Wedding on a Budget

With the economy getting tighter every day, more and more couples have to look for creative solutions when it comes to planning their wedding. The Bridal Association in America found out the the average cost of a wedding 2007 was around 27.000 dollars. More and more often the parents of the bride, who traditionally have to pay for the wedding, are just not able to spend this kind of money on their daughters wedding. If you can believe a recent poll, around 30 out of every 100 couples contribute to their own wedding, and the parents of the groom chip in as well.

But being able to spend less at your wedding doesn't mean that you have to have a barbecue in your backyard as a reception. You might just have to be more creative and to set priorities. If you want to have a great wedding on a shoestring budget, consider these general rules:

Set up your budget: ask both of your parents how much they will be able to contribute. Estimate how much you and your future husband can save up until the day of the wedding. If you plan a longer engagement you still have time to stash away a certain amount of your paycheck every month. Go to your bank and open up a wedding account. You will be surprised how much you will be able to save up this way!

Set priorities: make a list of the three most important factors of your dream wedding. If you want the perfect dress, a life band for the party after the reception and professional wedding pictures, splurge out on these three factors and try to cut back on other factors like food and decoration.
Be willing to compromise. You would just love to have these gorgeous white orchids for your table decoration? Go for the equally beautiful white roses that will cost you only a fraction and create a similar impression.

Go for quality not quantity: sometimes less is more. Rather than going overboard with quantity go for higher quality. That applies to flowers and decoration, but also to the food. Choose a higher quality three course meal over a lower quality five courses. Get a good photographer for a limited time, instead of a bad one all day.

Ask for discounts: most businesses won't offer you a discount, but if you ask they will happily oblige. Always be respectful. Know the average prices for the service you are looking for and don't go too low, you will insult people.

Go with the season: keep in mind the season at all stages of the planning process. Choose flowers that are in season (and therefore cheaper) and try to set the date out of season (that way you will be able to get discounts more easily).

Ask for help: most people will feel honoured if you ask them if they can help you with a special talent and do your hair for example instead of bringing a wedding gift. The help of friends and family can make the difference between just another wedding or the wedding of your dreams. If you don't have to shell out money for a professional photographer, you will be able to get the wedding cake of your dreams - and so on!

Be yourself: don't plan the wedding everybody else think you should have - plan YOUR wedding. Don't compare your reception to the ones you attended as a guest. If you like the local park better then the Hyatt Regency - all the better for you!

Download your free DIY-Wedding-Planning Guide here!