How to Get Hitched on a Budget {Guest Post}

Planning a wedding these days is not for the faint of heart. The average wedding in the U.S. now hovers around $27,000 — and that doesn’t include the honeymoon — so unless you’re planning to hop on the next plane to Vegas, it’s important to start thinking about your budget right away.

When my husband and I were preparing to get married in May 2011, we knew we’d be covering the majority of the wedding ourselves, so “extravagant” wasn’t a word in our vocabulary. At the same time, you, ideally, only get one shot at planning your dream wedding, so there were certain things we weren’t willing to give up in our pursuit of a fairytale-like event.

The three things people remember after a wedding is the food, the music and the drinks, which means if you’re going to scale back a bit, these things should not be left on the cutting room floor. If you find yourself in a similar situation, wondering where to begin the wedding on a budget process, here are a few tips from someone who’s lived it:

Lay Out Your Priorities from the Get-Go

Is the location what you’re most concerned about? How about the photographers? Or maybe you want the best catered food money can buy. No matter what your preference, lay out your no-compromise, must-haves at the beginning of the planning process. This will inform all of your decisions moving forward.

I knew that a photobooth, while seemingly a luxury, was absolutely something I wanted to have at my reception (Who doesn’t love a good photobooth?) So because I was allocating money there, I knew I’d have to remove it elsewhere. For me, that elsewhere was chair covers. My husband and I went back and forth for awhile, but ultimately decided that we couldn’t remember a single chair from any wedding we’d ever attended — and our guests likely wouldn’t, either. Identify what means most to you, and axe or cut back on the items that are less important.

Package Your Vendors Whenever Possible

Hiring one person to take your photos, one person to shoot your video, one person to man your photobooth, etc. can become costly very quickly. These days, many people in the wedding business have begun packaging their services for a much more competitive fee.

In my case, I found a DJ/photobooth combo that came highly recommended and also helped me kill two birds with one stone. In another instance, I was able to save money on flowers by having a florist take care of the big arrangements, such as the flowers I would carry down the aisle and those that would be displayed on the head table — but I discovered that the flowers for the table centerpieces could be purchased through the lady who was putting them together, saving me about $50 per table on a total of 15 tables. Definitely a lifesaver in that department.

Also, the owner of our reception venue had a relationship with the liquor store down the road, and, not only were we allowed to bring in our own spirits, but if we purchased them through that particular store, the owner would buy back any unopened bottles. Not only is being able to provide your own drinks a huge cost savings (I highly recommend finding a location that supports that, if you can), but being able to eliminate the stress of unused bottles was the icing the cake (no pun intended).

Look to Pinterest and Other Sites for DIY Inspiration

Pinterest was just starting to become a thing as I was wrapping up my wedding planning, but these days, it is a hotbed of ideas for the bride on a budget. Whether it’s your guestbook, hair accessories, a welcome sign, invitations or really anything other than your dress that you’re trying to save some money on, these types of sites have inspiration for you.

It’s important to assess the skill level involved before you embark on any DIY project, however, and make sure you give yourself enough lead time, in case your craft skills aren’t quite up to par. Have fun it, be creative and think outside of the box when you’re brainstorming ways to create a unique experience for your friends and family. The payoff can be huge.

••••••

Planning a wedding can be a very stressful time for even the most centered brides-to-be. And if you’re a bride on a budget, keeping your eye on the bottom line can add additional pressure. Take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone, and that there are a million and one resources designed to help you succeed.

By laying out your priorities from the beginning, packaging services wherever possible and tapping into your crafty side, you’ll be well on your way to a day that you’ll remember fondly for a lifetime.

 

About the Author: Erica Moss is the community manager for Georgetown University’s online masters of Nursing program, offering one of the nation’s leading nursing educator programs. She enjoys blogging, TV, pop culture and tweeting @ericajmoss.