This post is all about the Ultimate Guide To Wedding Planning On A Budget! Are you planning a traditional wedding on a shoestring budget? If so, congratulations! And don’t worry, because that is certainly doable.
Your wedding doesn’t have to be lavish for it to be special. Every bride is beautiful—and every couple deserves a wedding that reflects who they are as individuals and as a couple.
To help you save money without compromising the quality of your big day, we’ve researched hundreds of articles from bridal magazines and dozens of blog posts by successful budget-conscious brides.
We combed through all the advice out there and distilled our findings into this definitive guide to planning an affordable yet unforgettable wedding. We hope you find it useful!
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The Ultimate Guide To Wedding Planning On A Budget
Here we goooo!
Have A Spreadsheet
You can track your spending by creating an Excel workbook or Google Doc spreadsheet. Just include certain key details like the cost of each category, such as “Bride’s attire.” Make sure you list individual items within that line item so it’ll be easier for future reference!
One easy way to stay on top of all those expenses is with an accounting program like Microsoft Excel® which has been designed specifically for wedding planners’ needs when they’re managing finances during pre-wedding planning periods.
Be Open About Your Expectations
Once you have your expenses listed on a spreadsheet, you will get an estimate of how much the total wedding costs would be. Depending on your agreement and expectations as a couple, the figure could be overwhelming at first.
Hence, you need to learn to communicate honestly about what things must be prioritized—including small details like cake flavors, whether you need a princess cut engagement ring, or venue size and location preferences which can certainly affect your overall budget.
Time Your Wedding
For those on a budget, consider planning your wedding in the afternoon and holding an extended cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres. Avoiding expensive sit-down meals can help you save as much as 50% off of what it would cost for food at most venues!
You may also want to think about the day because some businesses book up quickly on Saturdays while others aren’t so busy during weekdays—this means that if one vendor isn’t working out well, they could just switch gears entirely by choosing another Friday or Sunday instead; both days offer cheaper prices than any other weekday.
Scout Vendors
If you want to make sure you have the best experience possible on your big day, we recommend shopping around and asking people for recommendations! Your friends are invaluable when it comes to planning and organizing an intimate wedding event.
A few minutes spent going through this process can really pay off in terms of quality service at an affordable price. For example, you can scout for local bakers near your area who can create a wedding cake that’s not just affordable but unique cakes as well.
You can also source flowers from your local florist and plantations instead of having them delivered from commercial flower shops.
Have A Fake Wedding Cake
When you are looking to save money on your wedding cake, you can ask a pastry chef to create a styrofoam dummy that can also be customized depending on your chosen wedding theme and design.
This is perfect if cutting into the real thing isn’t an option. You can have a marvelous multi-tiered ‘fake’ wedding cake at a fraction of the cost!
Of course, you must still have a cake—but much of the display could be styrofoam dummies if you really want to work with a limited budget.
DIY Whenever Possible
You might think you can save money by hiring someone else to take care of major aspects of your wedding. I know this sounds like common sense—let professionals handle everything, they’re the best at it!
But there are aspects of your wedding that you and your partner can take care of, like making your own invitations or crafting your own giveaways.
If you’re considering making your own wedding invitation, there are websites that can offer fairly inexpensive templates that can be customized to fit any style or theme. Ordering from these sites will help you save on printing costs too!
For DIY wedding decors and giveaways, there are many creative ways you can use seasonal décor for your wedding. You may even take inspiration from other couples!
For example, if you’re marrying during the autumn season, you can use berries and foliage on white tablecloths to create a color contrast that reflects the season vividly.
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Ask Friends And Family For Favors
A wedding is a time to celebrate with your loved ones and can be expensive. If you have friends or family members who are skilled in creative fields such as design, music, tuxedo fitting or seamstress, etc., ask them if they would like the chance of creating or contributing something for this special occasion!
If your friend is a skilled baker, for example, ask if they would like to supply sweet treats during your wedding at a discount.
Hold The Ceremony Or Reception At Home Or Outdoors
It’s no secret that the venue eats up nearly half of your wedding budget, but don’t you think it might be worth considering an outdoor ceremony?
You can have a personal and meaningful event without having to pay for all those bells and whistles. Let nature be your wedding decor!
If you are following all of these budgeting tips and still struggling to pay for your wedding, you may want to consider a personal loan for a wedding.
By taking out a wedding loan, you can spread the cost of your wedding over a period of time, making payments more flexible and affordable.
Wedding loans can also be used to finance other wedding-related expenses, such as the cost of a wedding dress, wedding cake, or honeymoon. Just remember to shop around and compare interest rates and repayment terms before signing with a lender.
Thank you for reading our blog post on how to plan your wedding while saving money. We hope this was helpful and that it has given you some ideas of what you can do in order to make the most out of your budget.
If there’s anything else we missed, please let us know! Call a local wedding planner as well if needed or if any other questions arise.
I hope you enjoyed my post about the Ultimate Guide To Wedding Planning On A Budget. Do you have anything you want to add? Please leave me a comment below!