Tips for Brides on a Budget

Being a bride on a budget does not mean your wedding will look cheap or that you will have to skimp. Budgeting is part of being responsible and realistic with your finances and financial picture. No one wants to start off married life being broke or in tremendous debt because of overspending on their wedding day!

Once you’ve decided on a reasonable budget for you wedding, stick with it! (Read our blog article “How to Prepare a Wedding Budget” for more information.) You will be grateful you did as you avoid unnecessary squabbles, stress, and Bridezilla moments throughout the planning process. Approach planning with an open mind and some idea of your likes and dislikes. This way, when you meet with potential vendors, they will have direction in selecting or creating options for you within your budget. By allowing vendors some creative input, you might be surprised with what they come up with. Inspiration pictures can help, but only when you don’t have your heart set on making it exactly the same. Not all vendors are the same either, so if your vendor wants to cookie cutter your day or pressures you into selecting items out of budget, you have the option to go to somewhere else!

This may sound weird, but haggling or bargaining down prices is not the way to go for brides on a budget. Vendors usually ask for what they think is a fair price for their services & expertise and might be insulted by being asked to lower their price. To avoid this dilemma, present your budget at the outset of your conversation with the vendor and see if they have any service to accommodate you. Feel free to ask about off-season/week day discounts or special offers. Which leads to our next tip. . .

Consider having your wedding in a season or on a day that is not as busy as a Saturday in June. Do some research or inquire when you speak to vendors to find out if they offer discounts for off hour, off season, or week day events.

And finally, be kind! Always be kind and good to the vendors and people who work for you. You may be surprised what kindness will get you. I once knew a videographer who would do free edits for clients who were kind, appreciative, and pleasant to work with. Thank you notes, tipping, submitting a review, and even remembering to say thank you in conversations can go a long way.

Bottom line is budgets are great for starting married life off on the right foot. It may take more than one attempt to find a vendor who listens and understands your needs, but stick to your budget, keep an open mind, and allow room for the creativity of the professionals you select to help you.

You might also be interested in our article: "How to Keep Your Wedding Guest List In Check."

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