Alright, listen. If anyone loves saving a buck, it’s definitely me. So you can only imagine how hard it has been swiping my card for all of these EXPENSIVE wedding purchases.
Before I was even engaged, I was pinning DIY crafts, invites, and endless other things to my wedding Pinterest board. But, as I’ve started the process of actually executing some of these projects, I’ve found that some of my ideas were just NOT worth the time wasted or the money spent in my attempt to be budget friendly.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
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Photography: MAJOR DON’T
As soon as I started planning, I sat down with my Mom and my fiancé to decide how the budget would be allocated. As expensive as photographers are, I knew that as a multimedia journalism major, there would be NO WAY I could stand to have bad engagement/wedding pictures for the rest of my life. You most likely won’t remember every flower in your bouquet or the color of table cloth you used, but you WILL have these pictures for the rest of forever. As much as your friends and family may claim to know their way around a camera, check for a photographer that has experience in shooting at least 5-10 weddings, and has a decent portfolio that fits your aesthetic. I still found a budget friendly photographer who is amazing behind the camera and was exactly what I was looking for from my engagement pictures. I’m thrilled to see my wedding pictures!
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Décor: DIY (with some help)
A big mistake I see fellow brides making, is choosing to take on too much of the wedding décor. While you might save money by not hiring a decorator, if you choose to take on too much, you’ll end up making the whole experience stressful for yourself (and others). So, choose a few things you know you can make WAY AHEAD OF TIME and make it a fun party or girls night in. Your friends will jump at the chance to help and you wont be overwhelmed the week before. Check out this page for easy DIY décor pieces that will tie your whole reception together.
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DJ: DIY
As appealing as a whole light and sound show sounds, you can save major dollars if you play your own playlist and have a friend or family member (who is good with crowds) guide you through the ceremony. Your friends will have fun just being together and around YOU. Don’t fret about throwing a giant rager.
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Food: Major Don’t
Your family and friends will be running around as much as it is the days leading up to the wedding. The last thing you want to worry about is feeding a giant party of people. Allocate a large part of your budget toward the cake and food to save the stress.
(PRO TIP: Look at the cost difference of having a morning or afternoon wedding if you want to buy food, but not pay for a full dinner for all of your guests. Changing up the time will allow guests to enjoy finger foods and light dessert without leaving starving for more.)
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Invitations: DIY
One of the most surprisingly expensive part of wedding planning I’ve run into is the cost of Save the Dates and invitations. Don’t be fooled by the extensive (and expensive) Pinterest suggestions. I made the design for the Save the Dates myself, have them locally printed, then stuffed and delivered most of them by hand. (Save money on postage by passing out invites in person.) For invitations, there are some costs you cannot get around, especially if you’re mailing RSVP cards and other information to your out-of-town guests. If you’re really in a pinch for money, consider doing online RSVP cards or even emailing your Save the Dates. Most people will put the date in their calendar and toss the card.
(PRO TIP: Wix has premade wedding website templates that are easy to use and FREE. You can add much more information on to a website, and your guests can’t lose the information.)
Wedding planning can be a hassle, but don’t let the small details keep you from missing the big picture. You’re getting MARRIED, so try to enjoy the season while you’re in it. It won’t last forever.
Do you have more #weddingquestions that you would like answered in upcoming posts? Ask the experts at #hcokstate by DMing us on Twitter/Insta or messaging us on Facebook.