In honor of the 4-year anniversary of when I planned a wedding in 10 weeks, I’m sharing my Top 8 Tips for Planning a Wedding on a Budget.
1. Spreadsheets are your best friend.
This is so important! Especially if you’re planning in a bit of a time crunch, like I was. Regardless, you’ll have a million things flying and a ton of different contacts with each different vendor, so make sure you have a way to keep it all straight. You can also keep track of your overall budget and how much each item is going to cost you.
Categories:
- Invitation list – with addresses ready for printing
- Tables
- Vendor contact information
- Budget
- Hair-Makeup Schedule
- Eating-Sleeping arrangements for weekend of
Here’s a list of legal things you’ll need to change once you’re married:
- Social Security
- IRS
- U.S. Passport
- U.S. Postal Service — name and address depending
- Driver’s License
- Voter Registration
- Bank accounts**
For more info about changing your legal information, I used missnowmrs.com.
2. Don’t skimp on photography and videography.
Hindsight is 20/20, and I really wish that I had been more vocal about the photography I wanted. I wanted more artistic photos vs. school-portrait like, and I should’ve chosen a photographer who would’ve been more flexible. I also didn’t think I cared about a wedding video so I opted for the cheaper option. BIG MISTAKE. I’m literally embarrassed to show anyone the video that was created. 4 years later, and my husband has NEVER seen it. So I’m for sure never going to show it to my kids. Basically, that was a really bad call. So learn from my mistakes.
3. Maybe save on the cake.
If you’re dyyyyying to have that cake-perfect shot from the wedding, I understand. But if you aren’t that emotionally attached, I’d save! We didn’t have a wedding cake, but instead a big dessert buffet, and honestly, nobody remembers the lack of cake. I certainly don’t. And that’s what matters!
4. Pick and choose for flowers.
If you’re on a budget, pick and choose where you’re going to go all out with the flowers. If you have a chuppah at your ceremony, I would go all out with the flowers here. It’s the one part of the wedding that people will be staring at most, and you’ll likely be taking pictures in front of it at some point as well.
Places to save? I thought I wanted a decked out bedekin, but it turns out that I could’ve put those flowers toward the chuppah and been better off. Also, by alternating high and low centerpieces in the reception, I save a decent amount of money.
5. Have a point person. And make sure you like her.
Whether this is a wedding planner, MOH or your mother, have someone who will come with you to all of these appointments and who will be in contact with all of the vendors so you aren’t stuck doing it all by yourself. The second component to this is that you really need to make sure you trust and like this person. You’ll likely be in touch with them almost every day until the wedding, and you really don’t want to have to feel like you need to stay on top of this person who’s supposed to be on top of everyone else. That just makes your work harder.
6. Ask for upgrades.
If you get married in a hotel, milk it for all it’s worth. Make sure you request that room upgrade, and tell that bartender that it’s your wedding. You’ll be surprised at the amenities you’ll get when you ask for them! Even if you were previously told no.
7. Wear comfortable shoes!
I’ve never been good in heels, and I wasn’t about to start at my own wedding. I wore Tieks ballet flats, and it was one of the best decisions I made. I also left them at my apartment and my friend had to go run home to get them…so don’t do that!
8. Enjoy the day.
I know it’s so stressful, and you’ve worked so hard to get to the day of, but if you don’t “let go and let G-d”, you’ll regret it forever. NOTHING is going to be perfect, and you can only control how you act and how you perceive the day to be. So enjoy! It’s the first day of the rest of your lives together! Mazel tov!
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