November 12, 2009| 
There are grand, luxurious weddings that are planned to the very last detail and there are weddings that take place with almost no planning, except for the effort of organising the bride, the groom and a priest to be in the same place at the same time! The fact is how special a wedding is doesn’t really have anything to do with how much money has been spent so if you are looking for a budget wedding, don’t fret. If two people love each other and they are willing to give the rest of their lives to each other, then the wedding is going to be a special and memorable event regardless.
Having said that, planning a wedding on a tight budget doesn’t mean your special day will look cheap. You can still have the beautiful, elegant wedding of your dreams. You just have to know how to put it together.
Here are a few ideas and tips for planning a romantic budget wedding:
1) A beautiful outdoor area is a wonderful setting for a romantic wedding. During the summer is a great time for outdoor weddings – or even in the winter if you would like to get married in the snow! Travelling to a beautiful outdoor area like a lake or a hillside is much cheaper (and generally more beautiful) than any indoor wedding venue. In fact, whether you are after a budget wedding or not, an outdoor setting can be a spectacular venue for your special day.
2) The bride’s mother is likely to have a wedding dress. Wearing her dress not only reduces your expenses but adds a personal touch and an element of sentimentality to your wedding. And (thanks to genetics) it will probably be more or less the right size! If not, there are plenty of high quality pre-loved dresses to be found in online auctions. Remember that wedding dresses are usually only worn once, so the dress you buy will be practically brand new and none of your guests will be able to tell the difference.
3) The groom may choose to rent his wedding attire. It’s usually a much less expensive option than buying a new tuxedo that he might only use once every five years!
4) At the reception, a buffet is more cost-effective than a sit-down meal and a popular choice for a budget wedding. Talk to your caterers for an idea of how much it will cost to feed all your guests with a buffet and compare this to the cost of individually plated meals. Remember, your guests may prefer a buffet as they are able to choose what they eat.
5) Hiring a sound system that can play music from an MP3 player is much more cost effective than hiring a band or a DJ. And you get complete control over the playlist!
6) Instead of an expensive reception, why not get married in the morning (maybe even at sunrise) and then have a huge picnic during the day? This could even lead on to an outdoor barbeque later on! A budget wedding doesn’t have to be any less fun than a more expensive one.
7) Shop around for everything. This is extremely important when planning a budget wedding. If you find something you want for your wedding, check to see if you can find it for a lower price somewhere else. And keep your eye open for sales. Many of the items you need are often on sale at discount stores and craft stores.
Ultimately, wedding planning is all about creativity. Shop around for the best deals and if something isn’t fitting into your budget then work around it.
The best way to ensure you don’t over spend on your wedding is to stay organised. Grab your free copy of The Essential Wedding Checklist. This will give you the overall picture of all the things you need to consider when planning your budget wedding. Go through each item and consider where costs can be cut.
By having an overall picture in mind, you’ll be able to take advantage of good deals and specials whenever they present themselves as you will already know what you are looking for.
Click here for more budget wedding ideas and your Free Wedding Checklist.
