Posted on Thursday, March 24th, 2016 by Toby Sanders
Planning a wedding can be both frustrating and rewarding. A lot of couples are under the impression they have to spend thousands of dollars to plan the most beautiful, perfect wedding. Contrary to the popular belief of many couples, you can save a lot of money and have a fabulous wedding. The key to success of budgeting is planning. Things can get a little tricky because things do not always go according to plan. The good news is, there are many different ways you can have a fantastic wedding to remember without destroying your wallet.
A lot of couples confuse budgeting with being cheap. This is not the case. Budgeting means cutting things out that are not absolutely necessary instead of spending a little bit of money for thousands of different things. Budgeting is planning ahead and working smarter, not harder. The sooner you grasp an understanding of the difference between budgeting and being cheap, the real work can begin.
You may think you have everything figured out in your mind, but when the pressure is on, you may forget a lot of important things. This is where the checklist comes to save the day. Write things down as you think about them and check them off once you have completed them. It may seem like a far stretch, but you will be glad you did when things begin to fall in place as you would like.
You may want to invite every person you have ever met to your special day, but when you invite a lot of people, you have to have a place for everyone to sit and if you plan on having a reception, you have to have food for everyone. When you are on a budget, you have to think about your wedding differently. Instead of inviting everyone you have ever known, invite your immediate family and best friends. This will cut down wedding expenses tremendously. People who could not be there can receive lovely photos of your wedding in the mail. 
Instead of asking for wedding gifts, ask for help with your wedding. It’s an even trade-off and a lot of people will be grateful to help you instead of purchasing gifts. Your wedding will mean a lot more to your guests knowing that they helped. You may have close friends or relatives who are photographers or even wedding planners. Don’t hesitate to ask for their help.
A lot of couples think they have to go over the top to have an extravagant wedding, but you don’t! If your wedding is in a month that is warm, have your wedding outside. Get some fresh air. There will be plenty of room for your guests. Nothing is more beautiful than nature. Expensive does not always mean better. If your back yard is large enough, consider having your wedding there. If not, maybe you have a friend or a friend of the family who will let you use their home and backyard to host your wedding.
Good food is required for your reception, if you intend on having one. Keep in mind that good food does not have to be expensive. You can look around to find a reasonable priced caterer in your area or ask your parents to cater food for you. Maybe you have a friend or relative who wouldn’t mind helping out with the cooking. If you decide to hire a caterer, don’t only judge the company by the reviews that are left. The reviews play a major role in your final decision, but make sure you taste the food and see if you enjoy it.
When a lot of people think of weddings, they think of thousands of flowers and rose petals. If you’re on a budget, you can incorporate flowers and rose petals in your wedding, just don’t go overboard. You will be surprised at how elegant and classy a little flowers and rose petals look. There is nothing like a wedding that has appealing décor and design.
Here are a few things you can keep in mind to cut the costs of your wedding. Although you are not being cheap, you can have an outstanding wedding and still save money. It’s a win, win situation!
Author Bio: Malini Bhatia is the founder of Marriage.com, a website dedicated to providing value in every marriage. Marriage.com provides resources, information and a community that supports healthy, happy marriages. Malini has global experience in international management and communications, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 11 years and two daughters.
