Getting married is something that many of us have dreamt of from an early age. We played wedding day dress up as kids and imagined ourselves marrying all of our childhood crushes. Wedding budgets and wedding budget tips were never in these childhood fantasies.
Then, as we got older, we started secretly practicing signing our partners’ name and imagining what our wedding day would be like. None of these fantasies will have involved a budget. In your make-believe world, you had what you wanted without having to consider the cost. In the real world, wedding budget tips can help you keep costs from getting out of hand.
The reality is, unfortunately very different. The average wedding cost is around $35000, and the average wage for employed workers is only $44000. Weddings cost money.
The perfect dream wedding can cost an exorbitant amount of money. While it can be tempting to put wedding purchases on credit cards or take out a loan, it’s better not to. Ideally, you should wait and save before you get married, but who wants to do that when they are madly in love and desperate to tell the world?
The best option is sticking to a budget that you can afford, without sacrificing the wedding of your dreams. Here are 6 wedding budget tips to help you get it right.
Prioritize
The first thing that you need to do is work out what you really want, and what you are willing to sacrifice. Sit down with your partner and write a list of everything involved in your wedding, a master list if you want, of everything that you can think of. Then, think about what you need. The things you’ve always dreamed of. If you know that you definitely want a live band, keep it, and cut something you’re not as bothered about.
Get Help
There’s plenty of articles and sites out there like Wedding intro that can offer you advice on planning your wedding. There are also real-life accounts from other brides on how they cut costs. Read as much as you can and write down things that can help you.
DIY
Pinterest is a fantastic resource when it comes to getting married on a budget. You can make so much yourself. This could include table centerpieces, stationery, decorations, bouquets, outfits, and food. Think about your talents and try something out.
Use People You Know
One of the biggest costs you’ll face is paying people for their skills. DJ’s, photographers, and caterers can be very expensive. So, instead think about people you know. Even if they are not professional, they may be able to help for a much smaller fee. Another option is contacting the local college and offering someone work experience.
Go Against Tradition
Your wedding doesn’t need to be the same as all the others you’ve been to. You don’t have to have music or a cake; you don’t need flowers or transportation. Keep things if you want them, but don’t spend a fortune on a wedding cake if you’d prefer a casual dessert buffet.
Do It At Home
If you’ve got a large garden, (or sufficient space inside if you are having a small, intimate gathering), getting married at home can be a wonderful solution. There’s no venue rental cost. You aren’t limited to the in-house or “preferred” caterers, so you can save a bundle on food. Same with alcohol – you can have your guests help themselves to beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options like iced tea. You can get talented friends and family members involved – using the talents of those who are awesome cooks, crafty folks, and musically inclined will save money and give you a unique wedding.
*This is a contributed post
I hope you found this information on wedding budget tips useful!
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Looking for fun ideas, or need help with your wedding plans?
Weddings From The Heart can help. Contact me today at jean@weddingsfromtheheart.net or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!