1. Determine the kind of wedding you want and what is nonnegotiable
You can’t plan or pay for anything without a solid plan. No matter how much wedding advice you have heard or how many wedding books you have read, there is one key element that will make or break your wedding – WHAT IS NEGOTIABLE? Your budget determines what types of wedding you can have and what is nonnegotiable. Nonnegotiable items are those things that are not negotiable such as wedding insurance, wedding invitations, wedding cakes, wedding transportation and the like. Wedding insurance for example is an item that is nonnegotiable as it needs to be insured in case of any unforeseen wedding expenses. Wedding invitations and wedding cakes are not negotiable as they are essential elements in any wedding.
Once you have determined the type of wedding you wish, you can now begin to determine what is nonnegotiable and what is negotiable. Wedding invitations are nonnegotiable since they are a part of the beginning process of your wedding. Once you receive your invitation, you can begin to search for the perfect invitation. Invitations come in all shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common; they need to say something about the couple and the wedding date. This is what is nonnegotiable.
Items such as flowers, tuxedo rentals, banquet halls, and reception halls are negotiable once you know the budget that you have allotted for them. However, wedding rings, cake toppers, centerpieces, and gifts for the wedding party are nonnegotiable once you have set a budget for them. If you are looking to save money, it is important to remember that you can always cut back on the food portions or get rid of the wedding gifts. If you are planning to get married within a certain budget, it is important to remember that you can always hold off on getting any items on your list if the cost is too high.
Wedding locations such as hotels, parks, cottages, and resorts are a lot more affordable than other types of venues. However, there are things like the dress code, flower colors, and a seating arrangement that cannot be changed. The best way to determine the type of wedding that you wish is to do as much research as possible on the type of wedding that you want and how much the venue would cost if it were your own. Once you have done this, it is then time to determine the amount of money that you have allotted for each category. If you plan to save money with a home wedding you will need to be sure you know all of the costs. Such as, decorations, cleaning services, time as well as the cost of the utilities such as the Constellation energy costs to make your home a comfortable temperature for all of the guests.
2. Less is more even during your wedding
More than twice as many brides report that they were surprised by how little wedding planning cost when compared to the high cost of weddings traditionally held at a hotel. A few years ago, wedding planners used to brag about their ability to make even the smallest of details to work to their advantage, but that wasn’t always the case. And while wedding planners are still able to get very complex events completed at reasonable rates, many brides have experienced a shock when they discover just how little they need to make to keep their wedding within their budget. Wedding Invitations, by necessity, have become one of the most expensive aspects of planning a wedding, and yet there are ways you can keep them under control. Here are some tips for your budget dream wedding:
In the early stages of your wedding planning, it’s easy to be tempted to cut corners and skimp on wedding invitations. After all, you’ve probably invested a lot of money in your wedding attire, reception venue, and cake – all of which will add up to a sizable expense. While it’s true that you should skimp on other wedding expenses in order to keep your wedding invitations costs down, that doesn’t mean you should skimp on the importance of these little announcements. Your wedding invitations are actually one of the first things people will see when they arrive at your reception, and they should represent both you and your fiance, or whoever may be involved in the wedding plans.
So although you don’t necessarily need to break the bank to have less is more even during your budget dream wedding, you do need to be realistic about what you can afford. You don’t want to spend so much on your wedding invitations that you bankrupt yourself before your big day arrives. Before you choose wedding invitations, take stock of your finances. If you find that you have enough money to spend, but your budget doesn’t quite meet your needs, there are still options available.
One of the best places to get less is more even wedding invitations is online. The cost of wedding invitations online is significantly less than what you would pay at a stationery store. Online retailers purchase their supplies from wholesalers who save them money. Because they don’t have to pay the overheads that a stationery store has, they can pass those savings on to you, the consumer, meaning you get less is more even wedding invitations for your budget.
It’s important to note, though, that you won’t be getting the same quality of paper and presentation on wedding invitations that you would from a stationery store. It’s also important to make sure that you’re ordering from a reputable source. The last thing you want is to send out invitations that break or become misaligned, so always double check your order to make sure that you are going to be happy with the result.
If you have any doubt as to how much you should order for your wedding invitations, just ask yourself this: Would you rather be able to find the same quality wedding stationery that you would from a wholesaler at a cheaper price or to have to pay hundreds more dollars for the wedding invitations you really want? In most cases, the latter is preferable and will ensure that you get the invitations you need for your special day. So, the next time you’re looking for that perfect wedding invitation, just keep these things in mind. You will be able to find the perfect wedding stationery within your budget, and at the same time, you will be able to have the type of wedding invitations that your guests will absolutely love. Happy wedding planning!
3. Keep track of how much you’re spending and other money management tips
Wedding budgeting is one of the most important things you’ll need to do when planning a wedding. It will be up to you to decide how much you will spend on each aspect of the party, from food and drink to favors and decorations. Here are some quick money management tips that you’ll want to keep in mind for your dream budget wedding. You can always add your own to this list, but these tips should get you started. Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong answer to any of these, they are simply helpful suggestions.
First, set a budget for your wedding as soon as you can. This will help you avoid spending more than you have to. It will also make it easier for you to budget for the big day. Remember, when planning your budget for your wedding, you will want to leave a bit of money (more than you plan to spend) to cover unexpected expenses like the wedding favors or the catering service. The goal of your budget is to ensure that you only spend what you can afford.
Another thing you can do to keep track of how much you’re spending is to start planning your shopping around your wedding date. If you start shopping around two months before your wedding, you’ll have a better idea of how much everything will cost, and you’ll be able to budget accordingly. It’s common for brides and grooms to overspend once the honeymoon phase is over, so planning well in advance will prevent you from overspending on the big day.
Make a list of everything you’ll need for your wedding, and then put it in a place where you’ll see it all the time. For example, if you have a lot of flowers, you should make a list of the types of flowers and where you’re going to get them. If you’re planning a reception with a DJ, a CD or DVD of the music for your reception will probably be required. Keep all of your receipts for anything you buy, so you know what the total amount of money you spent on everything is. Having a budget can make the wedding planning process go by much quicker.