How to Plan a Wedding on a Tight Budget

Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life, and it should be. The cost alone is enough to break the bank. Many couples don't realize how expensive everything is until they start planning and find out for themselves. Though the costs involved shouldn't matter, you have still got to stick to a budget and make reasonable decisions. The good news is that there is a solution. There are several methods in which you can save money and still get your dream wedding, and here are just a few:

Know your budget.
Before you start making arrangements, it's best to figure out the exact budget you have to work with. If you immediately start calling around and hiring the services of caterers, photographers, and others then your financial situation can quickly get out of hand. If a parent or family member is providing the funds then you must have the conversation with them. You must discuss the budget openly, and find out, to the penny, how much they want to spend and then make the agreement that you will not exceed that budget. Keep a record of each different service you've hired and deduct from the overall budget each time to see how much you have left over. If your budget is smaller than it needs to be then keeping records of all your costs is critical. Break your budget down into the following categories: bridal dress, florist, music/entertainment, catering, photography, and other. You will spend roughly 50%-60% of your budget on the reception.

Say no to a wedding coordinator.
Why hire someone for a job that you can do yourself? Sure, if your budget allowed the possibility for a wedding coordinator then I would certainly recommend it. But with a tight budget, I suggest finding a close relative or friend that doesn't mind taking over the project and steering it in the right direction. This decision alone could save you up to $1000 in your overall budget. If a relative or friend does decide to help then it is essential you buy them a nice gift after the wedding, such as a trip to the spa.

The dress.
If your budget is very tight, then I recommend buying gowns directly off the rack instead of having it custom made. This can save a significant amount of money. Gowns that are hand made with very ornate, detailed patterns are more expensive. Simple gowns are still beautiful and are very affordable. Also, as for the men's attire it's best to rent non designer tuxedos and order them all from the same store. You're more likely to get a group discount.

The guest list.
The first place to really start saving money is by narrowing down your guest list. For instance, scaling your list down from 250 to 150 people can save thousands of dollars. I know you'd like to have everyone there, but you can't expect to save money and keep the list. If you kept the list like it is then you will have to compromise in other places like the food, entertainment, and floral arrangements. Personally, I would rather have a smaller, yet still impressive wedding rather than a large one that cut corners.

Photography.
For this category you'll need to do extensive research and shop around. Compare the hourly rates to see which is the most cost efficient. You could ask the photographer to only take formal shots and you could then place cameras on each table so that friends and family members can take candid shots.

Consider the wedding date carefully.
Obviously, during the peak wedding season the costs involved in renting a reception hall, booking a church, hiring a caterer and everything else are relatively high. All aspects of the wedding business are more likely to negotiate lower costs during the slower periods. If you're curious, the peak months are May, June, July, August, and mid September. If you cannot change the month of your wedding and you're stuck with one of the peak months, then another solution is to change the actual day of your wedding. For instance, a wedding on Thursday, Friday, or Sunday night would be lower than if you chose to do it on a Saturday night.

The reception.
As I mentioned before, 50%-60% of your budget will cover the reception. Since it's your biggest expense it's also the best opportunity to save more money. Research the location you'd like to have your reception at. Having your reception at a park, public garden, or any other public area will save you money because you open up many possibilities. The first possibility is that you can hire someone on your own to do the catering. Many reception halls require that you use them for the in-house catering service, so a public place will allow you to cater on your own or ask friends and family members to contribute dishes.

Another area of the reception that gets out of hand is the bar. Many people go to weddings just for the free drinks. Don't be afraid to make your reception a cash bar only. Your guests will have to pay for their own drinks, but at least you've provided them with the opportunity to have them. Also, don't hire an independent bartender. Ask a friend to fill in during the reception for a small fee. Buy the liquor at a wholesale outlet to save a little extra money.

Good luck and I hope this article helps you save loads of money!