This one goes to all the lovebirds who got engaged over the holidays and are now planning a wedding with no event planning experience.
Somehow you are expected to create a day that is traditional yet modern. Well frequented and yet intimate. It’s about you as a couple, but it shouldn’t offend any of your guests either. And most importantly, don’t overspend, but make sure it looks expensive.
Sure, weddings are fun, but the most important part of any wedding is everything that happens after it — your real life together. Don’t start this life with credit card debt lasting until your fifth anniversary.
If you focus your spending on what you and your guests actually notice and skip expensive things that nobody really cares about, you will have a beautiful, debt-free wedding.
Set your budget
Before you plan anything, set a budget based on what you (and your families, if they are contributing) can contribute. Make every decision with that number in mind, whether it’s $250, $5,000, or $50,000.
At its core, a wedding is simply “a celebration of love,” says Jen Glantz, founder of Bridesmaid for Hire and an email newsletter called The First Years of Marriage. “There are no rules at this celebration. … Treat your wedding as a blank slate, as empty space. What do you want to fill it with? What can you afford to fill it with?”
Reevaluate traditional must-haves
“That’s the most important thing I have to say to everyone when planning a wedding: You don’t need anything at your wedding to get married,” says Glantz. “If you don’t want cake, don’t have cake. If you don’t want to wear a dress or a tuxedo, don’t.”
Here are some other ways to save:
decor
Guests remember the overall mood, not the small details. “People at weddings are busy,” says Glantz. “And when you’re busy, you don’t see anything.” Save on the facility by renting it or browsing the Buy Nothing groups on social media. Friends who are already married may have something left that they would like to lend or pass on. There are even services where you can share flowers with another couple getting married in the same week.
The story goes on
transport
“We truly believe that the large stretch limousine will get you to the church or the venue,” said Sheavonne Harris, owner and senior coordinator of Events by Sheavonne in New York City. But your guests will be seated inside when you arrive, so the car won’t be part of your grand entrance. According to Harris, even car services require you to book a minimum number of hours, so you end up paying for the time you don’t use. She recommends hiring a ride-hailing service — yes, just like if you need a ride to the airport.
Invitations, programs and menus
All the paper items that you have carefully chosen end up in the trash. Programs are left on chairs after the ceremony and menus are tucked under plates after a quick scan. Your invitations only stay in guests’ fridges for a few months before they end up in landfills. “They just threw a $10 bill in the trash,” Harris says. If you want the paper tradition at a lower cost, skip the menus and programs. You can also find beautiful paper invitations at certain online retailers for a fraction of the price. Many of these printers also offer seasonal sales.
Party favors
Please let 2022 be the year we cancel party favors. Guests leave them behind, and you’ll be stuck with 75 Personalized Beer Koozies for the rest of your life.
Spend on what stands out
photography
Long after your wedding, all you have left are memories and pictures. That’s not the job assigned to this cousin, who took some photography classes in college. “If you’re going to put money into something, put it into photography,” says Harris. “With photography, you definitely get what you pay for.”
The guest experience
Both Glantz and Harris recommend paying attention to weddings you’re attending as a guest before your own big day. What made you feel welcome? Guests won’t remember getting married in a quaint historic mansion, but they will remember if that mansion only had one bathroom with a 20-minute queue to use it. Reduce spending elsewhere to focus on food, drink, entertainment and guest comfort.
Professional Vendors
Hiring a friend or doing a chore yourself might feel like a money-saving move. Harris warns that if the flower order is late or the sound system fails, your friend probably doesn’t have a backup plan, unlike a professional salesperson. And hiring a pro at the last minute because that friend is stepping down will end up costing you even more.
Use rewards credit cards
Many independent contractors do not accept credit cards, but pay for wedding expenses with a rewards credit card whenever possible. Not only can you earn cashback or travel rewards (hello, discounted honeymoons!), but if a provider fails to honor their commitment to you, you can dispute charges.
This article was written by NerdWallet and originally published by The Associated Press.
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Sara Rathner writes for NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @sakrathner.
How to Have the Wedding You Want for Less article originally appeared on NerdWallet.