Tip of The Week - Wedding Budgets

The type of wedding budget you have will determine what kind of wedding you have, regardless of who is paying for the event. I have to say that there are MANY things that can be done to reduce the budget and STILL create that day that you have always dreamed about. Many people will try and convince you otherwise but to get the wedding you have always dreamed about under the budget that you can afford will take an experienced planner, lots of research, belief in yourself and ACTION! 

Here are a few tips from us to get you thinking; 

• The Date: Saturday is the traditional day to hold a wedding however most venues will be fully booked out. To cut the budget and change it up a bit, consider a Friday night or a Sunday reception. You will save more money thank you think and have a greater selection of dates to choose from!
• The Ceremony: exchange your vows outdoors in a botanical garden and you won't have to spend a lot of money on the decorations! 
• The Dress: Thinks about the fabric. Poly satin will cost less than silk sating and most guests won't know the difference. Choose expensive lace and beading for the bodice (think Kate Middleton) but eliminate embellishment on the train. Find the dress you like in store and look it up online as you will save up to 50% off the RRP. 
• Grooms Attire: if your wedding is semi- formal, the groom can wear a suit he already owns. Alternatively if you have many groomsmen, get them to hire their suits from the same vendor as in some cases they will include the grooms tux for free! 
• The Flowers: Swap expensive flowers for less expensive ones and substitute! Alternatively, you can hire amazing artificial flowers from event stylists. They will have the best ones in the business! 
• The Catering: Keep it simple! Brunches, platters and buffets are much less expensive than seated dinners. Reduce the number of courses. Stick with the caterers speciality, the season and the region! BYO drinks to the venue (if they allow it) - purchase champagne or wines in bulk from a liquor supplier and bring it to the venue. Check out our previous tips on beverages. 
• The Invitations: Keep them simple or better yet use save the date eCards or online RSVP. Create your own wedding website for free and get guests to RSVP online! 
• The Entertainment: DJ's are less expensive than live bands, however if you want a live band, think small!!! Most DJ's and bands will charge less on weekdays than weekends (think Friday night again!). 
• The Honeymoon: Use your credit card to pay for your wedding (something like AMEX). Take advantage of the frequent flyer points and avoid travelling during peak season. Take a chance and send in your wedding pics to magazines and online competitions to win a free holiday!

Here is our basic budget breakdown to help you think about where the money should be allocated :)