How to plan the best wedding without going broke

For any bride, planning her wedding, is most certainly one of the most exciting and special time in her life; but how much fun can it be when the costs involved requires taking out a loan or going into debt. This beautiful day that has been anticipated since the bride was a little girl has suddenly turned into a stressful affair instead of something looking forward to. But although planning a wedding is still an expensive exercise, there are ways to plan a fairytale, dream-come-true wedding without going broke. Here is how:

• Invitations
  With the advanced level of technology it is very easy for couples to design and print their own invitations, which is probably the reason why professionally ordered invitations are getting more elaborate and extravagant by the day, often decorated with fancy embellishments. If you do have a limited budget, shopping for invitations online may be the cheapest alternative. And remember, the wedding invitations are quickly discarded and the only thing you and your partner will remember is the dent it made in your pocket.

• The Venue
  Today’s tendency leans towards wedding venues which often include both the chapel and a reception area. Although this is very nice and convenient, be sure to know that you often have to hire in most of the décor yourself, use the venue’s caterers, and on top of that pay a hefty price for each one of your guests. Remember to take these factors into consideration when you are venue hunting. Don’t hesitate to ask questions regarding the venue’s cost structure and what is included in their price and what is not.

• Flowers
  Although it is tradition that the bridesmaids carry flower bouquets, they can also carry little baskets or parasols, which may be less expensive than professional prepared bouquets by a florist. If you need to cut down on your florist expenses, purchasing potted plants or flowers from the local flower market can dramatically cut down your expenditure on flowers.

• Photographer
  Your wedding photos capture and preserve your wedding day for year’s to come, but before being seduced into paying thousands of rands for your wedding photos, carefully consider how many times you will actually look at those photos in the future years. Having beautiful wedding photos are very important, but let’s be honest; will hundreds of photos bring back the evening’s events which you have forgotten because you were overwhelmingly stressed? No, and that is why I would recommend opting for a smaller photography package, and invest in a video photographer. This way you will see your entire wedding day and not just certain parts. You’ll remember things you’ve forgotten, see things you didn’t even knew happened and give your guests the opportunity to give you a “live” special message.

• Music
  With the current computer technology, you can hire a savvy music lover who can compile a playlist on his computer. The only thing left to do is rent the equipment that can be run off the computer.

• The cake
  Why pay R2 000 or more for a designer cake, just to capture a photo where you and your partner are cutting the cake, and most of the times the cakes aren’t really nice to eat, just nice to look at. Your local supermarket, restaurant or coffee shop like Mugg & Bean, Woolworths and Cappucino’s sell delicious cakes that don’t only look nice, but has a much more attractive price than purchasing a cake from designer, cake maker.

• Food
  If it is a relaxed, informal outdoors wedding, something like a stirfry, barbeque or even platters will fit the occasion nicely, and will be satisfying as well. It might not be a lamb spit or an event that meets up with the Jones’ but at least the bride and groom won’t have to take out a house loan when starting their new life together.

• The wedding dress
  Keep your eyes open for sales as well as dresses that were used for display purposes. Instead of buying a dress or getting a designer to make your dress from scratch, rather rent a wedding dress. There are beautiful designer dresses available at an affordable, rental price.

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