Wedding Planning

Budget and Your Wedding

The world is in recession and there are many couples who are desperate to have a fabulous wedding, but their financial situation is putting a great strain on the impending nuptials. Whilst everyone has a dream wedding in mind, not everyone has that dream wedding budget. However, it is still possible to have a stunning wedding.
The most important thing to bear in mind when planning a budget wedding is the fact that you will have to compromise. Yet, whilst you might need to come to terms with not having your reception hall filled with Phelansopsis Orchids, it does not mean your need to give up hope of having flowers at your wedding altogether.
When it comes to compromising, never compromise on quality of your wedding. Spend your money wisely on right service providers. Do not give up on  those ‘weddingly’ items which may seem like a budget friendly idea, as they in fact do make a wedding – stationery, flowers, cake. Rather, think of how you can do things yourself, shop around for great bargains, and think of how you can get anyone willing involved to help you.
There are certain things that you should splash on and they are: Bride’s and Grooms Outfits, your Venue and a Photographer.
The bride and the groom have to look phenomenal on the day of their wedding. This does not mean that you have to spend thousands of rands. Shop around, and bear in mind that hiring a dress may not be as cost effective as you think. Some wedding dresses that are made cost less than a hired gown! Speak  to a dressmaker who does specialises in wedding gowns specifically, she/he can create an amazing wedding dress. Find out about the end of the range sales, and you will be amazed at the prices you can find there. For example, Lady Marmalade has incredible sales where you can save up to 60% on one of their designed gowns, whilst Bride and Co can offer 40-75% on their stock.
Your wedding venue is your crucial ingredient for a successful wedding. The venue has to provide you with great service and your guests with warm hospitality. The catering side has to be impeccable, and this can only happen at the venue that charge the appropriate rate for their services.
If you are in love with a specific venue but the cost of hosting your wedding there puts an end to your dream, think again. Most venues have ’special offers’ for the wedding hosted on the days other than a Saturday.  If the venue charge seems high, ask what is included in the hire price – you might be surprised it might actually be a great deal! Moreover, if you get married during the winter months, you can save a great deal.
Another important thing is to capture your wedding through the right set of lenses. Find the best photographer and pay him/her. Trust me, photographer is the only service provider that will stay with you for the rest of you lives. His/her talent and quality of work will be kept by your for the rest of your lives. You do not need to sign up for the most expensive package either.  Perhaps, ask the photographer if you could have your photobooks printed a year later.
Your numbers are an important budget factor. If you have a very large guest list and a tight budget, consider the idea of having fewer guests but a more quality wedding. The last thing you need to do is skimp on everything just to be able to feed guests. This will put a huge stress on your wedding planning. For example, cutting your guest list by 10 guests can free between R3500-R5000 on just catering cost.
If however, your budget is so tight that it is putting a huge financial pressure on your daily life, then consider postponing the wedding for 6-12 months and save up for a wedding.