How to Make Your Wedding Special on a Shoestring Budget
Weddings are significant events -- many people follow a "spare no expense" mentality when planning one. However, not everyone can afford the extravagant gatherings many weddings turn out to be. According to ABC News, the average American wedding cost $26,501 in 2011 -- nearly $2,000 less than in 2009. Many couples simply cannot afford to spend a lot of money on their nuptials; fortunately, a few budget-savvy strategies can create a special and inexpensive wedding.
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Instructions
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Make a plan. The first step in planning a wedding on a budget is to formulate a specific strategy. How much can you afford to spend? Are you and your fiancé paying for everything or will your parents chip in? What do you most want for your wedding - lots of friends and family, for example, or a beautiful location? Knowing your total budget and your must-haves ahead of time allows you to search for the best deals and to splurge on the areas most significant to you.
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Choose a location. The reception hall is often a large chunk of the wedding budget; however, a bit of creativity can nearly eliminate this expense. Do you or your fiancé have a friend or family member with a beautiful home or vacation home, for example? Request the use of their home and yard for the wedding reception. If they live on a beach, throw a casual beach-themed reception. Other affordable venues are parks, apartment complex community centers and even campgrounds.
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Search for gently-used items. Buying new adds up quickly when it comes to wedding decorations, outfits and favors. A quick search on websites such as Craigslist or eBay will reveal thousands of people selling one-time-use wedding items, from wedding dresses to champagne flutes. Instead of purchasing a new wedding dress for $1,000 or more, for example, buy the same dress used at a fraction of the price.
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Get creative with favors and decorations. To add a special touch to your wedding and save money, make some items yourself. Martha Stewart Weddings (marthastewartweddings.com) offers brides-to-be a range of homemade favor options such as tea bag favors, which simply include tea bags and small handmade tags with brewing instructions and a special message.
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Use your connections. A Seattle couple, described in a 2011 Komo News article, saved thousands of dollars on flowers by connecting with a family friend who had recently opened a flower shop. Consider what you need and then make a list of friends and family. Does your fiancé have a cousin who bakes amazing cakes? Is your former college roommate the owner of a catering company? Put the word out that you're trying to create an amazing wedding on a tight budget, and chances are your friends and family will know a lot of people who can offer discounts and freebies to make it happen.
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References
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