wedding-budgetNo one is immune to the changes in the economy, even future brides and grooms. With the average cost of a wedding exceeding $20,000 many couples are wondering if they can pull off their dream wedding without going broke. Luckily there has been a shift in consumer spending and more and more people are paying attention to the value of a product or service versus the price tag. It is entirely within reason to have a beautiful wedding day without going in debt or bankrupting your parents. Here are a few tips to help engaged couples get off to a good start without sacrificing their big day.

  • Make it your own. Like everything else in our society many people feel a push to keep up with the Jones’. Weddings are no exception and while it may feel a bit odd to break from the “norm” it is important to remember that this is your day. That means that whether or not you conform to “traditional” wedding planning is completely up to you and your partner. Keep this in mind when establishing your wedding budget.
  • Plan the event in advance, including the budget. Of course you can’t wait until the last minute to plan a wedding. Certain aspects of the wedding will require months of preparation. Before you get started, make sure you sit down together and determine how much money is available for the big day. By knowing in advance how much money you have to work with, you will take a lot of guess work out of the wedding planning.
  • Get creative. Many couples are saving a lot of money by switching out traditional components of their wedding with creative alternatives. Get better rates by changing the day or location of your wedding. Employ the help of your friends and family to help with decorations. There are lots of ways to lessen the cost of your wedding without making it look scaled back.

When establishing your budget and planning your wedding it is important to weigh which areas you are willing to save money on and where you want to spend more money. Most couples agree that having good food, drinks and entertainment for their guests is a priority. You also want to have great memories of your special day which means you want to have a good photographer and even professional hair and makeup if at all possible. Again the key is finding what is important to the couple and basing the decisions off of that information.



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