Planning a Dream Wedding on a Budget

Planning for your dream wedding can be pretty exciting but anyone who went through it already will also tell you that amidst all the excitement on this stage, there are headaches too. Mostly because of the cost.

Weddings these days can cost a fortune and sometimes this stops us from trying to achieve our dream wedding and just settle for what we think is "achievable".

I say, go for it! All you need is a strategic planning and a lot of thinking outside the box. 

Need tips? Then read on!

Set your budget and stick to it

It is best that as soon as couple decides to tie the knot, whether it's for a civil or a church wedding, families from both parties should have a chat regarding the budget. Like who is contributing how much and how much should be allocated on what. 

Having a clear picture of how much is to be spent on things can help you in filtering your choices, from the catering, the venue down to the flowers. Once you have a budget, do your best to stay within the limit. I know how easy it can be to go overboard and spend thousands of money on tulips instead of the daisies you originally planned just because the sales lady smooth-talked you into it. Get a grip and think about the other expenses.

Don't go crazy on the guest list

If you can afford to invite hundreds of guests, why not? As they say "the more the merrier", right? But for those who are on a limited budget, don't worry about trimming your guest list down to a number that will work for you and your partner. 

Although some may disagree with me, a wedding in my opinion is something that should be intimate and spent with people closest to the couple. If you think you can only afford to invite 50 people, then invite the 50 people who are closest to the two of you. I don't think your classmate from grade 1 who you haven't spoken with for 20 years will mind if she won't receive an invite. It's your's and your soon-to-be husband or wife's day. You decide who you want to spend it with.

Re-think your giveaways

I know so many couples who spent a lot of money on giveaways during their wedding day. Tokens that most likely will spend the rest of eternity gathering dust and tucked away in a cabinet. So choose your giveaways wisely. Don't spend too much on expensive figurines, scented candles and accessories. 

Aside from the budget, think of it's usefulness. Will your guests appreciate the tokens or will the trinkets go straight to the top shelf where there will remain unused until they get thrown away? 

Why not DIY? Wrap carefully chosen scented soaps with an affordable but elegant looking lace cloth? Print thank you notes and tie them with a ribbon. How about a few select candies and chocolates with hand written letters in the box? Nobody said that giveaways need to be expensive but they do need to be well thought of.

Get married on a weekday

Here in Cebu, most church wedding ceremonies will cost you more money if it falls on a weekend. If you want to save a few thousand on this part, choose a weekday for your wedding day. You can check some of the church rates here.

Borrow a bridal car

I know how much it can cost to rent a bridal car. Why not talk to one of your friends who owns a car to see if they can lend it to you on your wedding day as a gift! Just take care of the gas and the driver and maybe send a bottle of wine to the owner the following day as a token of appreciation. Just make sure you get a reliable driver, of course!

DIY your invitation

One of the ways my husband and I saved money on our wedding was DIY-ing the invitations. I had fun doing it, too! There are plenty of free templates as well as free photo editors online that you can use! Unleash your creativity! The good thing about doing the invites yourself is that you have complete control over everything. No going back and forth to the supplier to have some errors corrected. Once you have your design down pat, find a reliable printer and viola, one thing ticked off from your to-do list.

Skip the banquet and go for your favorite restaurant.

Holding the reception in a banquet hall costs a fortune. Not to mention the decoration that needs to be done since most halls are bare. Why not hold your reception at your favorite restaurant! Some restaurants allow private functions where they close off the entire establishment for a few hours for you. An advantage? Restaurants are usually nicely decorated already which means you spend less in that department. Just a few centerpieces and you're done!

Skip the pro-singers

Professional wedding singers have high talent fees, why not tap a few of your friends who can sing! Allow them to use your wedding day as their concert! They know you best so they most likely will know your favorite love songs! Aside from this? A great CD collection of instrumental melodies will also do just fine.

Hire a Pro Wedding coordinator

If your budget will still allow it, a pro wedding coordinator will have lots of ideas based on previous experiences that can greatly help you. They are walking encyclopedias when it comes to all things wedding and can save you a great deal of money and headaches! If not, you can still tap friends who are skilled in this area. 

Don't be afraid to go against the flow

Just because it's "in" doesn't mean you have to do them too. If you want to skip the grand reception then go ahead and skip it. I know a couple who held their wedding ceremony at 5 in the morning because they want to face the day as a married couple. What followed afterwards was a lovely light breakfast of fruits and pastries for the reception. Refreshing and so unique! I'm pretty sure they saved a lot of money by skipping the usual dinner reception. 

So you see? There are so many ways to save money when planning for your wedding. Just remember that your wedding day is a celebration of love. And love does not require granduer and extravagance. It's about you and your partner. Lastly, remember that your wedding day is just the start of your lives together. 

Have fun!

Jhanis V. - Top 10 Blogs Voice Boks Comedy Edition, featured on BlogHer.com, HumorWriters.org, Bloggys 2015 - Finalist, Family and Relationships Category. She blogs at The Vanilla Housewife and The Cebu Gazette.