A Day to Remember . . . on a Budget - Wedding Article

We all dream of the day when we walk down the aisle to join our life to the one we love. And though our dreams rarely involve the wedding-related bills, cost is a significant factor in any wedding celebration. Fortunately, creating a day to remember doesn’t necessarily mean you'll also be creating a debt you'll be paying off for months (or even years) after your big day is done. You can curb your spending with these five tips.

1. Set a Reasonable Budget
Make sure you can live with the amount you set - and most importantly stick to it! Consider what is most important to you and allow a bigger portion of your budget for those things. Make note of everything you are expecting to spend money on, not forgetting the "little" things like postage for invitations, rental items at the venues and license fees. If you go over budget in one area, realize you will have to make cuts in another area to get back in line with your budget.

2. Consider Timing
Before setting the event date, consider the season you would like to get married in. "Off-season" (November - April) weddings can be less expensive since they are not busy times for most vendors. Consider the flowers you would like. You can get more flowers for less money when they are in season and plentiful. If you are planning your big day a year in advance, buy discounted items at the end of the season. Once you've decided on the season, select a date. Remember that holidays can be both good and bad. Usually the decorations needed cost less, but your flowers can be more expensive and many vendors charge more around holidays due to high demand. Also consider time of day. Morning weddings, for instance tend to cost less. This is because you are not paying for a dance, brunch food is usually less expensive than an evening meal, and some locations will not charge as much because they can rent the area in the evening.

3. Comparison Shop
Take your time when making important decisions. Don’t pick the first thing you find or place you see. Take time to study the details. Don’t be afraid to talk about upgrades with your vendors, and make sure there are no hidden costs. Search for and wait for sales. Investigate all possibilities before putting down any deposits. Most vendors will hold your date for a week or two before booking someone else.

4. Be Flexible
Be open to ideas and accept help. Even though you have an idea of what you want, ask your vendors for ideas - and listen to them. Many of them have been in the business for years, have creative ideas, and attend regular training seminars. And they all can offer you great money saving ideas while keeping you close to your dream wedding. You may even hear an idea that you like better! Let your family and friends help out but don’t expect them to make your decisions for you. Your wedding day is about you and your love. It’s a very happy occasion that should not be marred by family feuds over decision making. Don’t expect your family and friends to be responsible for a lot of duties the day of the wedding. They will be your guests at the event and you want them to relax and enjoy themselves.

5. Consider Hiring a Wedding Consultant
A wedding consultant used to be considered a luxury for high-end weddings but now they are considered a necessity. Whether you have many demands on your time, are trying to plan a wedding in a different town, have begun the planning process and realize you need some guidance - or just need someone there on your big day, a consultant may be your answer. A consultant can provide money - saving ideas, help you stay on budget - and sometimes even come in well under budget! Your consultant wears many hats; creative advisor, stress reliever, budget guru, time saver, organizational center, trouble shooter, counselor, advocate and, finally, a friend.

This is only the beginning of a long list of money - saving ideas and strategies. Use your creativity to add to it and create a dream day come true!
Lorrie Alberts, Certified Wedding Consultant.

Lorrie specializes in planning and coordinating your celebration, customized wedding accessories, and theme decorating. To set up a free initial consultation contact Lorrie at (507) 251-0561 / (507) 529-7805 or email her at withluvfromlorri@msn.com.

Submited by: Lorrie Alberts