HOW long does it really take to plan a memorable wedding that can leave you and your invited guests talking about, stress-free and happy about was what last week’s article was all about.
In today’s article, we will learn how to have a great low-budget wedding celebration without going into debt for years to come.
Many people have failed to have a wedding because they are wrongly advised that the money they have is not enough, total amount to have a wedding is not fixed there is no fixed amount.
There is no need to spend thousands of kwacha on a wedding in order for it to be memorable, exciting and fun. What you have can be enough.
The most important thing to remember about planning a wedding is that you are getting married to the person you love more than anything in the whole world.
Always hold on to the thought that the wedding is about the marriage of two people, not how glitzy, the day is.
As the bride and groom you have to talk to each other about what the most important thing that you want from your wedding, you might decide that you want all your friends and family there, or perhaps you want a small wedding and amazing outfits to wear. Talk to each other so that you have the same things in mind.
The first thing you have to do when planning a low-budget wedding is to work out what you can realistically afford, as your budget for the wedding.
Your wedding expenses can be broken down into several categories to help you budget your wedding day a lot easier.
You should start with your main and most expensive costs for your wedding day to get an idea of where you stand on your wedding budget.
Start with the costs of your reception venue, wedding attire, rings, food and honeymoon, all of these parts of your wedding are important and require the most costs out of anything else.
Then find out the costs for the entire ceremony, you need to have these! After the essentials divide your budget roughly based on your priorities for the day.
When budgeting is a concern, keep your guest list to immediate family and the closest of friends. Not only will this save you lots of cash, it will help you enjoy spending this meaningful day with the people you value the most.
To meet the require money for the wedding ceremony you can talk to your close family and friends to try and make sure they are included in your plans they may be able to contribute or provide you with lots of help.
Don’t forget to keep a record of what you spend, because this will help you stick to your budget.
When planning your memorable wedding you must keep your guests in mind.
The single easiest way to slash your budget is by slashing your guest list. Your wedding is a celebration but it is also a very intimate moment.
It is a rite of passage in which you and your beloved are pledging your lives to each other and joining two families together.
Many wedding have been overcrowded and this has turned into massive confusion because wrong people are invited to attend.
Do you really need to invite business associates with whom you or your parents only socialise to network? Second cousins you haven’t seen since you were in diapers? Cousins whom you have just discovered two days ago on face book?
The entire people from the village who require you to provide them with transport money to and fro and accommodation. Invite the right people who are close to you only.
You can also cut wedding costs by asking around your friends and family, you’ll be amazed who has a fabulous car hiding in a garage or they might know someone who does photographs or has a secret passion to be a make-up artiste.
Now that most people have digital cameras, you can ask one of them to take your photos, you are planning a low-budget remember!
Planning an afternoon wedding can save lots of money, the later in the day you get married, when it’s cold, the less food and drinks you need to provide. The minute you get engaged start drying rose petals and freeze others.
Pick them from your friends or relatives’ gardens as they are nearly dead roses and dry them on your window ledges.
By the time you get married, you’ll have a box delicious smelling, also try to make your own beautiful confetti.
You can go for a nice sparkling wine from the supermarket which is affordable and is within your budget.
The invited guests will never know how much you bought it only if you have glasses of drink bought out on trays rather than being poured directly at the table or displayed on the table.
It should be affordable and original don’t buy an imitation please.
Some bridesmaids are happy to pay for their own dress which is obviously your choice if you want to ask them.
As an alternative you could ask them to buy their own shoes, pay for hair, make-up and other things.
Many brides choose bridesmaids because they are close to them and not because they want identical looking girls in their photos.
To cut the costs choose those that can afford to pay for everything needed.
A relaxed laid back style of wedding gives you freedom to make anything you like for the day.
Cut out some expenses by D.I.Y (do it yourself), some things that you can do instead of paying someone else to do it for you and paying a lot of money. Don’t be afraid to cut some small costs out of your wedding.
Flowers picked from the garden can be put in jam jars or milk bottle jars and then used as centre-pieces on the tables, ordinary sweets for favors, guests will note all these touches and will make them smile.
Guests would much rather go to a low-key wedding that shows your personalities and has been arranged with love and attention to the details than attend a grand affair, it is no showing off how much money you have.
Try as much as possible to be strong in your decisions. Some family members have very specific ideas about how a wedding should be, so remember that it’s your day and all anyone wants is for you to be happy.
You can save money on your wedding ceremony by having the reception venue held at your family or friends backyard instead of paying for an expensive venue.
Hiring venues has become expensive because they demand that it has to be their own food stuffs and they charge per plate.
Just ask your family member or friend to host your wedding at their home and it will not cost you anything to simply have your wedding cerebrations there.
You just buy food stuffs for the guests.
To save money, offer only soft drinks and wine. There is no need to provide an entire liquor store. Also be sure to have plenty of soft drinks.
If you have a graphic designer at your work place, the best present they can give you is to design your wedding invitation cards and wedding programme.
Many women spend a good chunk of their lives dreaming of the beautiful attire they will wear on their wedding day, almost to the exclusion of thinking about anything else in that little fantasy.
Find a gorgeous gown for less or hire an affordable one, go for a budget friendly gown.
If the gown has no veil, don’t buy an expensive one just have it tailored for you.
For the wedding songs have the music saved on a lap top, C.D and the hand it over to the D.J. it is cheaper than hiring a live band.
But if you really love the idea of live music, hire musicians from your church, the praise team to play at your ceremony, they are just as skilled and far less expensive or they may not even charge you at all.
When it comes to wedding video chances are that you will only watch it once or twice, yet spend thousands on its production. Add this money into your still photography budget instead.
A great photographer is one of the most important investments you can make.
Remember, you are asking them to record a piece of family history one that will last for generations to come.
Cutting wedding costs money does not have to mean skimping on style. With a little imagination and creativity you can have a gorgeous wedding on a shoestring budget.
That way, instead of spending so much cash on that single day you instead have it available to use for the rest of your married life. Smart.
On the day of your wedding, give yourself time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of all your hard work and smile knowing that anything life throws at you as husband and wife you will be able to handle.
How many times have you looked at your wedding photos and watch your wedding video?
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