Having A Wedding On A Budget

A Wedding

A Wedding

I remember when I was a young girl, I used to dream about what my wedding would be like.  The long white dress, the perfect flowers, a huge, decorated church…all of these went along into my wedding day fantasy.  However, when the time came, finding out how much all of that would cost put a serious damper on those dreams.

Tradition has always been that the bride’s family pays for the wedding…however these days, more and more couples pay for things themselves.  Starting a life together should be a beautiful ceremony if that is what the couple wants to do…but just starting out can be difficult financially.  There is no point in spending a ton of money on a lavish wedding…only to have no way to afford to live when it is done.

First, when planning the wedding, consider choosing an “off-time” for the date.  The middle of the week will have fewer people competing for the time slot, so chances are it won’t be as expensive.  If you’re not opposed to having a wedding outside a church setting, consider having a small one at home or a friend’s home.  There are also many places outside, if you are planning a spring or summer wedding.  Be sure and have a back up plan just in case the weather disappoints unexpectedly.

Just Married

Just Married

Don’t spend unnecessarily on food and drink.  If you plan on using a caterer, ask if their buffet service is less expensive than their seated dinners.  If you’re unable to have catering, don’t be shy about pulling all willing friends and family together to contribute dishes and (if you’re lucky enough to know someone talented in baking) the wedding cake itself.  Many store bakeries offer reasonable prices on wedding cakes, so don’t feel that it is necessary to go to a specialized shop.

Consider a resale store for wedding apparel.  There are many lovely gowns for brides and bridesmaids and suits and tuxedos for the men that have only been gently used.  I found a lovely tea-length ivory gown in the J.C.Penney catalog that not only made a beautiful wedding dress, it was also useful for other formal occasions.

When a new life as a couple begins…so do the expenses.  It will be easier to start off on the right foot financially if you go into your life together without the debt a large wedding can incur.

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