One of the most frustrating parts of planning a wedding is setting the wedding budget. Once the numbers begin to accumulate you can almost feel the feeling of romance and bliss evaporates into thin air. You will enjoy your wedding day that much more if you study the 5 most common wedding spending pitfalls that you must avoid while planning your wedding, starting today!
1) Impulse Purchases: We are all guilty of impulse purchases and that is absolutely fine for gum, candy or a magazine, however look before you leap when booking your reception space. Your reception space will be one of your largest expenses and you need to comparison shop to make sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. For instance some reception sites will typically include table settings, some decorations, staff to help you and your bridal party and a cake! Some sites will even include a band. Be a smart consumer and compare the deals.
2) Read the fine print: Part of being a human being is wanting to trust the people that surround us however, there is a fine line between trusting and being naive. Pay close attention to the contracts that your vendors are presenting you with, never sign on the spot and take them home to review. The common pitfalls when neglecting to read your contracts are cake cutting fees, corkage charges, any minimum charges, payment terms and legal implications if the payment terms are not meet.
3) Guest list extravaganza: Letting your guest list get the best of you is a common struggle for most brides. It’s a simple equation, more guests equals more money. Figure out how many guests you can comfortably afford. Next, split your guests between your own, your groom’s and your parents’ and begin the chopping of the lists process! Not every work buddy, classmate or friend of a friend should be invited to your wedding. Be selective with your guest list and save a bundle in the process.
4) Not thinking creatively: Most brides are first time event producers and unless you are a creative thinker (it’s totally OK if you are not) you may be in danger of thinking inside of a box. What does this mean? This means that sometimes a bride will subconsciously try to emulate the decor, catering or any other piece of the wedding based on what she has recently seen. As a result of this line of thinking a bride to be may not realize that there are creative options which can look expensive yet is a fraction of the cost of what your friends has spent. For example, let’s say your sister had yellow roses in tall crystal vases placed on every table at the reception; this can be a pricey option. While doing exactly what your sister did is certainly safe, it isn’t economical. Be creative and choose local blooms in season or perhaps ask your florist to create a sample centerpiece and have a really talented friend re-create it, that way you will save a ton on labor costs.
5) Doing it all yourself: Trying to do it all is quite admirable however you will be so busy that you will not have the time that it takes to do the research and get the best deals. Consider enlisting help such as a wedding planner. Even though wedding planner s come with their own cost, they will get you better deals which will save you money. Consider delegating jobs to friends and family as well, people are usually happy to contribute to the success of a friend’s big day.