Budget Blues or Budget Bliss??

Deciding on a budget is probably the least fun part of the planning process, but it's also the most necessary!!

The first thing to do when you start planning is to decide what your budget is for your wedding. This will help you determine what type of wedding you are going to have. All your decisions on venue, dress, time of year, etc. will rely on how much you are able to spend.
Are you having a huge wedding? Will you have  small, intimate wedding? The answers to those questions will rely on the amount of money you want to spend.

The great news is, you can still have your dream wedding on a small budget! There are so many creative ways to cut cots these days. Here are some tips to reduce the average cost of a wedding.

1. Avoid the "high" season: Most weddings take place between spring and fall. Actually, fall has become the most popular season for a wedding. If you have your wedding in late November - Early April you will avoid a lot of costs at most venues.

2. Consider a Friday or Sunday wedding: Most venues will charge high rental fees and food and beverage minimums on Saturday nights. Having a Friday or Sunday wedding is not a bad idea and if you need to save costs, this is something to consider.

3. Save on church decorations: A lot of churches are decorated for the holidays. Consider the time of year you are getting married. You can save a lot of money on flowers, etc. at a church if it is already done! This can apply to many venues as well.

4. Mingle with other brides: When you are booking your venue, ask the coordinator if there is another bride interested in the same weekend/dates that you are. If so - you could split the cost on decorating fees. For instance, if you are having a Friday evening wedding and there is another bride who has booked your same room/venue for Saturday, you could split the cost of draping and decorations.

5. Dessert: This can become very expensive! The cake alone for your wedding can set you way back! I would recommend purchasing a smaller cake and adding a "faux" bottom. This is for the bottom two tiers of a cake. No one will know and it will still look great for pictures. You also can get creative and do a dessert bar with smaller, cheaper dessert options. Candy bars are also fun. And if you are providing a huge meal, some of your guests will forgo dessert all together!

These are just a few tips to save on costs. So even if you have a tight budget, remember there are a lot of areas you can save some dollars.

Either way, have the conversation about your total budget before the planning starts. This is your first step and it will prevent a lot of stress on you and your fiance if you know what to plan for before you start!

Love,
Kristin