by Karen Chamchuk

Created on: April 23, 2009   Last Updated: June 17, 2009

Many brides have been dreaming about their wedding day ever since they were little girls. Their expectations for what creates the perfect wedding day have been building with each year that goes by and with each wedding they have attended. Consequently, they have strong ideas about what they want, making it extremely difficult to stick to a budget when planning a wedding. However, with a little know-how and a lot of determination, it is possible to plan a budget-friendly wedding.

DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND

You need to determine exactly how much money you are willing and able to spend on your wedding. This dollar amount will help you to make decisions and to rein in your spending, if necessary. Next, before you purchase or put a deposit on anything, make an itemized list of all of the things you will have to rent or buy for your wedding. If you just start spending money randomly before making this list, then you can easily go over budget. Write down the major expenses first. Once you determine that you have money in your budget for the major expenses, you can then start to focus on the lower end expenses

SET YOUR PRIORITIES EARLY-ON

You will need to determine which elements of the wedding are the most important to you and make a list of these elements all the way down to the least important elements. Take a really close look within yourself to determine what matters the most to you and what you may be willing to give up. This list will help you to set priorities in the allocation of your resources. Why spend a fortune on the reception hall decorations when the most important thing to you is having memorable wedding favours?

BE REALISTIC

You'll need to develop some tolerance for self-deprivation if you are going to be successful in sticking to your wedding budget. Take a step back from the strong emotions that go along with planning a wedding and view the facts with the cool, detached eyes of an accountant. Unless you have an unlimited supply of money, you are going to have a few minor disappointments when you make your decisions about what items to cut back on or leave out of your wedding plans.

NEGOTIATE WISELY

Fourthly, when you are negotiating with vendors about prices, be clear about how much you are willing to spend. The vendors are always going to try and sell the highest priced options first, so make sure you give them a dollar amount to work with. In addition, make sure you get price quotes in writing. There's nothing worse than thinking you are renting a reception hall for $2000.00, and finding out the actual price is going to be double that amount. Getting your quotes in writing will help you to avoid unpleasant surprises when you get the final bill.

Lastly, you must be willing to make compromises all along the way. For example, it may be necessary to say goodbye to your plans to have an ice sculpture at the reception. However, by making this compromise, you will be saving the money you need to release doves into the sky after your ceremony.

If you keep your spending limits at the forefront of your mind, and you remember to practise the art of compromise, you will be able to successfully plan a budget-friendly wedding. With a little work and a lot of determination, it is possible to plan a memorable wedding that stays within the confines of your budget.

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