7 minute read
Budgeting Your Big Day
bride’s
EMERGENCY KIT
1. HEALTH & WELLNESS
pain killers antacid band-aids eye drops allergy meds toothbrush toothpaste mouthwash tissue tampons/pads deodorant q-tips sunscreen hand sanitizer dental floss baby powder
2. GROOMING
brush/comb lip balm/gloss hairspray lotion perfume tweezers earring backs clear nail polish colored nail polish nail polish remover nail clipper nail file mirror eyelash glue lint brush cotton balls pencil sharpener fan
3. JUST IN CASE
sewing kit double stick tape anti-blister spray anti-slip-shoe pads safety pins boutonniere pins blotting paper superglue scissors hem tape stain remover static-cling spray phone charger comfy flats
4. FOOD & BEVERAGE
water drink straws energy drinks protein snacks nuts & chews candy gum/mints alcohol
BECAUSE IT’S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
BUDGETING YOUR BIG DAY
deciding what’s important
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know there have been better economic climates in which to plan a wedding than now. Just because you can’t throw down as much money as before, however, does not mean you can’t have the elegant wedding you’ve always dreamed of. You just need to be a little smarter about planning for it! Here are some tips to keeping the sparkle in your wedding in a budgetsavvy way.
FIRST, MAKE YOUR OWN BUDGET.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but this needs to get done. Before any kind of planning (or even thinking about planning!) gets done, sit down together and use this simple equation. Add how much you have in savings right now that you can use on the wedding. Then, calculate how much you can save between now and the wedding. Next, add on what your parents are willing to contribute, if anything. Finally, ask yourself if you are willing to go into debt to pay for some of the wedding. Think carefully about the last one – a wedding is one day, and it signifies the beginning of a future. Are you willing to sacrifice parts of your future (putting a down payment on a home, having children right away) for a lavish wedding? The total here is your overall wedding budget. Know it, and stick to it!
THEN DECIDE WHAT’S IMPORTANT.
Once you’ve added those components together, ask yourself what is most important about your wedding - the things that you can’t imagine cutting corners on. The “nonnegotiables” are different for every couple; what
are they for you? Is it the wedding gown, a good photographer, music at the reception or including the entire extended family? Do your research and decide exactly how much the most important parts of your big day will be, and then find out if your remaining money will be enough to cover the rest of your expenses. If not, there are quite a few easy ways to trim some costly endeavors.
DO IT YOURSELF. Depending on how crafty or enterprising you are (or how crafty your maid of honor is!) there are countless things that you can do yourself, or have a fun afternoon with your wedding party doing together. With computer and photo programs becoming more advanced every day, it is relatively easy and inexpensive to design some of the printed material you’ll need for your wedding. Save-the-date cards, invitations and name cards can all be designed and printed entirely by you, or some copy or design shops offer the help of a professional to get you started. It is less expensive than paying for the full invitation service, but still gives it a professional touch. Other DIY could be making personal favors for the wedding guests, crafting your own centerpieces, enlisting the help of a friend or sister to do everyone’s hair and makeup for a smaller fee than a professional salon or making your own jewelry. Even if you don’t consider yourself a hands-on, creative person, don’t be afraid to ask around for friends and family who might be willing to help you try something new to cut costs.
CUT THE CAKE. A fancy cake can be pretty expensive, but don’t go without a dessert! Ask your favorite bakery if they offer items just as pretty but smaller such as fun cookies for everyone, design-your-own cupcakes or just a smaller version of a cake you have in mind.
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TRANSPORT YOUR FUNDS SOMEWHERE ELSE. Limos or trolleys are fun and glamorous, but if your limited budget requires it, the drive to your reception would be just as memorable in your own decorated car with the best man serving as driver.
IT’S FRIDAY, YOU’RE IN LOVE. Saturday afternoons are the most common time for weddings which mean they’re the most expensive. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s mandatory – Fridays and Sundays are both weekends so out-of-town guests would be able to make it, and you can still squeeze your dream venue into your budget. Also, try to avoid holiday weekends or the most popular times of year (May-June and early fall), as they are also usually more costly.
GUEST LIST REDUCTIONS. It’s not easy to whittle down a list to include everyone you want enjoying in your special day while still managing a budget, but sometimes this is the easiest way to really cut corners, and can make a significant impact on your budget. If you still have a large amount of people you don’t want to say no to, consider hosting an informal, less expensive get-together when you’re back from your honeymoon so you can spend time with the people you couldn’t invite and celebrate your love with them.
BARGAIN SHOP! A wedding gown can be a huge portion of the budget, and it’s something you probably don’t want to settle for. Look for sample sales, special promotions and more simple, yet elegant, gowns. You could also look into sources such as eBay, Amazon and Craigslist for beautiful discounted gowns, but be very careful about what you buy and the “small print details.” If you don’t want to keep your dress, then there are also plenty of shops that
rent designer gowns so you can look stunning on your big day without footing the entire cost of the dress.
SAVE ON BOOZE. Depending on your crowd, an open bar can be one of the costliest endeavors for your wedding. In the past, it was considered poor etiquette to make your guest pay for ANY drink. Today, it’s perfectly appropriate to keep the options limited to beer, wine and soda, with mixed drinks available for cash purchase. Although rare, depending on your reception site and/or caterer, ask if you can provide the liquor and beverages for the open bar, and look into buying your own beverages at a discount liquor store or wholesale club like Sam’s Club or Costco.
DIFFERENT TUNES. A full musical ensemble or even a DJ can really add up, so if you must cut corners, try taking advantage of technology for a night. Rent a sound system, or, if the venue is small, than use your own computer or borrow one from a friend and hook it up to play a playlist of your favorite songs. Before you make the list, you can look online for a list of great 80s tunes or the best dance songs. Ask around for requests, plug it all in, and you’re set for a night of exactly the type of music you want to hear.
The most important thing to remember when trying to budget your wedding is that it is one day. A special and meaningful one, of course, arguably one of the most memorable days of your life, but it is the beginning of a future together and you don’t want money problems to be the way you start married life. Keep in mind that all your guests might not have their wedding favors in 50 years, but if you still have your love for one another, your wedding was a success. B
