Your Cheap but Wonderful Wedding
You want that hand-made beaded dress. You want the accordion orchestra that plays those fugues. You definitely want the custom designed, jeweled tiara. You want the cathedral with the amazing stained glass windows for the ceremony, and you need a huge hall for the reception. How about a million roses? Riding in to the ceremony on horseback? Flying out of the reception by helicopter? No, by hot-air balloon! Yes, you want it all. But you’re broke.
The wedding budget is something that every couple struggles with, no matter their economic status. A low-cost wedding doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice; you just have to get more creative and decide which elements of the ceremony and reception are the most important. In fact, a personalized wedding, one that’s uniquely “you” will likely be cheaper and more rewarding than a traditional wedding ceremony. Start by deciding how much money you realistically have to spend, keeping in mind that you should add an easy 10% for cost overruns. Here’s a starter Wedding Budget Worksheet that you can use to track your expenses.
The only thing you really need to have a wedding is your partner and an officiate. Everything else is negotiable—icing on the wedding cake. You are in control of how much money you spend, and where you want to compromise. Even where there’s no compromising on what you want, it’s a good idea (even if you have a large budget) to negotiate with the vendors. Chances are that most businesses will negotiate with you rather than hand you over to the competition.
Thinking creatively and out of the box will help in every area, from your bridal shower to your honeymoon. Some items are expensive because every couple “needs them.” But then again, you aren’t every couple; that’s why you’re here, right? No one can tell you what you need. The bridge between your imaginings and your budget is creativity. Wedding favors? What about polishing stones from the beach where you met? Centerpieces? Design your own out of your garden. Even if you aren’t a do-it-yourself type, you can repurpose non-wedding items to become centerpieces or wedding decor. Need some great creative ideas? Contact us, we’ve got lots.
Your Inexpensive Wedding Dress
Every bride wants the perfect dress, one that is the very essence of her spirit. Often, using a color other than white takes the cost down because you’re not feeding the traditional “wedding machine.”
Another way to cut back is to rent your dress. The groom rents his tux, so why shouldn’t you rent your clothes too? We know, “But, but, but, I’ve always wanted the Cinderella gown!” If it’s truly important to you, spend the money! But make sure it’s something you want, not something you’re expected to want. Hopefully you’ll only wear the dress once, and there will be tons of pictures showing you at your most beautiful. So, you can save a little money and show your future kids the pictures, and skip the dress that’ll be folded up in a box for years to come.
Hey, how about those wedding dresses holed up in those boxes? Do you have a parent or grandparent or in-law or friend who'd love you to modify her dress but hasn’t thought to ask? Your “something old” can be something inexpensive and meaningful at the same time.
Timing Your Wedding for Cheaper Costs
Avoid holidays and “peak” times for your wedding. Instead, choose a date that’s meaningful to you. When was the first time you met? Kissed? What marked an important moment for your relationship? Time your wedding for you, not for the wedding industry, and you’ll find more wedding bargains.
Meaningful Places for Less Mulah
Remember It’s a Wonderful Life, when Mary creates a honeymoon for herself and George in their new house? Use your home, your family’s home, or low-cost options (like the first place you met, kissed, got engaged) for locations. With a little creativity you can bring in elements that will give any location the personality you’re seeking for your special day. Don’t bust your budget renting an expensive wedding and reception hall. At your home, you can even use your budget to invest in improvements that will last a lifetime, not a day. Have a garden wedding and use the money to redo your backyard. Decorate your greatroom. Spend money on items that will last and always remind you of your wedding day.
Decoration as Celebration
Wedding and Reception decorations are often budget-busters. Hold “do-it-yourself” parties with friends and family to make your own decorations. Remember that making your wedding more personal can go hand-in-hand with making it affordable. Involving your friends and family also creates fun memories and lots of “you had to be there” moments. Stories are always fun to share over drinks at the reception. Are you good at attractively arranging flowers? Have a good eye for color? Pick a bunch of in-season flowers and make bouquets yourself. Going with seasonal florals is not only less expensive but it adds a lovely personal touch and an extra bit of ambience.
Who Needs a Cake Eating Up Your Budget?
The wedding cake and topper is another money-grabber. Is the multi-tiered white cake with the bridges and spun glass top really your thing? How about a cupcake tower? Or take your basic sheet cake and decorate it with a photo transfer. Take several, and make a large picture in several parts, a pastry triptych (or more). Tilt it up for display, or mount it on an impressive pedestal. Make it fun, and save money at the same time.
Go Small, Go Intimate, Go Cheap
Do you really need a ton of guests? Why not cut down the guest list to include only those closest to you? This area can be an emotional minefield with families and is often difficult to negotiate, especially if your family is helping out with costs. If you choose to have your wedding at a non-home location, follow up later with a big backyard party and invite everyone your family wants. But you’ll find a small wedding can be more meaningful, with those who are most important to you gathered around you. Thinking creatively in all areas is again, not only cheaper, but more rewarding.
An Inexpensive Reception?
The reception is usually one of the biggest parts of your budget. Still feel like you have to appease family members and invite your dearly-departed Aunt Flo and third cousins twice removed? Compromise by using creativity instead of buying everyone in attendance a big meal. How about a pasta or a taco bar? Granted, spaghetti and nacho cheese stains are not attractive on one’s wedding attire, so make it neater with a peanut butter sandwich bar, repleat with jellies, jams, marshmallow topping, bananas, and other fruit. There are tons of options. Pick whatever other fun food product floats your boat. You get the idea.
Every vendor in every area of your wedding has their hand out as part of the wedding machine. Remember this, and practice nightly saying “no, thank you.” You’ll be glad you did.
A wedding shouldn’t be about flaunting your social status; it should be about the perfect moment. Choose meaningful over expensive. Pick the one thing that is most important, to the both of you, to spend money on. Yes, spending money is quick and easy, but being creative in what you spend it on is really more important. It might be more time consuming (or just take more thought), but it also might create some irreplacable memories in the process. Just remember, any vendor’s job is to sell you whatever their product is. Avoid them by being creative. And don’t forget the “no, thank you.”
