Don’t make these 7 mistakes when planning your wedding
You may be tempted to spend a lot of money on your wedding, but there are ways to save money without sacrificing quality. But with some preparation, you can keep your expenses under control, stay out of debt, and fully enjoy your wedding.
We’ve been running a wedding shop for several decades now. We’ve heard plenty of stories, made plenty of mistakes, and learned how to pick alternatives.
Of course, no two couples are alike, so one couple‘s wedding blunders could be another couple‘s most treasured memories. If you’re trying to save money by keeping your costs down, watch out for financial mistakes that could wreck your budget or leave you worrying.
If you’re planning an extravagant wedding, there are lots of ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. Here are some common mistakes to avoid and clever ways to save money so you can spend less time worrying about finances and more time enjoying your big day!
7 Mistakes to avoid when planning your wedding
Planning a wedding takes time and effort, and it’s important to remember that no two weddings are alike.
There are certain things that every bride should consider before she gets hitched, such as choosing the venue, selecting the theme, deciding who to invite, and picking out the perfect dress.
Planning a wedding can be stressful enough without having to worry about whether or not you’ve made some common mistakes.
If you want to ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch, then read on to discover some of the most common pitfalls that brides often fall into.
Mistake to avoid Nº1: Not having a wedding budget
You may think that because you don’t want to spend too much money on your big day, you shouldn’t set a budget.
If you’re willing to negotiate and be flexible, it’s entirely possible to get hitched on a tight budget.
It’s best to know before doing any math whether or not you’re going to be able to afford the costs associated with planning a big event.
Couples’ wedding expenses often get underestimated during the initial planning stage. By about 40%, they usually end up costing more than expected.
Our advice is this:
Before setting a final wedding budget, look into your savings accounts and see if any of them have extra cash lying around.
Ask your family members for their intentions regarding contributing towards your wedding expenses.
Families typically pay for most of the cost, with the couple paying roughly half of the bill.
When planning a budget for a big wedding, plan for it similar to the way you would for a house.
You should first conduct a preliminary survey of nearby restaurants and service providers before deciding which venue would be best for you.
Mistake to avoid Nº2: Trying to rely on DIY solutions
You may think that planning your own wedding will be cheaper than hiring professionals, but that isn’t always true.
A typical couple might spend 2,000 on a professional wedding planner, but hiring a skilled professional wedding planner could be well worth it.
A good wedding planner could help you save money by finding you discounts, identifying when you’re being charged too much for certain services, and warning you of any products you may be missing out on that could cost you more down the road.
If you take into consideration the costs involved, you may end up breaking even while enjoying the experience and the wedding.
Our advice is this:
If you’re looking for logistical support at a lower price, consider comparing different wedding planners and thinking about partial logistics services.
If you want to create a schedule, for example, and use it to hire and manage your three main vendors, you might prefer using a planner rather than hiring a full-time planner.
Even if you prepare yourself, we recommend hiring an event planner for your wedding instead of relying on friends or relatives to help you handle any last-minute issues.
Mistake to avoid Nº3: Not thinking about your priorities
Wedding expenses can be difficult to control if you don’t know which things are and aren’t important to both of you.
Setting priorities helps you decide which expenses to cut first so that you can afford to spend more on the things that are really important.
You can then either cut costs by not buying the things that don’t fit into your budget or avoid buying them altogether.
Our advice is this:
Because every couple is different, it’s important to set up your priorities early on.
Because it reflects your shared priorities, establishing priorities may help you save money and spend your time enjoying your big day more.
Mistake to avoid Nº4: Inviting too many people for your big day
Inviting more people means you’re likely to go over budget because most catering companies and venues charge by the head.
The average cost per guest is 250, so adding 10 extra people would increase your costs by 2,500.
Our advice is this:
You shouldn’t invite everyone who is important in your personal and professional lives.
When making decisions about who to invite to an event, check how often you’ve talked to them over the past year.
If you’re counting your experiences on just one hand, then you may want to reconsider your decision.
Mistake to avoid Nº5: Not keeping track of your spending
Wedding dresses can be quite affordable but we still recommend people keep an eye on their budgets.
You don’t need to keep track of every single cent you spend on your wedding.
It’s not romantic we get it, however, you could easily end up going over your allotted expenses if you fail to do so.
If you’re using credit cards to pay for things, this could lead to financial trouble down the road.
Our advice is this:
Keep track of your wedding expenses using a spreadsheet.
You should calculate the total you’ve spent so far on each item, the amount you still need to pay for it, and the remaining balance.
By tracking your wedding expenses, you can gain financial insight into your finances, keep yourself calm during the planning process, and fully enjoy the planning process.
You’ll be able to see exactly how much is being spent on your wedding each and every single time you check your bank account.
Mistake to avoid Nº6: Spending too much money on extras and wedding favors
Spending too much of your free online hours browsing through wedding planning websites may lead you to quickly compile an extensive list of things you think your wedding should include.
Spending a fortune on extra things like an engraved invitation, a signature cocktail, vintage hats for a photo shoot, custom napkin sets, a groom’s cake, and a bouquet throw is tempting.
One or two small purchases might not be too expensive, but if you buy several items at once they could really add up and blow your budget.
Our advice is this:
Write down everything that isn’t “you” and don’t include them in your life anymore.
Buying a cheap $9 guest book from amazon as an example rather than buying a beautiful expensive version.
You don’t want to spend too much money on wedding favors since most people usually leave them behind.
If you have 100 people coming for dinner, even if they’re just paying $3 per person, that comes to $3000. It gets expensive fast.
Mistake to avoid Nº7: Hiring inexperienced friends to help with the wedding
Hiring friends to help out at your wedding might sound like an easy way to cut costs, but it isn’t always the best option.
However, most attempts to cut costs end up costing more in the long run.
Hiring friends as wedding coordinators can cause conflict, delay the wedding date, and leave you feeling down about what should be a joyous occasion.
Our advice is this:
Use this simple guideline: You’re welcome to use your friends if they are skilled florists, DJs, or other wedding service providers.
If not, include any expenses related to professional services in your wedding planning budget.
Hiring an expert who works in this field full-time is something I strongly recommend.
It’s easy to spend too much money on a wedding. You might end up in debt if you don’t plan ahead.
Not everything has to be that way.
Make sure that you plan carefully, set clear objectives, and don’t let yourself be distracted.
Because of this, you might be able to spend less than you normally would on a wedding by using this method.
And because of this, you might have fun and enjoy every moment of your wedding without worrying too much about staying within your budget.
