Wedding Money Saving Tips
Doncle 2013/03/04 22:03
Doncle 2013/03/04 22:03
Wedding Money Saving Tips
You can have your dream wedding without breaking the bank or sacrificing style. All that is required is creativity, and focus on your long term goals (beyond the ceremony itself). From reserving a low-cost wedding ceremony site, to getting creative with dcor, you can create your dream wedding and still stay within your budget.
One thing you have to get straight up front is that nothing in the
wedding ceremony is compulsory or cast in concrete. From wedding
gown to your vows, cakes to decor, you name it. You can customize it.
You can wed in church/mosque or in court. You can wear the
traditional white, choose your colour, wear a skirt suit or Aso Oke
depending on the venue. It is your call. You can bring your personality into your wedding.
It is not a do or die affair, or something to go broke over. Your
wedding is not an investment (although some folks believe you may
get cash gifts over and above what you spent, but you may be
surprised).
The first thing to do is to determine your budget, and stick to it.
Wedding Date...
Getting married on a working day can save you a lot of money, from
cheaper hall rental to reduced crowd to feed at reception. It will also
give you more leverage for negotiation with vendors, as business is
slow on week days. It also works out cheaper for guests flying in.
Bridal Gown....
This is a very emotional topic. An average bride wants a designer
wedding gown, event it means punching giant holes in the wedding
budget. You have 3 options - rent, sew or buy (from a designer or
order from abroad). If you are serious about saving money, renting is
the way to go. For a dress you will only wear for a few hours, buying
one when you cannot afford it is an emotional decision.
Groom''s Suits....
Same as the bride, you can use what you have, sew or buy a designer
suit. Unlike the case of the bride, you can use the suit after the
wedding, if you bought a normal suit and nothing outlandish. Again,
there is no law that says the groom and the best man must wear the
same thing. If you cannot afford a new suit or see no reason why you
must get a new one, do your thing.
You can have your dream wedding without breaking the bank or sacrificing style. All that is required is creativity, and focus on your long term goals (beyond the ceremony itself). From reserving a low-cost wedding ceremony site, to getting creative with dcor, you can create your dream wedding and still stay within your budget.
One thing you have to get straight up front is that nothing in the
wedding ceremony is compulsory or cast in concrete. From wedding
gown to your vows, cakes to decor, you name it. You can customize it.
You can wed in church/mosque or in court. You can wear the
traditional white, choose your colour, wear a skirt suit or Aso Oke
depending on the venue. It is your call. You can bring your personality into your wedding.
It is not a do or die affair, or something to go broke over. Your
wedding is not an investment (although some folks believe you may
get cash gifts over and above what you spent, but you may be
surprised).
The first thing to do is to determine your budget, and stick to it.
Wedding Date...
Getting married on a working day can save you a lot of money, from
cheaper hall rental to reduced crowd to feed at reception. It will also
give you more leverage for negotiation with vendors, as business is
slow on week days. It also works out cheaper for guests flying in.
Bridal Gown....
This is a very emotional topic. An average bride wants a designer
wedding gown, event it means punching giant holes in the wedding
budget. You have 3 options - rent, sew or buy (from a designer or
order from abroad). If you are serious about saving money, renting is
the way to go. For a dress you will only wear for a few hours, buying
one when you cannot afford it is an emotional decision.
Groom''s Suits....
Same as the bride, you can use what you have, sew or buy a designer
suit. Unlike the case of the bride, you can use the suit after the
wedding, if you bought a normal suit and nothing outlandish. Again,
there is no law that says the groom and the best man must wear the
same thing. If you cannot afford a new suit or see no reason why you
must get a new one, do your thing.
Doncle 2013/03/04 22:09
Invitation Cards and Program...
Here too, you have options. You can produce yours on a PC (if you are
good with computer graphics), get a friend to help or give it to a
printer. Doing it yourself gives you more control and peace of mind, if
you know what you are doing.
Reception Venue..
You have different options when it comes to the venue, depending on
your budget. You can use a church or school hall, an events centre, a
field or a friend''s or family member''s garden. Again, it depends on
your budget (and number of invitees). If you want to save money, if
you have a free option, why shell out so much money?
Decoration...
You can shop for an inexpensive decorator (getting contacts from
recently married friends or acquaintances), or if you have a close friend
who is good at it, do it for you. You only get to buy the materials. Just
make sure it is something they have done before, and not using your
event to learn.
Food and Drinks...
You will want to outsource this one to avoid the stress involved. If you
have an army of dependable helpers, then you can take the risk of
going the do-it-yourself route. However, if you want to hire a vendor
to handle this, you can tap into your network, and get quotes from 3 -
4 vendors, to get a good deal. Note also that cheap can bite, and end
up being more expensive. Whoever you decide on should come highly recommended. Also you can keep costs down by choosing a simple
menu and reducing the number of invitees. There is no point trying to
outdo the last wedding you attended.
Video and Photography...
You will want to leave this to the professionals, unless you have a
close friend or family who will handle it free or at cost, as a gift to you.
Since this is a memory you will enjoy for the rest of your life, you will
want this professionally done, as you cannot rewind to capture it
again.
