How to plan a budget conscious wedding without going nuts
. Weddings can be so doggone expensive! If you're not made of money and can't afford a platinum wedding, the obvious choice is to elope. That's what my parents did 25 years ago. And that's exactly what my mom warned me about. She said although she loves my dad and would marry him again in a minute, she regrets not having at least a small wedding. She wore a skirt suit, and he wore slacks. There were no witnesses--just my parents and the officiant. They don't even have pictures of their special day. I made the decision a long time ago to have the best wedding I could afford and that I would avoid eloping at all costs.
So how does the budget-conscious bride plan and execute a classy wedding without looking cheap? Saving money of course!
Here's how:
--The second Chris and I got engaged, we hatched a plan to save as much money as we could. We each took a set amount from each paycheck and put that money in an untouchable savings account. While Judge Judy may warn you against setting up a joint back account prior to marriage, it can actually come in handy. Both of you would have access to the money and be able to spend it on wedding-related things with a single withdrawal. Before you establish this joint account, however, you need to set up some ground rules. For example, both of you have to be present when the money is withdrawn from the bank. Both of you have to be there when the money is spent. You'll only withdraw the exact amount of money you need at that time. Setting up these rules can keep your budget in balance and you and your fiance out of court.
--If you're not comfortable with the joint account thing, there are other ways you and your fiance can save money. If you're going to be engaged a while (like me and my fiance), you can buy small things, such as invitations and decorations, a little at a time over the course of your engagement. That way, you're only spending a little at a time and can save more money for the most expensive wedding-related items. If you find invitations you like, for example, you can buy one or two boxes now, wait a few weeks, then buy a few more. The same goes for other small items as well.
--Shop around. Before you commit to a venue, photographer, florist, hairstylist, anything, shop around to find the best prices. Become familiar with the prices these vendors charge. Photography, for example, can vary by as much as $1000 for the same type of coverage. By shopping around, you can get the feel of the average price range and figure out what you're comfortable with. Only after you've decided on a budget should you commit to anything. Most weddings tend to go over budget, but you don't want to begin your new lives in debt.
--After you've shopped around some and get a sense for the cost of things, set a budget. Set a budget and stick to it. In more traditional circles, the bride's parents pay for just about everything while the groom's parents get off cheap with the rehearsal dinner and some of the reception. But in the generation of independent women, things aren't as clear cut anymore. Only plan the wedding you can afford. If either set of parents offers to contribute money, great! If not, you're just going to have to deal with the fact that your budget won't be as big. No big deal. Once your budget is set, you can begin allocating part of your budget to different aspects. Find a chart of wedding expense breakdown here.
--Negotiate. Wedding vendors know how expensive weddings can be. They're involved in more weddings than you can imagine. Sometimes, if you let them know your budget constraints, they may be able to cut you a deal. Don't be shy about asking for discounts or specials. These vendors want your business, so they're probably going to want to help you. To be on the safe side, make sure these discounts are written into the contract.
--Don't mention the word "wedding." That one word alone can sometimes double the cost of things such as flowers and catering. After all, flowers are flowers and food is food whether it's for a wedding, anniversary party or whatever. If the vendor does ask what the occasion is, just tell them it's a big celebration. It's not a lie and you can save money.
So how does the budget-conscious bride plan and execute a classy wedding without looking cheap? Saving money of course!
Here's how:
--The second Chris and I got engaged, we hatched a plan to save as much money as we could. We each took a set amount from each paycheck and put that money in an untouchable savings account. While Judge Judy may warn you against setting up a joint back account prior to marriage, it can actually come in handy. Both of you would have access to the money and be able to spend it on wedding-related things with a single withdrawal. Before you establish this joint account, however, you need to set up some ground rules. For example, both of you have to be present when the money is withdrawn from the bank. Both of you have to be there when the money is spent. You'll only withdraw the exact amount of money you need at that time. Setting up these rules can keep your budget in balance and you and your fiance out of court.
--If you're not comfortable with the joint account thing, there are other ways you and your fiance can save money. If you're going to be engaged a while (like me and my fiance), you can buy small things, such as invitations and decorations, a little at a time over the course of your engagement. That way, you're only spending a little at a time and can save more money for the most expensive wedding-related items. If you find invitations you like, for example, you can buy one or two boxes now, wait a few weeks, then buy a few more. The same goes for other small items as well.
--Shop around. Before you commit to a venue, photographer, florist, hairstylist, anything, shop around to find the best prices. Become familiar with the prices these vendors charge. Photography, for example, can vary by as much as $1000 for the same type of coverage. By shopping around, you can get the feel of the average price range and figure out what you're comfortable with. Only after you've decided on a budget should you commit to anything. Most weddings tend to go over budget, but you don't want to begin your new lives in debt.
