Your wedding is often one of the biggest days of your life – but it’s also one of the biggest expenses. Especially if you have a lot of friends and family to invite, the costs can soon add up, creating financial stress around what should be a happy and joyful time. But equally, you won’t want to compromise on your dream day.
So how can you avoid overspending, but still get a celebration that is exactly right for you and your partner? In this post, we share our top tips, so you can enjoy the wedding planning process rather than worrying about your bank balance.
Set your budget before you start
Once you’ve started researching all the different dress, decor and dining options on the market, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of it all. Before you know it, you’ve got your heart set on something you can’t reasonably afford, and anything cheaper feels like a difficult compromise.
In contrast, if you set your wedding budget before you start, you can manage your expectations and avoid spending time looking at items that are out of your price range. Of course, in some cases, you can discuss adjusting the amount you were planning to spend on individual items, but you should try and avoid this unless you’re making savings elsewhere.
Pause before you buy
Sometimes the excitement of a seemingly great offer can rush us into purchasing items we don’t really need. Whether it’s a flash sale online or a convincing sales assistant, it can be hard to step back and think your purchase over before you go ahead. Psychologically speaking, buying things we like can give a burst of dopamine and endorphins, making it hard to stop compulsive spending, even when it puts a strain on your bank account.
Before you commit to anything, try to pause. If you can, leave it for 24 hours – if you still think it’s a good fit for your wedding aesthetic after this and you can afford it, then you can go ahead. Especially if you’re planning your wedding a year or more in advance, there will always be another sale – don’t get caught up in the sense of urgency that marketing is designed to create.
Choose your venue wisely
Your choice of venue will directly impact the rest of your wedding costs. The larger it is, for example, the more space you have to decorate. They may do the food for you, which can be great if you’re hoping for a formal dinner, but will likely be more expensive than something more casual like a food van.
Before you commit to a venue, make sure you understand what is included in the cost, and discuss whether that’s going to suit the number of guests and overall vision you had in mind. Although the base hire price is lower, a DIY venue can also quickly add up, especially if you just book an empty shell – but you’ll be more in control of each individual expense. There’s pros and cons to both approaches.
There’s no right or wrong, but getting this crucial step in line with your budget will help you as you go through the planning process.
Emily Wren Photography -Location: BOK Weddings (Philly)
Remember the day is for you
Remember, it’s not worth putting yourself under financial stress just to have an Instagram-worthy day – you’ll be so excited and happy on the day that having the ‘perfect’ look won’t matter. Try and maintain a steady approach to spending to help spread the cost, or put some money aside each month to help fund larger items.