Your Wedding Budget questions answered:
September 22, 2008
Tara in New Bedford, MA
Ways to save money?
There are lots of different ways to save money. Here are some of my
favorites:
1. Having your ceremony/reception on a Friday or Sunday in the off
season (Nov.- Apr.). This could save you thousands of dollars.
2. If you want floral centerpieces, tell your florist you only want
to spend $10 on each centerpiece. (Or a price range you can afford.)
3. Watch for sales in bridal salons. At least twice a year, bridal
salons have to get rid of their entire inventory to make room for
the new seasons items. You could get a designer dress for hundreds
instead of thousands of dollars.
4. Look at websites, such as Ebay or Craigslist, to find brides
that are selling items from their wedding. (Sometimes you can even
find a wedding dress this way.)
Kaittye in Big Rapids, MI
My biggest question is: is it better to budget to buy everything
all at once or better to buy a…
I truly believe setting a budget and sticking as close to it as you
can is the key. That way you don’t spend more than you need or can
afford. The knot has a great budgeter and it’s free!
Karen in Macomb, IL
HOW DO I PAY FOR THIS?!?! 
I believe setting a budget and sticking as close to it as you
can is the key. That way you don’t spend more than you need or can
afford.
Monica in Germantown, TN
I want a small wedding that’s nice nothing big but I want it to be
special…
Set a budget for yourself. The knot has a great budgeter and it’s
free! This will help guide you in the right direction. If you are
interested in planning a truly unique wedding consider purchasing
Uniquely You Wedding Planning Guide from my website at
uniquelyyouplanning.com.
Stephanie in Bellevue, WA
How to plan an elegant wedding & reception on a budget. & how to
include children when blending
I’m going to skip first to you second question. I once saw this
great way to include children when blending. During the ceremony,
the couple has a sand ceremony instead of a unity candle. The bride
and groom had their cylinder with sand, but so did each child. The
poured the sand into a shadow box frame that held a picture of them
all together. It was very touching.
Now elegance comes in different forms. To me florals and candles
are a big part of this elegance. Tell your florist how much you
want to spend on bridal bouquets and centerpieces and if your
florist is any good they will be able to come up with something
amazing. Candles are a nice way to set the mood, even if they are
just votives and tea lights, which can be purchased quite
reasonably (check online at ebay or craigslist, newly married
brides are always trying to get rid of items used at their wedding)
Melissa in Wheaton, IL
How do I do all on a low budget?
Get a budgeter, like the one found on the knot.com. This will help
guide you and it will tell you how much you can spend on items such
as, reception hall, flowers, wedding dress and the reason that this
is so important is that you will know how much you can afford
before you go tour places and fall in love with something outside
of your budget.
As always on a low budget, get married in the off season
(November-April) on a Friday or Sunday.
Elizabeth in Rego Park, NY
How can I plan a wedding in Queens, NY on a budget of 6000.00?
Now take that $6,000 and pull it into a budgeter, like the one
found at theknot.com. Then look at getting married in the off
season (November-April) on a Friday or Sunday. During this time you
can also get pretty good deals on photographers, flowers and DJ’s
Nicole in Portage, MI
How do I plan an intimate ceremony on a low budget?
This depends if you have your heart set on a church wedding; if you
do not you can have your ceremony just about anywhere these days
with the help of an officiant. Double check on permits and rules,
but in most cases you can get married at the park down the street
with only the price of the officiant.
Denika in Salinas, CA
Budget?
I truly believe setting a budget and sticking as close to it as you
can is the key. That way you don’t spend more than you need or can
afford. The knot has a great budgeter and it’s free!
Jennifer, Rochester, MN
I have a very limited budget. I am looking to do most of it myself,
where do I start?
Get a budgeter, like the one found on the knot.com. This will help
guide you and it will tell you how much you can spend on certain
items. If you are looking to do most of it yourself it is good to
have a basic idea of what you want to do, so that as sales or
change of seasons occur you can buy things cheaply and in the right
quantities.
Heather in Oxon Hill, MD
How to do a wedding for under $2,000.00
Now take that $2,000 and pull it into a budgeter, like the one
found at theknot.com. Then look at getting married in the off
season (November-April) on a Friday or Sunday. During this time you
can also get pretty good deals on photographers, flowers and DJ’s.
Look for items online at sites like Ebay and Craigslist. You can
get items like bulk candles or even a wedding dress for almost
nothing.
Sherry in unknown location
Trying to keep the wedding inexpensive — but beautiful — where do
I start.
Figure out your budget and pull it into a budgeter, like the one
found at theknot.com. Then look at getting married in the off
season (November-April) on a Friday or Sunday. During this time you
can also get pretty good deals on photographers, flowers and DJ’s.
Look for items online at sites like Ebay and Craigslist. You can
get items like bulk candles or even a wedding dress for almost
nothing
Have more budget questions? Please leave them in the comments.
Happy PLanning
Wendy
Wedding Planning Checklist — 12 months out
July 15, 2008
So, you just got engaged…Congratulations! Now what do you do?! You need a wedding planning checklist.
Many brides come to me wondering how to get started with their wedding planning. First, and foremost you will want to get a reception hall - these book up a year, sometimes two years in advance.
There are a few baby steps to get to this point: you will want to decide on a budget and pick some dates and times for your big day. The budget is always important because this helps keep you on track. Don’t worry so much if you go over or under in some areas what matters is the final amount. For example, if you choose to have a $15,000 wedding make sure you come within $100 below or above this amount.
Be very careful when picking people to be in your bridal party. Make sure they are people you can count on even if they do not have any responsibilities. It is best to pick people with your best interest at heart.
I love the idea of a web page to keep your family and friends informed of the big day. It is a great way to tell a lot of people an immeasurable amount of information; from the smallest detail, like time changes to where you are registered, expected attire and the ability to share stories of the planning process.
Below is the beginning of my 12 month wedding planning checklist to help get you started.
Good Luck and Happy Wedding Planning!
12+ Months Before Your Wedding (or ASAP)
- Take a Deep Breath and get ready to inform your friends and family with the big news. Parents of the bride traditionally come first.
- Envision your overall wedding. (Use Uniquely You’s Favorite Things List.)
- Figure out your wedding budget.
- Pick several different dates and times.
- Choose bridal party members. (Choose Wisely!)
- Hire your wedding consultant.
- Decided on your wedding size and start drawing up the initial guest list.
- Start researching ceremony and reception sites.
- Book any vendors you have already decided upon or are completely focused on-after you make sure they suite your budget.
- If the priest, minister, or rabbi at a house of worship isn’t marrying you, choose and book an officiant.
- Make a Web Page to announce your wedding (optional).
- Have an engagement party (optional). (You may want to register for gifts beforehand.)
- Book your reception venue.
- Create a scrap book of ideas and pictures you found in magazines and books.
For the complete checklist sign up for our newsletter on the left.
