How to Plan a Wedding on a Tight Budget

Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life, and it should be. The cost alone is enough to break the bank. Many couples don’t realize how expensive everything is until they start planning and find out for themselves. Though the costs involved shouldn’t matter, you have still got to stick to a budget and make reasonable decisions. The good news is that there is a solution. There are several methods in which you can save money and still get your dream wedding, and here are just a few:

Know your budget.
Before you start making arrangements, it’s best to figure out the exact budget you have to work with. If you immediately start calling around and hiring the services of caterers, photographers, and others then your financial situation can quickly get out of hand. If a parent or family member is providing the funds then you must have the conversation with them. You must discuss the budget openly, and find out, to the penny, how much they want to spend and then make the agreement that you will not exceed that budget. Keep a record of each different service you’ve hired and deduct from the overall budget each time to see how much you have left over. If your budget is smaller than it needs to be then keeping records of all your costs is critical. Break your budget down into the following categories: bridal dress, florist, music/entertainment, catering, photography, and other. You will spend roughly 50%-60% of your budget on the reception.

Say no to a wedding coordinator.
Why hire someone for a job that you can do yourself? Sure, if your budget allowed the possibility for a wedding coordinator then I would certainly recommend it. But with a tight budget, I suggest finding a close relative or friend that doesn’t mind taking over the project and steering it in the right direction. This decision alone could save you up to $1000 in your overall budget. If a relative or friend does decide to help then it is essential you buy them a nice gift after the wedding, such as a trip to the spa.