HOW TO PLAN A CHEAP WEDDING IN 10 EASY STEPS

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at him on his knee, his hand outstretched and a glistening stone beckoning to me.

   

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

I hadn't expected it but there was no doubt, it was a yes from me!

Fast-forward a couple of months later and I am drowning in stress.

Where do I begin...

We had just finished college and although we started working, we are in over our heads in student debt and the wedding costs were growing and growing.

Take the scenario above and we were all there.

Here are some tips and tricks to get your wedding costs to where you want it:

Step 1: Set the budget

First step is to set a realistic budget that you will stick to.

This step is crucial since having a goal will keep you within budget, rather then overspending.

Step 2: Chart all your spending in an organizational book, an excel sheet or online.

                                                    

Penning your expenses in black and white will make you aware of how much you are spending, what your expenses are and where you can save or splurge.

Step 3: Create 5 columns on your sheet 

1.Purchases  2.Cost  3.Alternatives 4.Reduced Cost  5.Savings

• Purchases are all the items that you will be buying for the wedding.
• Cost is the cost of the products that you will be buying.
• Alternatives are downgrades or cheaper alternatives that will allow you to save on your purchases.
• Reduced Cost is the reduced price that you will be paying for the cheaper alternative.
• Savings is the money in your pocket that you have saved.

By writing down what you will be buying, you can view your expenses and where you can downgrade. This gives you the opportunity to see where you can cut corners and what you cannot negotiate on.

Step 4: Involve your close relatives and friends

Do you have the aunt that loves to bake? See if she can sponsor the wedding cake...

Have as many family members and friends volunteer their talents and help you with the catering, baking, decorations or arrangements that will save you a lot of money if you hired a professional.

Tip: Check out the local college since they may have a cooking or baking class that will cater your wedding at a fraction of the cost.

Step 5: Learn where you can cut costs!

Ex. Instead of a 10 piece band, cut down to a 5 piece band or a DJ.

Instead of buying the designer dress of your dreams, find a similar cut and style that will slash your bill in half.

In step 4, you have the alternative option, which gives you the opportunity to purchase a less expensive item. Say if you started with an expensive gown but costs are rising, look to downgrade. Vice versa, if you have some extra spending money and can upgrade to the dress that you have always wanted, use that category, since it is meant for adjusting in relation to your budget throughout the course of your engagement.

Step 6: Get innovative with your purchases.

Dollar stores can sell items such as tall glass cups that can hold flowers, cake toppers, lanterns, candles and many more items that will double in cost elsewhere.

Compare prices online and in-stores, check coupons or buy during sale seasons to save money.

Step 7: Check your guest list and verify who is the long distant friend that you haven't spoken to in 3 years that won't necessarily make your special day better.

The larger the guest list the more your expenses will rise. Think on cutting back on your guest list in order to cut costs.

Step 8: Plan your wedding during off season for better prices on venues, photography and more.

Wedding season peak between the months of June and September, due to the warmer climate.

Brides from all over are booking those dates and the demand drives the prices up. Simply plan your wedding out of those months and you will get the most bank for your buck.

Step 9: Send E-Invitations

You can cut costs by creating and designing your own invitation or even buying e-invitation online for a small cost. 

You can send e-invitations to guests throughout the world without spending an extra penny.

Note: Make sure to send each invitation individually through email, Facebook, G-chat or any forum that you prefer rather than sending through group messages. This will enable you to personalize the invite and make the guest feel wanted. For an extra touch, you can even add a personal note afterwards to a close relative or friend. 

Step 10: Cut costs on photography

Find friends who have high end cameras that are willing to take pictures and video footage of the event for you. Section different areas for different friends to cover all sides and you just saved yourself some big bucks.

Professional photographers can cost between $2,500-$10,000 for one night! That is an astronomical cost that can be cut down.

It may seem like a big deal now although most people forget their video in some lost corner of the house, never to be looked at again.

To summarize, the average cost of weddings in the US is upwards of $30,000! The most expensive cities to get married in is in NY, Boston, and San Francisco.

With the venue, band, and photography being the costliest, follow the steps above to save money and breathe easier during this amazing time in your life.

"To Change My Life for the Better, I Needed to Act Now"





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