted.
4. Skip traditional.
Saturday weddings are overrated. Your wedding is supposed to be about you anyway, so why not cater to your personal tastes? Consider a late Friday night affair or Sunday with brunch. Venues typically offer discounted prices and vendors as well.
5. Book your vendors at a bridal fair.
Seriously. They run all kinds of specials and incentives for you to book with them right away. Do your homework before you go and have an idea of who you might want, then book and save!
6. Seriously consider a day-of coordinator.
Having the help of a professional for your wedding is a total dream. You might not be able to afford them for help with everything leading up to your wedding, but use them for the execution. A lot of coordinators have caught on to the market of budget savvy brides and offer very affordable prices to help out on the day of. My coordinator was like a fairy godmother. With the flick of a wrist, she made magic happen. And, I’m pretty sure she had a plan B, C, and D for anything that could have gone wrong. You, your friends, and your family can enjoy your day stress-free, and let the coordinator handle everything.
You can thank me later, and good luck!
