Getting married is an exciting time in your life, but wedding costs can also be very expensive. Many people spend thousands of dollars on their special day. Statistics reveal that $27,000 is the average cost for a U.S. wedding as of 2022. There are a few ways you can cut wedding costs so you can make sure you are not breaking the bank.
Paradise Weddings, a destination wedding company, has already planned more than 100 wedding ceremonies, each of which was unique and unforgettable. Thus, if you are looking for a professional wedding planners team, don’t hesitate to trust them your special day.
5 Ways to Reduce Wedding Costs without Compromising on Your Amazing Day
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Many people are engaged for a year or longer before getting married due to wedding costs, so it’s a good idea to start budgeting as soon as you know you will be tying the knot. One way of funding wedding expenses is by selling your life insurance policy through a life settlement.
The sum from the settlement can be put into a high-yield savings account. If you are thinking about selling your life insurance policy, you can review a guide on everything you need to know about the process that includes a life settlement calculator to see the value and if you qualify, as well discuss the eligibility requirements.
Comparing Prices
Avoid going with the first vendor that looks good to you. Get estimates from a few so you can identify the best prices and come up with an estimate of what the total would be. You can speak with family or friends in the area who have also gone through this process.
Pay attention to what is being offered, not just the overall price. A venue that has a lower price might also require you to provide your own tables, chairs, and decorations, and this might be more expensive than a venue that has a higher price. Working with a wedding planner can help you save money.
Reduce Your Guest List
Look at the requirements of each venue you are considering, as some might have a cap on the number of guests you can invite, while others might have minimum guest requirements for certain prices. If you are having drinks or food served, you may have to pay a certain amount per person. By cutting out 10 or even 20 people from the list, you could save hundreds of dollars. One option is to first send invites to the people you don’t think will attend. Once they RSVP, you can send invites to others on the list.
Negotiate if You Can
If you are planning on negotiating, make sure you are doing it respectfully. Not all vendors are open to negotiate, so feel things out before you suggest a new price. However, a vendor who does not have as much experience might charge significantly less than someone who has been in the business for longer. This is especially true of photographers.
One way of negotiating might be to ask them to cut back on the package being offered. For example, you might hire a photographer for just the ceremony and pictures of the wedding party instead of the entire day. If you have a friend with a nice camera, you can ask if they would be willing to take other images you might like, such as getting ready photos.
Your wedding planner can help you figure out when reasonable rates are being charged and decide when it could be helpful to negotiate. A wedding planner also has more contacts in the industry. To learn more about wedding planning services visit Married Australia.
Be Unique
While there are definitely some unbelievable wedding traditions that brides follow from around the world, in many cases these are not mandatory pieces of planning. These can be sneaky ways to blow your budget out of the water, so if they are not important to you and your partner, nix them, or edit them to better suit your style.
For example, throwing a bouquet at the reception is an age-old tradition, but this means that either you are throwing your personal bridal bouquet to your single female guests, or purchasing a second arrangement specifically for this tradition, and wedding flowers don’t come cheap. Instead, maybe you can opt for something unique like a ladies-only dance floor moment. This will honor your female guests in a specific way while using a resource (DJ or band) that you are already paying for.
