Where to Skimp and Where to Splurge on your Wedding
The key to planning your wedding so you get the day you want without the debt you dread is to budget wisely. It?s simple: don?t go overboard on wedding details that won?t wow your guests!
If you?re not sure where it?s wise to skimp and where it pays to splurge, read on for some hot wedding budget tips.
Invitations: Skimp
Cut the cost of your wedding invitations by choosing simple, elegant styles without custom graphics and colored inks. When it comes to printing, avoid engraving and go with laser printing instead. While your wedding invitations do make the first impression, they?re certainly not what your guests will remember most about your wedding!
Photography: Splurge
Definitely do not skimp on your wedding photography! Plan to spend at least $1500 on a professional wedding photographer to help document your big day the right way. After all, when your wedding day is done, these will be the images that live on in the pages of your wedding album forever.
Wedding Dress: Skimp
You don?t need a designer gown to look like a princess on your wedding day! Save on your dress by taking the time to shop around for a good deal. Start looking for your dress at least six months in advance; score on off-the-rack gowns, scope out end of season sales and surf the net for great dress deals on Ebay. Trust us, you?ll be happy you saved.
Wedding Consultant: Splurge
A lot of brides think that a wedding planner or consultant is a luxury only the wealthy can enjoy. Not true! Since time is money and your time is valuable, hiring a pro can actually be a wise financial choice. If there?s an area of the planning that you can?t devote time to, consider hiring a planner by the hour. Also, industry insiders like wedding planners know the right vendors with the best deals in town!
Meal Choices: Skimp
Your catering budget can account for up to half of your total wedding budget! One way to save without sacrificing is to select only a few well-chosen dishes. Cut back a five course meal to three courses, or eliminate the second soup, salad or dessert choice to give you some wedding budget wiggle room. For that matter, consider a brunch, lunch or cocktail reception to help reduce catering costs
Food Quality: Splurge
While it?s a good idea to consider limiting meal choices, it?s never a good plan to skimp on food quality. Give guests fresh, seasonal foods bursting with flavor and no matter what you choose to serve, they?ll go away happy. Speak to your caterer about great seasonal choices and foods that best suit your wedding style.
Flowers: Skimp
With all the gorgeous choices out there, it?s no wonder that the floral budget is one of the first places brides break the bank. Similar to food costs, making seasonal choices can help. Consider using an abundance of simple seasonal blooms over a few exotic arrangements, and be sure to be up front with your florist about your budget so they can make suggestions for the best blooms.
A good way to figure out where skimping and splurging will work best for you is to make a list of your top wedding priorities. Do you care more about your cake than your mode of transportation? Do you want a live sting quartet but don?t care a whit for flowers? Just be sure that your guests are well looked after and that you?re not breaking your wedding budget on things without wow-factor.
Christie MacLachlan is dreading her fiancées bachelor party. When she is not trying to convince him to watch yet another wedding-themed movie, she writes for yourwedding101.com ? an informative and insightful wedding planning guide with information about wedding speeches, ethnic wedding traditions, top honeymoon destinations and more.
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