Top 10 Budgeting Tips for Your Wedding

When it comes to wedding planning, the cost of everything can get overwhelming, even for the most Type A personalities among us. Whether you have a large or small budget, here are some tips for keeping it in line!

1. Plan – Honestly, when you plan things out you can cut corners, have time to find DIY alternatives (and decide if DIY is something you’re willing to do), and see what things you can live without and what your must-haves are.
2. Forget about favors – It’s a party with food and music, you don’t HAVE to give away goodies for them to take home too. If you’re having a dessert bar, these can serve as favors as well.
3. Limit, or eliminate your bridal party – We only had three people standing on each side and no ring bearer. Nowadays, the traditional wedding party is something that you don’t necessarily need to have. This helps with a few things: You/they save money on the dress, less people to coordinate and stress over, and they can really enjoy the day. Ultimately, it saves you a ton of money that can be used for other things.
4. Buy in bulk – If you’re having an open bar, ask if you can supply the alcohol and buy in bulk. Look into getting a membership to Sam’s club or Costco. You can save so much money if you buy food, drinks, and other necessities in bulk.
5. DIY– There are so many things you can DIY that you will be glad you did. From flowers to decor to even your veil, it can be done with a little bit of research. BUT there is a HUGE caveat here. While most things can be done yourself, you’ll sometimes end up spending MORE money if you don’t know what you’re doing. Really research the cost (and the time you have available) to decide if this is something that will actually save you money.
6. Cut back your alcohol bill – I know it would be really cool if you offered several types of alcoholic beverages, but they really add up and can be a pain for people to choose. Offer a few beverages that you absolutely must have or consider a signature drink and just beer and wine.
7. Simplify the bachelorette party – Bachelorette (and bachelor) parties have turned into reasons for folks to travel with their friends. And that’s great! But if you’re considering ways to cut costs, a movie night in with popcorn and wine is just as fun, and can still end in as a fun dance party.
8. Floral arrangements – Calling around and getting pricing inquires, you will see that it can get really costly to have flowers done for you. Ask the florist for options and how that can work into your budget and tell her your must have colors/flowers. If you or your friends can put a bouquet together, try it! My mom made bouquets for a wedding I was in out of fake flowers and they turned out beautiful. You can also think about fake flowers but these can sometimes cost more than the real thing. Again, research and decide what works best for you.
9. Wedding rings – Shop around for your rings and make sure you are getting the best deal. You can often find similar if not the same ring at a much cheaper rate if you simply shop around.
10. Save on Venue Costs – Research, research, research! Look at the parks near where you want the wedding to be held and you can cut costs back. Consider non-traditional venues or even a backyard wedding.

Budgeting for your wedding is a really crucial part of making your dream day happen, and I hope this list has helped you with your budgeting needs.