Wedding planning on a tight budget – Part 15
With the cost of a modern wedding reaching in excess of £30,000 it can be enough to send many couples packing to a foreign climate, embarking on a mail-order wedding and built-in honeymoon. Whilst this is romantic and solves problems regarding numbers of family and guests, it is a somewhat modest affair and hardly the large celebration of love that other couples would prefer if they only had the finances. Indeed, with todays increasing likelihood of second-marriages, children and people waiting longer to tie the knot, there are always more pressing financial concerns such as mortgages, schooling fees and the desperate need to replace the failing family car. But those who seek a large celebration and more traditional marriage need not worry too much. It is very possible to have the most beautiful of weddings on a budget as small as £2000, depending on what matters most to the bride and groom. First, sit down and each write a list of the 5 most imperative things you would want your wedding to be. Plenty of guests? A live band? An elaborate church ceremony? Once you have established your desires, next you need to compare notes and discuss which of these take ultimate priority, and make a new list of 5 that reflect your joint wishes. Now comes the fun part! Dare to be a little different, get very creative and dedicate planning your wedding to being your new part-time hobby. Establish a reasonable time limit for you to save money (most couples estimate 1-2 years) and bear in mind that you will need to book your church/registry office and reception venue first in order to set a date. When booking, a considerable deposit is often required so research your ideal venues and work out how soon you can afford to book them. Creativity saves an immense amount of expense, so consider crafting your own invititations, or printing your orders of service. Internet sites hold a treasure chest of information for many unique and individual ideas. You can also find many cheap online sources for materials such as paper and craft items. See if you can negotiate with your venue, don’t be afraid to suggest ideas that will fit with your budget and theme. Some venues automatically insist you look at their wedding packages which include non-essential items such as a red carpet, cake stand and knife and a pricey 3-course meal. You could check out the same venue as if you were just interested in having a birthday party or some such celebration and see what value
Tags: Church Ceremony