Is your wedding spending getting out of hand? It’s easy to get sidetracked, and wedding expenses can add up quickly. Try these three tips to get your budget back under control. Do inventory—The very first step to getting your wedding budget back under control is to do inventory. Evaluate your current financial standing, including how […]
Is your wedding spending getting out of hand? It’s easy to get sidetracked, and wedding expenses can add up quickly. Try these three tips to get your budget back under control.
Do inventory—The very first step to getting your wedding budget back under control is to do inventory. Evaluate your current financial standing, including how much you’ve spent, how much you have left, and how much you can realistically afford to spend between now and the big day once you have your new numbers in hand.
A good rule of thumb to go by is to let go of what was already paid and then begin cutting anything that is not a necessity. The expenses you’ve already paid have likely been tied to a contract, so there is no way to collect refunds for those expenses. Instead of trying to work backward, look at what you can sacrifice as you move forward in the planning process.
Regroup—Once you’ve cleaned house, it’s time to reorganize and reprioritize. Write down the vendors and expenses you still need to pay for and decide where you can trim the fat. Work out a new budget for each vendor expense and discuss alternative decor, catering, or floral options, depending on what you have left to plan.
Find alternatives—Finding alternatives for your vendor and service options is not the same thing as completely giving up what you want. Instead, it means compromising and choosing package or service options that still give you what you want but with less bells and whistles. For example, consider hiring a photographer and videography team as opposed to two separate professionals, or choosing the same exact floral arrangement, only in a smaller size. Find ways to downsize and look for package deals, contests, and promotions that will shave off some of the expense.
Another great way to do this is to attend bridal shows and look for venues that provide the entire package—the catering, photography, reception hall, etc. This will only work if you’ve yet to secure everything, but it’s a good option if you’re in the beginning stages of planning and are finding that you’re already coming up short. These efforts can go a long way in getting your wedding budget back under control.
