Getting married is meant to be one of the best days of your life. Almost every woman wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day, and who could blame them? Your wedding is meant to be a once in a lifetime experience, that you’ll cherish forever. You’ve finally found the man of your dreams, and you’re walking down the aisle! Everything should be perfect for your big day.
If you want to get married, and you’re low on funds, do you have to make sacrifices? Do you have to settle for less than the best? The answer is no. You may have to make some compromises, but there’s no reason you should lose out. If you’re prepared to put in some time and effort, and be a little creative, you can organize your dreaming wedding on a budget. If you are willing to shop around and be open to ideas, you’ll find a lot of ways to save money.
Timing is everything
Wedding’s are big business. The prices of wedding venues and packages vary during the year. Saturday weddings in the summer are usually the most expensive. Other days that tend to incur a substantial premium are occasions like Valentine’s day or Christmas. In summer, weekdays are considerably cheaper to get wed. If you’re not too fussed about the weather being fine, consider going out of season. It’s a clever way to save even more money.
Finding the perfect dress
Vintage and retro wedding dresses are still very much in style. You can save money by looking at reproductions rather than original pieces. Take a look at Vivien of Holloway. Based in London, they’ve been dressing brides, celebrities and those in the know for years. The dresses are a fraction of the cost of your average wedding gown. If you have a particular design in mind, you may be able to pay a local seamstress to make your dress. Get quotes and look at examples of their previous work.
Think Pre-loved, not second-hand!
Look on Local For Sale Sites. Gumtree, Craigslist, local second-hand sites on Facebook. You’ll be surprised at what turns up there! Try jumble sales and charity shops. Does anyone in your family have any hand me downs or “heirloom pieces?” If you find something you like but needs adjusting, that can be done without too many problems.
Who’s coming?
Invitations. It doesn’t take much. You’ve got a smartphone or a laptop?
Making your invitations can save you cash. If you’ve got a creative streak, then you could be in luck. You’re in for a surprise when you see how little it costs to make some of your essential nuptial needs. If you are going to use a considerable amount of one thing in your crafting efforts, it makes sense to buy in bulk. Think about things logically. If you want to make your invitations with ribbon wraps, and also want to make bunting then buy a big roll of ribbon. You can use it for both, and it will save you money. It will also tie in the invitations with the colours at the wedding. This sort of attention to detail will give a designer touch, and also save you money! Visit Pinterest for some great wedding invitation ideas.
Be prepared to negotiate.
When you see a price tag, you just assume that’s the price, right? Well, that depends on where you are. There’s usually no point haggling over most stuff in a big chain store. You can always try your luck, though! Attempt to get the best deal you can on your purchases. Lots of people feel awkward when trying to obtain a discount. When you’re aiming to save money, it doesn’t pay to be shy. The worst thing someone can say is No! Visit Rick Stein’s site for tips on how to haggle!
Be Savvy.
You’ll find that people may sell items they used to decorate their tables in job lots on pages like these. Your guests will never know any different. Think about it: if you were in a hotel, those candle holders would have been used hundreds of times before. Just make sure you don’t pay for anything before you’ve seen it. If you use Paypal to pay for something, don’t use the payment to Friends and Family to save money on fees. The charges cover you if the item is not as described or the seller never shows up with your purchase. Have peace of mind when you make a purchase! Pre -loved and classified listings are an excellent way to find all sorts of goodies. Visit sites and postings regularly, and if you see something you like, snap it up as fast as you can!
Flowers.
There are lots of ways you can have a bargain bouquet that looks the business. Flowers are an essential part of the blushing bride’s wedding day ensemble. You can save money going DIY – there are loads of tutorials online. Silk flowers are a viable alternative to fresh – and they have the added benefit they can be made a long time in advance. If you have friends with a talent for floral arrangements ask them to help you out. Wedding bouquets don’t have to be fancy, some of the simplest arrangements can be the most elegant. Use your own style and ideas to create the individual look you desire. Check out tutorials on Youtube about floristry techniques.
Make your day go with a bang!
The sight and smell of fireworks are enthralling for all, but a big display is outwith the reach of a modest budget. You can still bring a bit of pizazz to your proceedings, and get more bang for your buck. Extra long sparklers can use to dazzling effect. Bridal arches are given a spectacular twist that looks fantastic. Other great ways to make your pennies go further is to make your centrepieces. You can buy lots of odds and ends online (think eBay again) to make unique, creative displays. Visit Wedding Sparklers Direct to see some brilliant ideas for your day.
Get me to the church on time….
How are you going to get to your nuptials? Car hire for weddings can cost a bomb. Have you any friends or relatives with beautiful cars? It’s not difficult to put ribbons on the bonnet! Ask someone to act as driver, and you can be quids in. You could even suggest the favor as an alternative to a wedding present.
A piece of cake!
Wedding cakes can cost the earth, but there are lots of ways you can bring down the cost. You don’t have to spend all that much to have a gorgeous, tasty wedding cake. Cupcake towers are a modern and economical alternative. They’re very fashionable, too! You don’t have to go for the traditional fruit cake and white icing combo. Many brides like lighter sponges on their special day. Go wild with flavors, think chocolate or a classy red velvet affair. Have you a baker in the family? Maybe you have a friend who is fantastic with fondant icing? Buying a plain iced cake is another option, and you can decorate yourself. If you’re not artistic, don’t worry, you can buy pre-made decorations online. From flowers to feathers, you can use them to make something sensational! Most wedding venues will have a proper wedding cake knife you can borrow to cut your cake, just remember to check before hand to avoid any upsets. Look at Bridal Magazines for inspiration!
Prioritize and get what you want most.
Start prioritizing. You may wish to have top of the range champagne to welcome your guests in style. But would you be better of going for prosecco and spending the difference on something else you’d really like. This is where it pays to be flexible and be open to ideas. You don’t have to go by the book. It’s your wedding day, so you do what YOU want. Decide what the most important elements are, and then work around them.
Making your wedding dreams come true on a budget is not as difficult as you might think. Don’t feel you have to stick to tradition if you don’t want to, make your day your own. There is no point spending thousands and thousands on a wedding if you’re going to spend half of your married life paying it off. You’ll have other expenditures to worry about, and might regret spending quite so much. Don’t start your married life off with a giant cloud of debt over your heads. A new marriage doesn’t need that sort of stress and pressure. Your wedding day is just the beginning of your wonderful new life together.