Brides hear “wedding budget” and they go into panic mode. That word implies that the wedding must be modest enough to fit within certain financial constraints – and most brides assume that the wedding of their dreams is bound to cost a small fortune. If you find yourself in this situation, it's pointless to worry. There are so many options nowadays when it comes to weddings – with a little creative planning on your end, you can make “budget” and “dream wedding” synonymous.
The Wedding Triathalon
Most brides attain their idea of a picture-perfect wedding from what they see in the media and on television. Reality show couples such as the Bachelorette as well as celebrities everywhere are spending thousands to millions on their nuptials. No matter the circumstances or income, this is highly impractical. And every year the weddings get even more ridiculously expensive as brides compete for biggest and better nuptials. Bridal planning is completely out of hand; while most brides say that they want their wedding to be memorable, what they really mean is: expensively impressive.
Is It Worth It?
Having an extravagant ceremony is great – if you can afford it. No couple should begin their married life together in debt. If you find that your wedding preparations requires you to reach for a credit card or loan, reconsider your choices. There is always a less costly road to take, it's just a matter of figuring it out and bargaining for prices wherever you can. The average couple nowadays will be engaged for 16 months before tying the knot. During this period they are saving up an ideal amount of money with which they can plan the wedding, as well as shop for deals.
Advice: Buy a little bit at a time; one month you could get the wedding party favors, the next you could create the invitations. By the time the wedding approaches, you'll have already taken care of most of the smaller wedding constituents.
Calculate the Budget
Before you begin to make your purchases, try to attain an estimate for each wedding element. Add together all of the best bargains and see what the total cost of your wedding looks like. This will give you a better idea as to where you should cut down or where you could potentially add more. If you start to just buy the small things randomly, you won't be able to keep track of your money and it will be gone before you know it.
Tips to Follow
While some couples will spend $30,000 on their wedding, others are only spending $10,000 for a ceremony and reception that is just as elegant. You can cut your wedding costs in half just by having the wedding during the off-season months and on weekdays. Rather than have a night event, push the wedding back to the early afternoon. This could be the difference of $2,000-$5,000. Instead of having tall reception centerpieces (which can look too excessive), utilize smaller ones. This will allow your guests to converse more easily and save you money!
The Essentials
The wedding is perhaps the most important day of a women's life – it's important to remember the reasons behind this natural construct. You're starting a new life with the person that you love; your soul-mate. To effectively demonstrate your passion, it's not necessary that you spend everything that you have on a big showy wedding. Think of what's best for you and for your partner before you go through with anything. Don't be selfish, this is his day too! When it all comes down to it, you'll be more happy that you compromised on a wedding budget rather than demanding that you have a celebration that puts you both in economic turmoil.