--After you've shopped around some and get a sense for the cost of things, set a budget. Set a budget and stick to it. In more traditional circles, the bride's parents pay for just about everything while the groom's parents get off cheap with the rehearsal dinner and some of the reception. But in the generation of independent women, things aren't as clear cut anymore. Only plan the wedding you can afford. If either set of parents offers to contribute money, great! If not, you're just going to have to deal with the fact that your budget won't be as big. No big deal. Once your budget is set, you can begin allocating part of your budget to different aspects. Find a chart of wedding expense breakdown here.
--Negotiate. Wedding vendors know how expensive weddings can be. They're involved in more weddings than you can imagine. Sometimes, if you let them know your budget constraints, they may be able to cut you a deal. Don't be shy about asking for discounts or specials. These vendors want your business, so they're probably going to want to help you. To be on the safe side, make sure these discounts are written into the contract.
--Don't mention the word "wedding." That one word alone can sometimes double the cost of things such as flowers and catering. After all, flowers are flowers and food is food whether it's for a wedding, anniversary party or whatever. If the vendor does ask what the occasion is, just tell them it's a big celebration. It's not a lie and you can save money.
How to pick the right photographer
I almost drove myself crazy looking for the right photographer. I knew it had to be someone who had a certain style in her photography, someone who didn't take the boring overly-posed photos of years past. I trolled the internet for countless hours, checking out portfolios and price lists before finally settling on just the perfect one.
So how does a bride, especially one with limited finances, decide which photographer is right for her? She follows these steps of course:
--Figure out what style of photography you want. Is your wedding traditional? Off-the-wall? Somewhere in between? You want your wedding photos to match the feel of your wedding. In return, you need to find a photographer who emulates this style. You don't want someone unfamiliar with they style of photos you want to shoot your wedding. Both you and the photographer will be disappointed. Do you want the traditional posed shots? Candid photo journalistic shots? There's a photographer out there for every style. You just have to find it.
--How much of your wedding do you want documented? If you want everything--from the second you start getting ready until you and hubby drive off into the sunset--prepare to pay. Wedding photography in and of itself is not inexpensive. The more you want covered, the higher the cost. Most photographers have packages designed to meet every need. If you only want ceremony and partial reception coverage, there's that. If you want ceremony and full reception coverage, there's that too. Just realize that the longer the photographer is there, the more it will cost you.
--Take advantage of the free consultations. Most phogos offer them as a chance to just chit-chat about your wedding plans and see how well you'd fit one another. It helps to know a few basics about your wedding, such as the time of year, theme if you have one, an estimated number of guests, etc. Even if these things aren't set in stone, it gives the photog an idea of the kind of wedding she may potentially photograph. If possible, bring your fiance so the photog can get a sense of the type of couple you are. This will help her learn more about you and the kind of photos you would want.
--Visit the photog's website. Look at the online portfolio and decide whether or not you like what you see. If the photos look bland, are too busy or poorly edited, you may want to find someone else. After all, these are the most important pictures you will have taken in your life. Your children and grandchildren will see these photos many years from now, so you want them to be as timeless and classy as possible.
So how does a bride, especially one with limited finances, decide which photographer is right for her? She follows these steps of course:
--Figure out what style of photography you want. Is your wedding traditional? Off-the-wall? Somewhere in between? You want your wedding photos to match the feel of your wedding. In return, you need to find a photographer who emulates this style. You don't want someone unfamiliar with they style of photos you want to shoot your wedding. Both you and the photographer will be disappointed. Do you want the traditional posed shots? Candid photo journalistic shots? There's a photographer out there for every style. You just have to find it.
--How much of your wedding do you want documented? If you want everything--from the second you start getting ready until you and hubby drive off into the sunset--prepare to pay. Wedding photography in and of itself is not inexpensive. The more you want covered, the higher the cost. Most photographers have packages designed to meet every need. If you only want ceremony and partial reception coverage, there's that. If you want ceremony and full reception coverage, there's that too. Just realize that the longer the photographer is there, the more it will cost you.
--Take advantage of the free consultations. Most phogos offer them as a chance to just chit-chat about your wedding plans and see how well you'd fit one another. It helps to know a few basics about your wedding, such as the time of year, theme if you have one, an estimated number of guests, etc. Even if these things aren't set in stone, it gives the photog an idea of the kind of wedding she may potentially photograph. If possible, bring your fiance so the photog can get a sense of the type of couple you are. This will help her learn more about you and the kind of photos you would want.
--Visit the photog's website. Look at the online portfolio and decide whether or not you like what you see. If the photos look bland, are too busy or poorly edited, you may want to find someone else. After all, these are the most important pictures you will have taken in your life. Your children and grandchildren will see these photos many years from now, so you want them to be as timeless and classy as possible.
How to pick the right invitations
Chris will tell you that I have aggravated him to death over invitations. But why? They're really just a small detail and no one really keeps them anyway. All valid points, but I'm a writer. Therefore, paper is very important to me (that sounds sooo nerdy).
