3 Budget Wedding Tips
August 6, 2010 by sarah
Filed under Wedding Advice
Image via Wikipedia
These days everyone is looking for a bargain, as well they should. The changes in the economy have not been easy for much of the world. So, what does this mean for a newly engaged couple? Time to start saving! The truth is, you really can plan an awesome wedding on a budget. You just have to prioritize, and maybe cut back a little — but nothing too important.
Here are 3 budget tips to help with your wedding plans:
1. Negotiate!!
You’re not the only one feeling the burden of this recession. Vendors are feeling it too, and they just might be willing to tighten up their pricing in exchange for your business. You are spending thousands of dollars, sometimes even in one place. Good negotiation tactics can save you hundreds.
The best way to arm yourself for wedding negotiations is to leave the ‘w’ word out of it, at least at first. Start by finding out how much that vendor would charge for their services if it were a plain old birthday party you were planning. Keep in mind, some services do differ from a birthday party to a wedding; but this will give you a starting price — then you can add the “wedding stuff” and know exactly how much more it’ll cost you.
Some vendors (not all) up the price for a wedding simply because they think they can. This negotiation tactic will help keep them in-check, as they’ll have to explain why they are charging more for the wedding stuff. There could be good reason, but hey, it’s your money, you deserve to know where it’s going!
A word of caution: It’s fine to hold-out on telling a vendor that you are planning a wedding, but don’t let it go too far. Remember, you’re hiring them because they’re experts at what they do: they can’t help you plan if they don’t really know planning for.
2. Be Unconventional
Taking a few unconventional steps in planning your wedding can give your day that unique one-of-a-kind feeling, but it can also save you money! Try shopping for a white dress at your favorite clothing boutique — notice I didn’t say wedding dress. Instead of a pricey wedding cake, maybe you have a pretty display of yummy cupcakes. Another way to save is to have your wedding somewhere that is already decorated, like a lavish garden, or a nice beach. Whatever you choose, if you stray even slightly from the traditional, you can stand to save some big bucks!
3. Remember, Timing is Everything!
If you’re one of the many brides who sees herself walking down the aisle on one of the sunny days of June, you can also expect to pay top dollar. On the other hand, if you plan your wedding off-season, like say October or February, you can save some serious dough. In the off-months, venues struggle to find events to fill their calendar — so they will be willing to offer quite a deal.
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