If you’re getting married, you probably have your dream wedding already planned in your head. While this is supposed to be the best day of your life, you also don’t want to spend your entire life’s savings on just one day and start off your new life together in debt. You can still plan your perfect wedding without breaking the bank. Here are some tips on how to do just that!
Make a list of must-haves
Before you book anything, make a list with your partner of what is most important to you for your special day. Do you absolutely have to have a live band for your reception? Are wedding photos something that are important to you both? If you set your priorities now, you can set aside the budget needed for those must-haves, which will help direct the rest of your wedding planning!
Get your finances in order
With a budget in mind, you’ll have to get your finances in order before doing any wedding planning. First, analyze your debt and your monthly expenses. Look into refinancing your college loans to save some money or cutting cable from your home. Finding little ways to decrease your bills will mean you’ll be able to save more money leading up to your big day! Discuss with your families to see if they’ll be contributing anything to your budget that would give you some wiggle room to work with.
Don’t feel the need to invite everyone you know
The biggest factor in wedding costs is the size of your guest list . Most venues charge by the person, so the more people you have, the bigger your bill is going to be. If you haven’t seen your friend from college in over a year, they probably don’t need an invite (no matter how many great stories you have together). As for plus ones, not everyone you invite needs a guest. Give a plus one only to those in serious relationships and your wedding party. Your second cousin doesn’t need to bring the girl he just started dating.
Cut back on floral
While flowers are beautiful, they take up a big chunk of your budget. Don’t go overboard on the floral design at your wedding. You can still have a gorgeous wedding without paying to have flowers everywhere. Spend the majority of your floral budget on your own bouquet and go inexpensive for the bridesmaids’ flowers and the centerpieces. There are plenty of non-floral centerpieces that are stunning but will save you a bit of cash. Plus, you’ll stand out from the rest of the weddings your guests have been to!
Skip the tiny details
While bridal magazines and Pinterest may have convinced us otherwise, the small details really don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. While those little additions might seem like they aren’t going to cost you, they truly add up. Save yourself room in your budget for the bigger aspects that matter, like the venue and your Ottawa wedding photographer. Skip things like favors and dessert bars that your guests won’t really miss.
More than any other expense on your wedding day, great photography that tells the complete story of your special day will endure and pay dividends for many generations to come! Here’s a few of our favorite images!