Invitation Cards and Program...
Here too, you have options. You can produce yours on a PC (if you are
good with computer graphics), get a friend to help or give it to a
printer. Doing it yourself gives you more control and peace of mind, if
you know what you are doing.
Reception Venue..
You have different options when it comes to the venue, depending on
your budget. You can use a church or school hall, an events centre, a
field or a friend''s or family member''s garden. Again, it depends on
your budget (and number of invitees). If you want to save money, if
you have a free option, why shell out so much money?
Decoration...
You can shop for an inexpensive decorator (getting contacts from
recently married friends or acquaintances), or if you have a close friend
who is good at it, do it for you. You only get to buy the materials. Just
make sure it is something they have done before, and not using your
event to learn.
Food and Drinks...
You will want to outsource this one to avoid the stress involved. If you
have an army of dependable helpers, then you can take the risk of
going the do-it-yourself route. However, if you want to hire a vendor
to handle this, you can tap into your network, and get quotes from 3 -
4 vendors, to get a good deal. Note also that cheap can bite, and end
up being more expensive. Whoever you decide on should come highly recommended. Also you can keep costs down by choosing a simple
menu and reducing the number of invitees. There is no point trying to
outdo the last wedding you attended.
Video and Photography...
You will want to leave this to the professionals, unless you have a
close friend or family who will handle it free or at cost, as a gift to you.
Since this is a memory you will enjoy for the rest of your life, you will
want this professionally done, as you cannot rewind to capture it
again.
Doncle 2013/03/04 22:18
Honey moon....
Many couples are ready to splash on the wedding, and skip the
honeymoon altogether. This is not a good idea. Although a
honeymoon is not compulsory, this period is pays off in starting off
your marriage on a sound footing - a time to let out the stress of the
past months and time to bond properly before rushing into the next
phase of your lives. It serves as a time to set the tone for your marriage by revisiting your rules of engagement and modus operandi
as a couple. It is a moment to cherish and enjoy, before screaming kids
arrive on the scene. It does not have to be expensive. There are many
resorts in Nigeria that fit the bill.
Reduce Number of Vendors....
The fewer vendors you have to pay, the cheaper for you do to
economy of scale. For example, having the same person do your hair
and make-up is cheaper that using different people, same with catering
and decoration, cake etc. Package deals work out cheaper if you
negotiate well. However, be sure the vendor can deliver on all counts.
Avoid being penny wise, pound foolish. Consult widely.
Stick to Your Guns....
After you have made your initial decision, stick to it. Don''t keep
upgrading and increasing the budget as the day draws nearer, and as
you witness more weddings. You are not in a competition, and there
are no prizes at stake. Keep your eye on the big picture - life after your
wedding. Whatever you decide, remember that the main focus of the wedding
ceremony is you and your groom, and what you really want not
how much money you spent. As much as it is nice to whao the crowd
momentarily, what happens there after matters more than the public show.
Rather than keep delaying your wedding because of money, cut your
plans to size, do it and move on with the much anticipated phase of
your life.
Honey moon....
Many couples are ready to splash on the wedding, and skip the
honeymoon altogether. This is not a good idea. Although a
honeymoon is not compulsory, this period is pays off in starting off
your marriage on a sound footing - a time to let out the stress of the
past months and time to bond properly before rushing into the next
phase of your lives. It serves as a time to set the tone for your marriage by revisiting your rules of engagement and modus operandi
as a couple. It is a moment to cherish and enjoy, before screaming kids
arrive on the scene. It does not have to be expensive. There are many
resorts in Nigeria that fit the bill.
Reduce Number of Vendors....
The fewer vendors you have to pay, the cheaper for you do to
economy of scale. For example, having the same person do your hair
and make-up is cheaper that using different people, same with catering
and decoration, cake etc. Package deals work out cheaper if you
negotiate well. However, be sure the vendor can deliver on all counts.
Avoid being penny wise, pound foolish. Consult widely.
Stick to Your Guns....
After you have made your initial decision, stick to it. Don''t keep
upgrading and increasing the budget as the day draws nearer, and as
you witness more weddings. You are not in a competition, and there
are no prizes at stake. Keep your eye on the big picture - life after your
wedding. Whatever you decide, remember that the main focus of the wedding
ceremony is you and your groom, and what you really want not
how much money you spent. As much as it is nice to whao the crowd
momentarily, what happens there after matters more than the public show.
Rather than keep delaying your wedding because of money, cut your
plans to size, do it and move on with the much anticipated phase of
your life.
KingFISHER 2013/03/05 00:52
Nice topic. Its quite helpfull for unmarried peoples. Save ur money and keept it for after marriage. If u can pass ur present with a planed way then u cud pass ur future more easily. Best of luck and happy marriage.
Nice topic. Its quite helpfull for unmarried peoples. Save ur money and keept it for after marriage. If u can pass ur present with a planed way then u cud pass ur future more easily. Best of luck and happy marriage.
#2 General Area
A forum for life in general. Post about news, social matters, relationships, lifestyle, or anything on your mind.