Planning for a wedding may be the most stressful time in your life. And tallying up the costs could be the biggest culprit for unwanted feelings of anxiety.
There are many things that you can do to keep your wedding expenses and your stress level in check.
1. Budget
The best way to prepare for your wedding is to plan appropriately. Start by keeping a wedding planning guide to accurately predict all of the expenses you may incur. There are many great planning tools designed just for this purpose. But any accounting ledger or notebook will do. If you have a clear picture of exactly how much each element of your wedding will cost, you will better be able to determine which of those items can be adjusted to meet your total allowance.
2. Ask Friends and Family
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. This is especially true when you are trying to save money. If you have a family member who happens to be a photographer, consider asking them to donate their services in lieu of a wedding gift. Or perhaps you have some friends who play in a band. They may very well be inclined to take a reduced fee in order to get exposure at your wedding.
3. Shop Consignment
Your wedding dress will likely be one of the biggest expenses of your wedding. Because you will only wear your dress for one day, this is one item that can potentially save you a large amount of money. Consider shopping consignment dress shops for your wedding dress. There are many designer boutiques that cater to brides and bridal parties. You will have a large selection of gently used dresses to choose from, and most of the time, you will also be able to outfit your entire bridal party as well.
4. Rehearsal Dinner
Brides and grooms often assume that if they have a formal wedding, they must also have a formal rehearsal dinner. Rehearsal dinners are sometimes the first opportunity that family members get to meet one another. Try staging a dinner that is more down-home, like a barbeque or buffet style meal. This will provide an intimate atmosphere and will allow your guests to get to know one another in a more relaxed setting. In addition, this type of meal can be pulled off for significantly less than a formal sit down dinner.
5. Do It Yourself
Many elements of your wedding can be created with the help of a few friends rather than a service. Instead of ordering your centerpieces from a florist, buy the flowers yourself and have your friends help you design your own unique bouquets. Or consider using items like baskets and bowls purchased from a craft store to house your centerpieces. Look through wedding books and magazines to come up with some creative ideas that you can design yourself for dollars on the penny.
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