Your wedding day is one of the most important and special days of your life and most likely the day you spend the most time planning for. There are many things you have to think about, and the to-do list seems to never end. A wedding budget can rise quickly, and this can be stressful for families who do not have the financial assets to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding.
If you are in this situation, never fear. There are many things you can do to help bring down your wedding budget. Not only can certain tips save you a lot of money, they will likely save you a great deal of stress, both now and in the future. However, don't believe some of the common wedding budget myths while trying to save some money. While some of these myths may seem true, they can actually wind up costing much more than expected. When you are aware of these wedding myths beforehand, you can avoid becoming trapped and spending a great deal of money.
Have a Buffet
One of the most expensive parts of the wedding budget is the food you will serve your guests. Some people might tell you to have a buffet instead of serving each person their own plate. However, this may actually wind up costing you more money than it would to have an individual serving for each person. Buffet lines mean each person should be able to eat as much as he or she wants, and it isn't going to look good if there isn't much food left after the first go-around. When each person has their own plate of food, it's expected they won't be able to get seconds and their food portions will be limited.
Have Your Wedding in the Backyard
It may seem like a great way to drastically cut your wedding costs, but having a wedding in someone's backyard may cost more money than you expect. You will have to think about a long list of other expenses you likely wouldn't incur if you rented a space for your wedding. These costs can include things such as:
- Tables
- Chairs
- Tents
- An altar
These costs can add up quickly, and you may find you pay more out of pocket for a backyard wedding than if you had simply rented a space that provided all of these materials. Look at your options for venues that provide all of the things you need for your wedding, and you may find you save hundreds of dollars.
Consider Cupcakes
Wedding cakes are expensive, so people are often looking for ways to cut the cost. A common suggestion is to have cupcakes instead of cake. It sounds simpler and less expensive, but this typically isn't the case. If you have hired a cake decorator, it will take that person a lot longer to frost and decorate each individual cupcake, which means he or she will likely charge you more. If you want to save some money here, then consider having a sheet cake. You can still have a highly decorated wedding cake, but it should be small and just for you, your new spouse, and perhaps the wedding party. Your guests will have no problem having a piece of cake from a sheet cake, which can feed dozens of people for a much lower price.
Some Easy Wedding Budget Tips
There are a couple things you can do that will actually help you save money. For one thing, plan ahead if you can. If you set your wedding a year or more in the future, it gives you more time to shop for deals and save the money you need for your wedding. In addition, consider reducing the size of your wedding. If you cut the guest list in half, you should be able to save hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars.
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