A Plethora of Ideas
Tanner |
Thoughtfully composed by Tanner Filed under: Catering, Decorations, Wedding Alcohol, Wedding Invitations |
Planning a wedding can be a stressful undertaking but with proper planning and creative use of available resources you can stay under budget and have a most enjoyable event. Giving yourself at least a year before your wedding day will allow you to start saving money for the reception, flowers, catering and attire. If you are willing to roll up your sleeves and do some of the work yourself you can save yourself over half your estimated budget.
Start with the invitations. Custom print jobs can run as much as $600.00 but you can do it for under $100.00 at home. Invest in cardstock, quality ink and a software print package; after that you need to design the invitation to include all the information needed and select the number you want produced. For a few dollars more you can purchase embossing dust. This gets added to the invitation once it has printed. It is heated using an embossing gun and leaves the text with a raised text almost identical to custom print jobs. Take the money you saved from the invitations and save it for incidentals or expenses that you weren’t expecting. Another way to save money is to limit the weight of the announcement. To save even more, have people email the number of people attending or “for regrets only” meaning if they can not attend.
Work with a local florist instead of a professional. Flowers can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars into the thousands. Go with flowers that are grown locally instead of specialty cuts. No one wants plastic flowers at their wedding but if live ones aren’t feasible you can make your own arrangements for less then ten dollars each. If you are using live flowers, consider donating them to a local hospital or care facility after the event.
As soon as the date is set you should start setting aside 10% of your paycheck. Most banks offer withdrawal services that will automatically deduct the set amount and place it into a savings account. You may only earn 3% interest but it is still money that can be used for your wedding. It is also a good time to check the United States Unclaimed Property website. This lists money that is due to you and is being held by the government. It could be an inactive bank account, insurance policy or back wages that are due to you. It can take up to five months to get your funds so don’t wait until the last minute to file a claim.
Every little girl dreams about a lavish wedding gown but sometimes that isn’t financially possible. If you start looking early enough you can catch one of the many sales that designer shops have. If you are using a heirloom garment you will more than likely need adjustments. Find a seamstress that is qualified to work on the piece and arrange for a final fitting no less than a week from the wedding date. For bridesmaids and ushers, renting is more cost effective than buying and it saves them money. To save the most, check thrift and resale shops for clothing items that may be needed.
Depending on the number of people attending, catering could take the biggest slice of your wedding budget. Doing all the cooking yourself isn’t suggested, it is a stressful situation to start with and you don’t want to add more fuel to the fire. If you have a large extended family that is willing to help you can plan a simple but enjoyable meal. Instead of steak and fish as a main course go with turkey, chicken and remember to have a few vegetarian offerings. Caterers usually charge by the person with packages starting at $8.00 to $12.00 per guest. If you do most of the work yourself you can cut that down to $6.00 to $10.00 a person. That includes food, beverages, place settings and desserts.
Alcohol can also take a bite from your budget. Consider buying one bottle a week or when ever it is on sale and storing it up for the wedding reception. You won’t have to spend a large amount of money at one time but you will be able to have a well stocked bar for the event. Check wine and spirit shops for sales and ask them for recommendations on products that will work best with your menu. When compared to what a wedding planner charges for such services, you can save yourself an average of $300.00 just by reading up on wines and getting recommendations from vineyards.
Out of town guests will need accommodations. Call for price quotes, ask for discounts and don’t be afraid to ask for wedding discounts. Some guest will expect that their rooms will be paid for; others will offer to pay for their own. Set aside enough money for all the rooms needed so you won’t be short when you have to place a deposit and pay the balance. Since most guests won’t be needing the room for more than ten hours after the reception you don’t have to book suites or amenity abundant hotel rooms. Comfort, Quality and Clarion Inn offer discounts for advanced bookings as well as a wedding day discount. They also offer a reduced rate for locations that have event and reception rooms.
Booking your chapel or wedding site should be done as soon as you have a date set. Consider free locations like a public park or gathering place. The reception area should be within close distance but remember to provide a map with the invitation for guest that may not be familiar with the area. Instead of using an overpriced event center or bridal ballroom for your reception, look into churches, social organizations and schools that have the space you need and offer their areas at a discount.
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