Planning your wedding on a budget? Read this post

If you’ve been to a few weddings lately, it may be easy to assume that the only way to have an incredible day is to spend in the region of $30,000 to $50,000. This is a myth though, and you can definitely have an incredible day without spending all of your savings (or worse, taking out a loan).

Here are some tips if you’re planning your wedding on a budget:

Actually set a budget

You’d be surprised how many people haven’t sent a firm budget for their wedding. If you don’t set a budget, you don’t know what you’re working with, and it can be easy to say yes to things you can’t really afford. Confirm how much family members may be able to contribute, and work out how much you can spend as well.

Prioritise

Now’s the time to think about what you consider the most important things to be for your big day. Maybe you’ve always wanted to get married in Vera Wang, or you’ve decided an open bar all night is non-negotiable. Whatever it is, make sure you and your fiance are on the same page so you can put your money towards these things and avoid spending a lot on the things you’re not fussed about.

Choose a destination

You may assume a destination wedding in Greece or one of those gorgeous weddings in Mykonos is out of reach for your budget but you may be surprised. Even when you consider flights, a destination wedding can actually be much cheaper than getting married at home. Some of these destinations offer cost-effective packages, and it’s a good excuse to keep numbers low.

Don’t be afraid to negotiate

When you’re shopping around, you can easily compare prices and negotiate with vendors. You’ll be surprised how much they’ll be willing to move- even if they’re not willing to shift on the price, they’ll often be willing to add in a few freebies so you can get a better deal.

You can often get a better deal by simply getting a quote for a standard event or function and not mentioning the “W” word. Then, aim to make the company stick to the original price if they can’t demonstrate a valid reason for increasing it just because it’s a wedding. Don’t be afraid to compare quotes to two different vendors to see if they’re willing to be flexible on the price.