The Price of a low Budget Wedding
Putting together a low budget wedding can be fun. There are many couple’s today who are faced with paying for their wedding. Due to many reasons-parents who are unable to pay, bills due to previous marriages (debts, child support, etc.) or the rising cost of living, couples today are faced with deflated resources on every turn. Oftentimes it looks grim as you compare the prices of dresses, caterers, flower arrangements, sites, decorations and entertainment.
All is not lost - especially for those who are willing to put a bit of creative thought and extra time into the plans for their wedding. No one need give up their perfect day at the church of their choice or some quiet little romantic getaway with all of their family and friends in attendance.
No one has to go into debt if you start from a few absolute must haves and then begin working down the list picking and choosing those things that are or are not necessary. Set a budget and then, to the best of your ability stick to it.
Because of the internet resources available to us today there is no excuse for a couple not to be able to put together the wedding of their dreams. Through research find cost averages on everything that you want included in your wedding. Some areas can be compromised while others cannot. Most people find that through e-bay or other resources almost anything can be located and savings in the thousands of dollars can be found.
When planning a low budget wedding, many women do not want to compromise on their dress, but before you spend several thousand dollars (average cost $800-2500) on a dress you will only wear once check out eBay. Literally, hundreds upon hundreds of women have realized this very thing and their beautiful dresses that have only been worn once are now for sale at prices that are often too good to be true. It is quite possible you will find another dress of your dreams for half the price.
In the area of floral arrangements and decorations (average cost about $2500), again hundreds of dollars can be saved by creating favors and arrangements through the enlistment of friends rather than a floral or wedding/party shop. This goes equally well for invitations/thank you notes (average, $500), also. Go to the printers and buy a nice paper then print the invitations yourself.
Food can be a big chunk out of the cost for a reception which traditionally can cost up to $10,000. This may take some careful planning and tax your creativity to its limit but many wonderful reception items/menus can be found and created by family or friends. Consider finger foods as they can be as elegant as the imagination.
Music is another area in a low budget wedding where the band (average cost $2500) of a friend can be just what you need. The rings are probably another costly area and many believe this to be the one area not to be skimped on as these will last the rest of your life. What can be done is get the bride’s ring for the wedding and the grooms for one of the later anniversaries.
There are hundreds of amateurs who will deliver top quality work for a fraction of the $1500 of a professional. Also, some great pictures are caught by leaving a disposable camera on each table and asking someone you trust at each to snap pictures at random.