The invitation is the guests' first glimpse into your wedding. The invitation tells them more than just time, date and place. It also tells them the theme and formality and gives them an idea of what to expect. So you have to really think about the invitation. While it seems like a minute detail, it actually packs a lot of punch.
I'm still trying to figure out what invitations I want. If you find yourself in the same boat, follow these steps:
--Determine the theme, formality and time of your wedding. These are all very important elements that dictate the style of invitation you should choose. If you're getting married in the fall (like me), you don't want invitations with pale pastel colors. Those indicate springtime. If your wedding is in the evening (anytime after 6 p.m.), the invitations should be more formal.
--Pay attention to color. The font color on the invitation doesn't have to be the exact same shade of purple as your bridesmaids' dresses, but it should coordinate. As I said, the invitation gives the guest an idea of what to expect, so you don't want to use forest green ribbon on the invitation then surprise them with lime green tablecloths in the reception hall. It just doesn't work that way.
--Think about all the information you have to include in the invitation. If you're having a simple wedding, then the single card stock invitations may work well for you. If you're inviting a lot of out of town guests, pocketfold invitations are great for additional cards that could list local accommodations or an area map. I personally like pocketfolds because I like things to be neatly organized. They also seem more elegant. However, other styles of invitations can be dressed up to be made more elegant as well.
--On that note, don't be afraid to add extra touches to your invitations. Even the plainest of invitations can be dressed up and made into something better. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, buy some ribbon or some sort of stamp and use those to add some pizazz to your plain-jane wedding invitations.
--Think about price. Wedding invitations are something you have to buy a lot of. If you're not careful, this can turn into a huge expense. Fortunately, many chain discount stores such as Wal-Mart and Target sale wedding invitations you can print yourself at home. If you're not into DIY-ing your invitations, there are hundreds of websites that will print and package your invitations for you. This is a pricer option. If your budget is limitless, you can always opt for a local printer to do your invitations for you. Mug and Pia in Huntington sales some beautiful, elegant-looking invitations. The owner works directly with her clients, and ordering something from a real store as opposed to an internet company means you can stop by and see how your invitations are coming along.
--Some invitations require extra postage. Whether you print them yourself or have them done for you, invitations are sometimes shaped awkwardly or weigh slightly more than traditional mail. Be prepared to spend a little more on postage, especially if you're sending these invitations a considerable distance. If you buy invitations yourself, check the box to see if extra postage is required. While the price may only increase a few pennies, those pennies can add up, especially if you're mailing 100 or more invitations.
The invitation is the guests' first glimpse into your wedding. The invitation tells them more than just time, date and place. It also tells them the theme and formality and gives them an idea of what to expect. So you have to really think about the invitation. While it seems like a minute detail, it actually packs a lot of punch.
I'm still trying to figure out what invitations I want. If you find yourself in the same boat, follow these steps:
--Determine the theme, formality and time of your wedding. These are all very important elements that dictate the style of invitation you should choose. If you're getting married in the fall (like me), you don't want invitations with pale pastel colors. Those indicate springtime. If your wedding is in the evening (anytime after 6 p.m.), the invitations should be more formal.
--Pay attention to color. The font color on the invitation doesn't have to be the exact same shade of purple as your bridesmaids' dresses, but it should coordinate. As I said, the invitation gives the guest an idea of what to expect, so you don't want to use forest green ribbon on the invitation then surprise them with lime green tablecloths in the reception hall. It just doesn't work that way.
--Think about all the information you have to include in the invitation. If you're having a simple wedding, then the single card stock invitations may work well for you. If you're inviting a lot of out of town guests, pocketfold invitations are great for additional cards that could list local accommodations or an area map. I personally like pocketfolds because I like things to be neatly organized. They also seem more elegant. However, other styles of invitations can be dressed up to be made more elegant as well.
--On that note, don't be afraid to add extra touches to your invitations. Even the plainest of invitations can be dressed up and made into something better. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, buy some ribbon or some sort of stamp and use those to add some pizazz to your plain-jane wedding invitations.
--Think about price. Wedding invitations are something you have to buy a lot of. If you're not careful, this can turn into a huge expense. Fortunately, many chain discount stores such as Wal-Mart and Target sale wedding invitations you can print yourself at home. If you're not into DIY-ing your invitations, there are hundreds of websites that will print and package your invitations for you. This is a pricer option. If your budget is limitless, you can always opt for a local printer to do your invitations for you. Mug and Pia in Huntington sales some beautiful, elegant-looking invitations. The owner works directly with her clients, and ordering something from a real store as opposed to an internet company means you can stop by and see how your invitations are coming along.
--Some invitations require extra postage. Whether you print them yourself or have them done for you, invitations are sometimes shaped awkwardly or weigh slightly more than traditional mail. Be prepared to spend a little more on postage, especially if you're sending these invitations a considerable distance. If you buy invitations yourself, check the box to see if extra postage is required. While the price may only increase a few pennies, those pennies can add up, especially if you're mailing 100 or more invitations.
