Let me guess... money is tight and stress is setting in? The good news is you are not alone! Daily we speak with couples from across the US who are working tirelessly to pull together an amazing event without breaking the bank.
Here are my Top Money Saving Tips:
1. Less is More... I always recommend that couples try to cut down their guest list many times. It helps to divide your list out in to 4 categories: Mine, Yours, My Parents and Your Parents. Respectively the two categories that should have the most guests in them are "Yours" and "Mine" (if you are paying the bills)! Shoot for a realistic number and stick to it! I know it is a hard conversation to have but, if family members feel there are guests they just have to have there and you are over your count address the per person cost with them. If they can not live without the mail man in attendance then ask them to help with the cost. Believe me, you will find many people who you can trim out without causing a lot of hurt feelings.
2. My Big Fat Wedding Party... Now I don't mean it is time for your wedding party to join the "Biggest Loser" and cut the pounds! Sharing this life event with family and friends is very important. When asking your friends and family to stand up for you, keep in
mind that you are not the only one paying for this event. From out of
state guests paying soaring travel costs to the out of pocket expense
for having a large wedding party everyone is feeling the pinch. According to MSN Money, "The Bridesmaid's Survival Guide," on average many wedding attendants are paying close to $1,000 to stand by your side! It is not just the dress and tux that is eating at the budget. As weddings go cross country your attendants are paying for items like: Airline tickets, baggage fees, hotels, car rentals, meals (outside of the reception), wedding gifts, shower gifts, alterations, jewelery, shoes, undergarments, spa treatments, hair/makeup, bachelor/bachelorette parties and so much more. Do your bridal party nominees a favor and try some of the following options to save everyone some precious dough:
- Cut down the count. Do you really need 10 girls and 10 guys by your side? Have a Best Man and a Maid/Matron of Honor and from there ask everyone else to help in other ways. You can still have your great photos of your "party" after the ceremony and event have a "head table" if you like. Believe me it is the relationships and the bonds you have with these people that sets them apart, not their matching taffeta dresses!
- If you can't bear to cut the count then ditch the uniform. More and more couples are choosing a color palette for their wedding and then letting the wedding party choose their own look. Not only does this free up some cash as they are in the drivers seat but it also lets them choose something that fits them! Lets face it, we have all had to wear unflattering wedding attire and those dresses simply fill up a lonely section of our closets. Be kind and spare them the walk of shame.
- Multi-Purpose Poseys. Flowers can tip the scales when you are adding attendants. We suggest as a money saving tip to have the florist provide vases for your girls flower arrangements at your guest tables. 10 girls = 10 bouquets = 10 centerpieces and $0 extra dollars. These bouquets can be mixed in and spread around among the "real" centerpieces to give you a high end custom look without out the added cost. For added flare choose different flowers for each girl but that all fall in a similar color palette. This way each bouquet and each table is as unique and special as the girl!
3. Work it Out... Why do all of my tips keep sounding like chapters for a fitness book? Maybe it is because we can all relate to the idea that a healthy life style equals a long and happy life.
Let's face it... the best way to have a "healthy" event just like a healthy life is to do the work yourself. Now I know everyone is busy and feels the stress mounting as you take on the challenge of planning what has to be the biggest event of your life. A common mistake couples make is to not sit down and work out the budget ahead of time. Not only do you need to sit down and go over where this event needs to come in at, but you need to avoid the major pitfalls associated with weddings. Many couples jump straight into booking everything they can get their hands on and do not re-address the budget as they move through the process. It is very easy to quickly get off track and out of control. I recommend that monthly you sit down and re-visit what has been spent and what you have left. Obviously every event has to make adjustments, but by planning properly and keeping your eyes open hopefully you can avoid getting to the end and having major sticker shock once the flower petals have settled!
4. Express Yourself... Use your talents and life story! Everyone has special talents and interests that can easily be incorporated into the wedding. All of the major bridal magazines talk about personalizing your event and creating your own wedding "brand". Here are a few suggestions to help your event to stand out from the rest and still be a true representation of who you are as a couple:
- Bring on the family. Many couples spend tons of money on decor that really does not say anything about who they are. Instead bring in beautifully framed family photos to personalize your event space just like you do your home. Have pride in where you have come from as it has brought you to this moment! Plus the cost is low and the memories are priceless.
- If you do want to bring in some decor pieces make them something you will use again. For example, we have many couples who will purchase an arch or have a family member make it for the ceremony. After the wedding it can then go in their backyard or garden and serves as a cherished reminder to you both of the love and commitment you made on your wedding day.
- Centerpiece favors are a great way to have another element of you event serve double duty. Over the years I have seen potted plants, pottery, platters, vases, candles and more. These centerpieces look great on the table and have notes attached inviting the guests to take the item home afterward to remember the special day by.
- For more creative suggestions and ideas go to The Knot DIY Ideas.
5. Rewards for Spending... I always recommend to clients that when they begin the planning/paying process if they don't have a credit card with rewards then get one! No matter what your budget you are going to spend money on your special day. If you can apply your vendor payments to a rewards credit card then you can very quickly rack up frequent-flyer miles, upgrades and certain comps that you can use towards your honeymoon travel.
Keep in mind that while traditionally the honeymoon is right after the wedding a lot of times if you can wait a month or two you can find better deals during "off-peak" travel times. Sometimes waiting not only helps you to save some green but can often help you to double the fun! The key to reward travel is to have a good understanding of how the rewards work with your card and DON"T FORGET TO PAY THEM OFF!!! Remember to always let people know you are on your honeymoon as many times you can to get additional perks like a bottle of champagne, room upgrades, free goodies and more.
Happy Planning!
Tana
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