You don’t have to spend money you don’t have on making your wedding day super-cool. After all, this is an occasion that’s all about celebrating the love you share with your partner, not about going into massive debt that will follow you for years to come. Here are 12 ways to make your wedding a dream instead of a nightmare, without the credit card bill haunting you afterward.
- Focus on memories, not material things. When you look back on your wedding day, you want to have amazing memories – you really won’t care that you had expensive material items on hand. Seriously.
- Forget your expectations. You might think you have to pay a lot for catering or flowers because that’s what brides do, but you really don’t have to. Besides, doing things your own way won’t only save you money, it’ll make your day so much more unique. Fill your wedding and reception with things that mean something to you even if those things are “cheap.”
- Don’t worry about what people will say. If you decide to get married at a courthouse or you choose to elope with your partner, you will upset some people. However, the people who really matter and care about you will be happy that you did what felt right for you!
- Go the DIY route. You might not be creative when it comes to arts and crafts, but don’t worry. Think out the box when it comes to doing your wedding your own way. For example, maybe you can make your own invitations, but if not why not ask a graphic designer friend to help out?
- Trade wedding gifts for extra hands. Instead of asking your guests to buy you wedding gifts, why not ask them to help out with different elements of your wedding planning? That will save you time, money, and cut down your stress! They’ll probably be more than happy to help, especially if they know they’re preventing you from becoming a Bridezilla.
- Get married in the garden. You might not have the space or pretty garden for a wedding, but maybe you know someone who does. Having a garden wedding can be really special and intimate while saving you money on a lavish wedding venue.
- Cut down your guest list. Seriously, do you need to invite your old high school friends who you haven’t spoken to for the last 10 years? Do you really need to invite people out of obligation, or because you worry they’ll be upset if you don’t? No and no, otherwise it’ll just boost your catering expenses, as well as other costs, such as wedding favors.
- Set it on the right day. If you set your wedding date so that it falls on a Sunday or a weeknight, you could cut down your costs. This is because there’s less demand for those dates, meaning vendors will give you lower rates.
- Send e-vites. Although it might feel glamorous and romantic to send wedding invites in the post, it can be expensive. Send wedding invites to your guests online instead so you don’t have to shell out money for beautiful stationery. You can also use websites that will ensure your guests RSVP online and that will help you stay on top of who’s attending and who can’t make it.
- Rethink your flowers. Yes, flowers can make any wedding venue so much more spectacular, but try to limit their quantity because they’re expensive. Choose a few floral arrangements and then add other items to the decor such as foliage, candles, and feathers.
- Cut the cake. The wedding cake is usually a centerpiece at the reception, but don’t leave cutting it for later on in the party. You should cut the cake early on to save money. Say what? It’s about your photographer. They will be able to take pictures of you cutting the cake and then finish their work earlier, which means you’ll get charged less for their services. (Or, save even more money by asking a loved one to be the wedding photographer!)
- Be selfish. One of the easiest ways to create a wedding that you don’t even enjoy is to focus on what everyone else wants. Um, hello – this is your day. The only people who should be choosing how the day goes is you and your partner who are getting married. So if you don’t want a posh venue, a hot wedding location, or the most expensive bridesmaid dresses, just say no. And remember, no matter what you choose to do, you should focus on your marriage instead of wedding day. It’s so much more important!
