One day your child finds “the one,” and they’re all set to be married. It’s a great, wonderful thing! Only they can’t afford the dream wedding that they (or you) envisioned. That’s where you can come in. If you want to, you could throw your child the dream wedding they’ve always wanted, without costing you an arm and a leg. Here’s how to give your child the perfect wedding on a budget:
- Use Package Deals
Wedding package deals are a great way to save money on beautiful venues. You just need be free on specific dates, choose your venue, and save up to 60% off the original price! It’s a great way to have a dream wedding. In many cases, these deals include the use of the ceremony hall, food, drink, and dining set-up. They usually offer a discount for your guests to stay there for the night as well!
- Tips for Services
Every wedding needs a photographer, a musician (or DJ), and a caterer, among many other things. The best way to keep costs down is to ask your friends and family who are talented in those areas if they would offer their services as a wedding gift. Another option is to hire students from nearby universities. Typically, you will be able to hire them for less than an established professional.
Bonus: Have a shared album, Dropbox, or other shared account and prompt your guests to take as many photos of the big day as they can and then share it to that one album. With the power of today’s smartphones, the quality will be great, and you will have many more photos than a wedding photographer can provide. You could even create a hashtag for Instagram.
- Stay Small, Stay Personal
One of the biggest reasons why wedding costs soar is because too many people are invited. Stick to close friends and family of the bride and groom (the only ones you care about being there, anyway) and keep costs low. This isn’t just to stay under budget, either. The big day should be shared with those that truly love the bride and groom. Why inflate it with obligation invitations?
The key to throwing a great wedding on a budget is to first have a budget, and then work from there. Using a deal for the venue is a great start, as this will typically solve the venue, food, and reception questions. From there, you can enlist in your friends and loved ones to help and keep costs low by using their talents instead of gifts. Keep it small and keep it personal, and you are guaranteed to have thrown the dream wedding for your baby.