Planning for your big day usually means laying out a lot of money. How to spend less and still put on a lavish event. Great memories without shelling out a lot of cash.
You may have dreamed about a fairytale wedding as a child, but the harsh reality is, those dreams cost a lot of money. And if you don’t curb your spending, that romantic fairytale wedding could end up becoming a financial nightmare.
Ways to Spend Less and Create More Memories
- The dress Do you really have to have the latest designer gown that all the celebrities are wearing? Instead, grab all your friends and head to the nearest wedding dress factory outlet store. And if one is not nearby, make a weekend getaway out of it. You’ll usually find a great selection and some really good knock-offs of designer dresses. And you’ll enjoy a fun girls’ weekend before the big day.
- Bridesmaids gifts Take a lot of pictures during your dress-shopping get-away and arrange them in some clever frames. Your friends will appreciate the keepsakes and you won't have to buy expensive gifts.
- The reception hall Find a banquet facility that charges one flat fee or by the hour, not by the person. Too often, people won’t show up and don’t let you know ahead of time. You’ve just lost a lot of money.
- Host a buffet instead of a sit-down dinner Many people are picky eaters. They prefer to choose what they want instead of being forced to eat what’s in front of them. You’ll also save a lot by eliminating a staff of waiters, and people are happy to mingle at the buffet line.
- Honeymoon Choose a destination you can drive to. You’ll spend quality time with your mate in the car and you won’t have the expense of airfares and rental cars. You’ll also find you have more flexibility. You can change your plans at the last minute and not have to worry about penalty fees.
- Find a discount florist Who says you have to pay full price for flowers? Find a discount florist or try and get a better deal with your favorite flower shop. This might be easier if you plan your wedding during off-peak times. A Saturday wedding in June probably won’t give you much bargaining power. Even check warehouse stores. In fact Sam’s Club has a floral department. Just don’t insist on some exotic flower imported from halfway around the world.
- Don't finance a wedding with credit cards In fact, don't finance it at all. If you can't pay cash for everything, consider eloping and hosting a celebration party later when you can afford it. Or plan a simpler less extravagant event. An afternoon wedding at someone's home, with a few close friends and family will be less stressful and even more memorable.
Finally, use the money you save for a downpayment on a house. You’ll make a lot of memories in your new home and appreciate not being bogged down with wedding bills for years to come.
The copyright of the article Budgeting for a Wedding in Consumer Education is owned by L. Marie Dubuque. Permission to republish Budgeting for a Wedding in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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