TOP TEN WEDDING BUDGET BASICS
We aren’t all Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey, so sometimes a little thrift is needed, especially when the average wedding costs nearly $20,000 these days. When budgeting for a wedding, the first step is to prioritise. Take the rings, for example. They’re items that you will have to look at and wear for the rest of your life, whereas that bouquet will only be used once before being tossed to a floundering single.
Next, plan a dinner with your parents and in-laws to discuss the finances. It’s probably in your best interests that you put on a show here, since your folks are probably the ones footing most of the bill for your wedding. Let’s face it: a little wine and a stuffed chicken could go a long way in terms of matrimonial sponsorship. Traditionally, the bride’s parents would pay for the wedding, but this could swing either way in today’s society, and the cost is usually halved. Just remember, your family can sometimes be all too eager to help, so let them! That uncle with the hot rod, that snap-happy sister and that singing cousin can all finally be put to good use, and now is the time of all times to call in the favours.
Here are ten more vital tips you need to know if you want all the glamour of an expensive wedding without breaking the bank:
- Have the wedding at an “off-peak” time. Most weddings fall between May and October, and usually on a Saturday. Avoid these times and your big day is bound to cost less – there will be more vacancies and vendors will be more willing to settle should you want to bargain with them. Also avoid popular events like New Year’s and Valentine’s Days. And what about a morning wedding? This old tradition is making a comeback, with a growing number of couples realising that a light brunch costs far less than a full dinner with drinks.
- Keep the guest list concise. If neither of you have met your second cousin’s uncle’s father’s friend’s nephew, then there’s no point inviting him. Don’t have a wedding full of strangers – just invite people you genuinely like. Think about it: if you have over 300 guests, then spending a minute with each of them will exceed five hours. Also remember that the fewer there are in the actual bridal party, the fewer presents you will have to buy.
- Consider your location. Some places will cost virtually nothing – parks, beaches and lookouts are popular options here. A religious group of which your family is a member may offer sites free of cost, while public areas will usually only incur a small council fee. Be careful with home weddings, because unless you are expecting an intimate crowd, the cost of extra facilities (such as lights, speakers, restrooms and marquees) may bump the price up to what a regular venue would have cost anyway, with the exception of a lot more unnecessary work. Also venues that include honeymoon packages can offer real savings.
- Photos and videos. These are important, so you don’t want to cut too many corners here. Hire a professional, but perhaps save money by asking the photographer to compile the photos on a CD-ROM, that way you can choose to have them printed at a discount photo outlet yourself.
- Keep the food and drink simple. Typically the biggest expense of most weddings, meal and beverage costs can be kept to a minimum by serving a simple beer and wine combination. If regulations permit, purchase the alcohol yourself and employ an attendant on an hourly basis to serve it out. Opt for a buffet meal instead of a served one, or simply have an afternoon tea instead of a main course that you could even prepare yourself.
- Invitations are an easy way to save money. Aunty Mavis will be more than happy to bestow on you some simple craft tips, and then it’s just up to you to set to work with some scissors and glue. A paper guillotine may be worth its weight in gold for cutting straight edges. Also, e-mail invites cost nothing and can also produce quicker responses.
- The dress.
- How many times are you really going to use a wedding dress throughout your life? Hiring is far cheaper and allows you more flexibility with your budget.
- Or perhaps copy the celebrity dress you’ve always wanted and have it tailor-made with less expensive material.
- Who says you have to wear a “wedding dress” as such anyway? Gone are the days of the obligatory white gown, and the line that has separated “designer” from “bridal” is quickly diminishing. Evening dresses, or even bridesmaids’ gowns, could prove far more suitable to both your wedding and your personality, not to mention your budget.
- Avoid cakes with too much detail. Handmade flowers and tiers can be swapped for simple sauces and frosting. Also remember not to go too overboard with decorations on the cake table – nobody is going to look at a frangipani bouquet when there is a frosted mountain of utter indulgence towering above it.
- Start planting your flowers now. Why fork out for a florist when you can do it yourself? Time it so they will be in bloom for the big day. A single seed is far less expensive than a bunch of blooms, and you can have your choice of practically any flower you desire. If you don’t possess a particularly green thumb, don’t set your heart on purchasing flowers that are out of season.
- Sack the DJ. A computer-generated playlist could save you a stack, provided you simply rent an adequate speaker system and remember to press play.
A deposit on your new house? A longer honeymoon? The choices are endless when you have a few extra grand in your pocket, and with just a little forethought and innovation, you, too, could have a wedding that would make Bill and Oprah fall over backwards.
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