5 of 41

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 5

less expensive, but watch out for the pitfalls! Make sure there is adequate shelter available in case of extreme weather. Also, keep in mind that June is graduation season, so book well in advance if you intend to take on a wedding during the busiest month of the year! It's always cheaper to have a wedding during the off-season.

3. Wedding/Party Consultants
Now, this could get hairy. Unless you regularly work a 70 hour week, you should have plenty of time and the ability to plan a wedding yourself. Don't let the wedding industry underestimate you! You can do it! Aside from planning your perfect day for you, a wedding planner's next purpose is to get you to spend as much money as possible, and the more time you spend with them, they more they charge. Now, I'm not saying that all wedding planners are gold diggers, but the more you spend, the more they make. Plain and simple.

4. The Little Things
Pew bows, wedding favors, decorations, equipment rentals - these are good areas to flex your spending. You don't need pew bows on every pew, or even at all (no one is going to remember them ten years from now), and you are not required to send everyone home with a personalized candle or tiny bottle of bubbles (more stuff people will likely never use/keep). Save some money by personalizing your napkins or providing treats bought in bulk or wholesale. Keep your receipts so that you can return anything you overbought or opt out of. Decorate tastefully and simply. A wedding should be classy, not full of streamers and tissue-paper bells. Money spent on strategic lighting can create a breath-taking atmosphere without a lot of help from paper decorations and balloons. As for the flowers, get the best bouquet within your budget, but relax when it comes to the rest. Try using single blooms for a simple understated look. Dried or artificial arrangements look just as good without all the maintenance, and can be kept for the home or re-sold. Buying runners and chair covers and renting candelabras and arches will rack up a total much faster than you may realize! Any rental you decide on will likely have a sizeable deposit attached, money you could put to good use on the more important and memorable aspects of your union.

5. The Invitations
So much money is put into all those lovely pieces of paper that go hand-in-hand with the perfect day. There are so many options when it comes to invites, it can be dizzying. Keep it simple, avoid extra inserts by combining them. You can even print your

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Wedding planning on a tight budget?
We want to hear your view. Write now!