Our consultants plan lots of big elaborate weddings. But they also help brides who want to marry but are short on funds. There are plenty of ways to have elegance on a budget and work with what is available. One of the most significant money saving decisions you can make is to plan your wedding in the off-season. Depending on where you live, November and January can be slow times. The seasonal slow down may be different in other areas, but the laws of supply and demand work in all seasons. When demand is down, supply may well cost less. And supply can include wedding apparel, reception locations, food service, flowers, and a range of other wedding related items. If you are determined to have a spring or summer wedding, consider having a morning ceremony, followed by a brunch buffet. You will find more locations available early in the day and the food served will be far less expensive than a sit down dinner. If your budget is truly tight or your family is fragmented, you could well consider a small and intimate wedding. It is not only less expensive, but it is more easily controlled. It can be beautiful and romantic and memorable. Instead of a wedding for 150 guests, a gathering of family and very close friends can be more meaningful. If yours will be one of 3 or 4 weddings in a given church in busy months, try to work with the brides planning the other weddings and coordinate your church flowers and décor. Expenses shared can reduce your flower bill.

Brides who stay organized often save money on their wedding expenses. They gather and keep every receipt in a file and log every expense by category. Budgeted expenses are easier to meet when you pay attention to decisions made and contracts signed. Decide which of the major wedding related expenditures are most important to you. Is the gown the major expenditure or the reception or the photographer or the honeymoon? Look at covering that expense first and then adjust the remaining funds accordingly. Reconsider if you really need to give a small “gift” to everyone who attends your wedding. Think about those you have received. How did you feel about them and where are they now?

We can help make those adjustments nearly invisible. You can look expensive and elegant without major expenditures.

Happy Planning….Kay