Having Your Beautiful Wedding--Without "Busting" Your Budget.
He's popped the question. And you said "Yes!" Congratulations on
your upcoming wedding, one of the most anticipated and important
days of your entire life. You want it to be a one-of-kind,
Cinderella-like, unforgettable and memorable occasion for both
you and your guests. So now the planning begins. With literally
a thousand things to arrange before the big day, this is going
to take some real decision making. Where do you start in
planning for the "perfect" wedding? As with everything else that
involves marriage, it is vitally important that you discuss the
event with your future spouse. Communication between partners is
absolutely vital for a strong and enduring marriage. It is
important to get your life as a married couple off to a good
start and talking with your partner about the upcoming wedding
is an excellent place to begin.
No doubt, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a
wedding today is near $25,000 and the wedding industry makes
$25.3 billion a year. But your wedding need not bankrupt you or
your parents in order for it to be as unique and special as you
want it to be. With a little guidance, a few tips and some
recommendations we can fulfill your fantasy wedding dreams
without starting married life in serious financial difficulty.
First, talk to your partner about expectations. How do you see
the wedding? Do you want a formal wedding in a grand cathedral
or something more casual? Will it be a large wedding or a small,
intimate ceremony with family and a few friends? Indoor ceremony
or outdoors? Next, begin to budget for the items the two of you
have agreed upon.
Determining when you get married can actually affect your
wedding budget. According to TheKnot.com, June, August and
September are the most popular months for marriages. The more
popular your wedding month, the less choice you'll have about
the date, the site, cake makers, flowers, photographers, etc.
The most popular day of the week is Saturday, so you can save
money by having your nuptials on Friday night or a Sunday.
To save additional money, up to $500 in most cases, you can
print the invitations yourself; simply Google "wedding
invitation template" and locate scores of sites with
downloadable invitation styles. With the newer technology
(copiers and printers) your personally crafted invitations will
be as stylish as they come.
The reception is where the wedding costs can truly get out of
hand. Statistics show that an average of 189 guests attend a
wedding. A large number. To limit expenses, try to keep your
guest list to a minimum. You don't need to invite every person
you have met since high school. Instead of a three course meal,
why not choose a hot and cold buffet. Instead of using an
expensive hotel suite for the reception, why not consider having
it at someone's home, private club or even book a restaurant.
Keep an open bar to a minimum.
Weddings can be expensive if you want them to be. However, there
are many cost-cutting ideas that would allow you keep some money
aside for a romantic honeymoon or a down payment on your new
house. With a little imagination and some help from family and
friends, you can have a luxurious wedding for much less money.