It is fairly well-known that wedding budgets have a tendency to balloon, which for those trying to keep costs relatively low, can be rather challenging. However, it is perfectly possible to have an amazing day without the high price tag - and especially so if you keep the following tips in mind…
Set a guest list and stick to it
Often, the guest list is the one area of a wedding where costs can quickly spiral out of control. Naturally, you will want to be able to invite everyone who is important to you to your big day, but there’s no denying that more guests equals a higher expense. Take your time compiling your guest list and, when you’re sure it includes everyone you want to invite, don’t change it any further.
Source prices before planning
To effectively plan how you will use your budget, you need actual figures for all of the elements you might want to include. If you have been wondering “how much does a photo booth cost to rent?” or “how much will the band cost to hire?”, then spend some time calling and asking for prices before you continue trying to allocate your budget to different services. These phone calls may allow you to rule some things in, or rule some things out immediately - but you’ll be making these decisions based on realistic figures, which is what matters most.
Avoid wedding stationery
As beautiful as wedding stationery - such as “Save the Date” cards and invitations - can be, there is no denying that in the modern digital world, they are an unnecessary expense. Instead, you can send invites via email or by arranging Skype calls to invite people directly.
Be flexible when choosing your date
If you have a firm date in mind, then finding the best possible prices can be challenging - particularly when it comes to the venue. Very few venues have a set price that applies to all couples; instead, the price fluctuates, depending on the day of the week (with Fridays and Saturdays usually being the most expensive) and proximity to bank holidays or special days such as Valentine’s day. If you’re willing to be more flexible and avoid the peak times, you can still enjoy a fantastic venue, but at a preferable price point.
Choose a “minimoon”
Finally, planning a wedding also tends to involve planning the honeymoon at the same time, so both have to be financed from the same budget. However, over recent years, “minimoons” have become more common - a short, usually domestic holiday (usually only a couple of days) that the couple takes after the big day, with the intention to go away for longer at a later point. A minimoon allows you to take a break and relax after your wedding, but keeps costs reasonable - and you’ll then be able to look forward to a longer break in the future!
The ideas above should help to simplify the process of planning a small budget wedding. Enjoy!
