We have gotten quite an influx of emails over the past several weeks of lots of newly engaged couples...congratulations to all of you newly engaged gals! We wanted to re-run this little feature we did last spring because it's so important as you begin your planning process to think of the wedding budget big picture! It is so
easy to get wrapped up in all the {little details} and sometimes lose
focus over the main goal of your wedding planning - getting married to
the love of your life! With the average wedding in America costing over
$30,000 most couples can not believe how quickly the costs add up. We have received several emails from readers who are helping to pay
for their own weddings and asking for some advice on working with a
budget. Here are some big picture tips we have picked up along the way
and think are important to keep in mind... {#10} Don’t forget it’s a wedding Getting wrapped up in the {once in a lifetime} way of thinking makes
it easy to overspend. Try to remember that the event is a celebration
of your love and should be a reflection of the two of you...not a
reason to go into debt! {#9} Come up with an “inspiration board” Build a collage of pictures, colors & images that depict your
wedding vision and create a theme that can be appropriately carried
thru. Decide what kind of feeling you want to create first and
selecting everything from invitations to favors will be easier. {#8}Prioritize When you have a budget, it is essential to focus on a few excellent
ideas you can execute well than to try to accomplish too much and
spread yourself thin financially. If your pictures are most important
to you and you want a well-known photographer who might be expensive,
think about saving in areas such as buying your wedding dress. Everyone
will think you look beautiful on your wedding day no matter what, and
there may be areas where an extra thousand dollars will make a bigger
difference. {#7} Pick a low-cost venue Look at parks, museums, farms and other lower cost alternatives.
These sites can also cut down on the amount of decorations you need by
providing beautiful scenery and {free} decor. {#6} Choose vendors carefully Research and consider vendors carefully but do not overwhelm
yourself with options. In many cases, couples might not be able to
afford the vendors whose portfolios they like best. Interview a few
vendors you can afford – no more than 3 - and find the one you click
with. Show them the ideas you like from pictures and be sure they will
be willing to work with you to achieve your ideas. {#5} Do it yourself...but do not over do it yourself We know this is an obvious one...however DIY only if it will save
money AND look good! Too many projects will leave you feeling
stressed out and overwhelmed. Select a few things you know you can create and accomplish
well so you do not end up with projects that look too unfinished. {#4} It’s all in the {little} details The details do not have to cost you a fortune. Repeating your color
scheme and style throughout your wedding will result in a pulled
together look. {#3} Splurge selectively Spending extra on a few key areas will focus your guest's attention
and they probably will not notice other things are missing. For
instance, if you want to have a calligrapher address your invitations
to help set the tone for your wedding, it will be well worth the extra
money. {#2} Plan your ceremony first We can not stress how important this is. It is SO easy to get
excited about your plans and picking a date. But before choosing a
date, find out if your officiant and church are available and then lock
in your reception venue. This will result in savings and having your
wedding where you want it...not just at a place that happens to be
available and that might be more expensive. {#1) Be flexible You will be surprised find what areas you can save in if you are
flexible during your planning. Consider dates and times that might not
be as popular for weddings. A Saturday or Sunday early afternoon
wedding might give you a lot of leverage with venues and vendors.
Having a wedding brunch versus dinner will also result in significant
savings. Keeping an open mind during the planning process will help
take the burden of budget stress away!
Photo credits: Snippet & Ink
Photo credits: Kristie Tweed via The Bride's Cafe
Photo credits: Hostess with the Mostess via The Bridal Bar
Photo credits: Pretty Pen Jen
Photo credits: Martha Stewart
Thank you for post this! I needed the reminder of not getting too caught up in the planning.
Posted by: Heather | January 22, 2009 at 03:40 PM
Great advice! Don't forget to hire a coordinator as well...we will definitely help you save money and time. If there are any Nashville brides on a budget, we are hosting a DIY workshop series in March and April - www.theeventatelier.net.
Thanks for the great post!
Posted by: Tara Stouder-Milam | January 24, 2009 at 03:50 PM
I love the inspiration boards. They are such a fabulous idea. Snippet & Ink have a fabulous selection of them.
Posted by: Wedding Castle | January 27, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Thank for the tips! I am recently engaged and quickly becoming overwhelmed by wedding planning. We are thinking of doing a brunch or lunch buffet to save money. I am convinced that budgeting your wedding is a smart idea, especially if you are planning to buy a house. A wedding lasts a day, but a house can last a lifetime.
Posted by: Kristin | November 04, 2009 at 11:00 PM