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Weddings have become an increasingly expensive affair. The average wedding in Australia costs around $67,032 when all is said and done. This includes the venue, dress, food, and more, and all of these costs quickly add up.
Thanks to the media, celebrity weddings and the rise of TV shows like Say Yes to the Dress, couples today are starting to think these high costs are normal or even necessary.
Do you really have to drop a lot of cash when you say “I do”? Is your marriage doomed from the start if you don’t spend a lot of money?
In reality, this isn’t the case. The state of your marriage has nothing to do with your big day. As long as you’re having fun and declaring your love in front of those who matter to you, the day will still be spectacular. In this guide, we’ll give tips for having a wedding on a budget.
Finding an Inexpensive Wedding Gown
One of the biggest expenses of a wedding is usually the wedding dress. Brides have been wearing breathtaking white gowns for decades now, but do you need to pay several grand for a dress you love?
The average bride spends around $2,475 on her wedding gown after alterations. While this might not sound like all that much in the grand scheme of things, this is a dress you’ll only wear once. It’s possible to get this dress for so much less if you’re a savvy shopper.
If you’re only going to wear your gown for a maximum of 6-8 hours for your big day, don’t feel like you need to go all out. Yes, you want to look your best, but you can do that in a secondhand or discounted gown.
Multiple online retailers specialize in selling second-hand dresses. There are also online retailers where you can find new inexpensive bridesmaid dresses for sale online to cut costs down for your wedding party as well.
DIY Your Decorations
Your wedding reception decorations are another area that you can easily reduce your cost with some elbow grease. The over-the-top weddings on the glossy pages of bridal magazines have led us to believe that we have to have the craziest, most extravagant decorations to wow our guests.
Is your big day really about making an impression on your guests? Or is it about having a great time with the people you love?
There are a lot of affordable decoration ideas you can do yourself. Using things like ribbons, Christmas lights, and other handmade crafts to decorate your space is just as special, if not more special, and it doesn’t risk your budget.
Use a monthly budget template to help plan things out for the next few months and you may be surprised to find extra cash.
Use Your Wedding for Good
Finally, consider using your wedding for good. If you’re hosting a wedding on a budget, you want to make use of everything possible. Somethings will undoubtedly go to waste if you’re not careful.
Consider how you can give back with the things you already have to help others in need.
For example, giving your leftover food to a local shelter or donating your dress to a charity is a great way to help out with what you already have. This makes a much more significant impact and does the world a lot of good.
Your wedding day can become something much more special than just an event.
Saying “I Do” on a Budget
Your wedding day is an exciting time when you get together with friends and family to celebrate the love you share with your partner. Don’t listen to the hype about spending as much as possible on a big affair.
Many brides and grooms are choosing to stick with a budget, and it’s made all of the difference. The day after the wedding is important as well. You can set up your honeymoon registry and ask your friends and family to support your honeymoon adventure, and make some extra savings as well!
Don’t start your married life on the wrong financial foot. It’s possible to host a wedding on a budget without sacrificing style or tradition. Just follow these tips above, and you’ll be saying “I do” with confidence.
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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Weddings are fun. One spends a lot of money for the experience. Thanks for the frugal tips!
Weddings are fun but can be expensive if you are not smart with your money