You Can Have a Great Wedding for Less
Posted on Thursday, August 6th, 2009 at 7:57 pm in Financial Planning
Tradition says that weddings have to be big and extravagant, cost a lot of money, and involve at least a year of planning as well as an enormous amount of stress. But in this economy, many couples are realizing that it really doesn’t need to be that way. You can have a fabulous wedding without breaking the bank or having a nervous breakdown, if you know how.
With the average wedding costing over $20,000 these days, there’s plenty of room to save a whole lot of money without skimping on the romance and fun of the day. If you’re willing to be flexible and think outside the box a little, you can even put together a fabulous wedding in a matter of weeks. Here are some tips to help you have a stress-free and happy event with cash to spare:
Cut a deal with vendors: Many companies that provide goods and services for weddings are willing to give discounts of 10-30%, especially if you’re getting married relatively soon (within 2 or 3 months). Vendors such as caterers, bakers, photographers, hotel banquet facilities and florists generally prefer to fill a slot for a lower price than not at all.
Don’t be put off if they won’t give you a straight discount. You might get a better result if you tell them what your budget is and ask if they can put together a customized package to suit your requirements.
Go off-season: The most popular months for weddings are May to October. That means you’ll be able to find excellent deals and bookings that suit you during the rest of the year. Don’t be afraid to be unconventional – your family and friends will be pleased that your wedding doesn’t clash with other social events.
Remember that Saturday is a very busy day for weddings, so hold yours on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday for big savings and a wider choice. Maybe you could get married in the morning and hold the reception at lunchtime or in the afternoon, to avoid the evening ‘rush’.
You don’t have to invite the whole world: Do you really need 400 guests at your wedding? Think about having a smaller, more personal reception for your family and close friends only. Then you can throw a big bash another time when you have more money to spend. With a smaller-scale event, you can afford to spend a bit more on food to make the day even more special, while still saving money as well as time and trouble.
Make it simple but elegant: You don’t need every last thing to be personalized and monogrammed to have a stylish wedding. Likewise, it’s not essential to have a seven-course meal and the most expensive wine. Pick a stunning dress off-the-rack and have it altered to fit you perfectly, and you’ll look a million dollars on your happy day. Perhaps you can hold the event at home, or a relative’s house, to avoid paying for venue hire. You can save a bundle on the flowers too, by using local flowers in season instead of imported hothouse varieties.
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