How to plan a wedding without breaking the bank

This goes to all couples who are engaged and 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. “There are no rules at this celebration. Treat your wedding as a blank slate, an 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 Ms. 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.

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

Jen Glantz, Founder, Bridesmaid for Hire

Decor: Guests remember the general atmosphere, not the small details. “People at weddings are busy,” says Ms. Glantz. “And when you’re busy, you don’t see anything.”

Save on decoration by renting it or browsing 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.

Transportation: “We love the idea of ​​the big stretch limousine taking 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.

Car services also require you to book for a minimum number of hours, Ms Harris said, so you end up paying for the time you’re not using. She recommends booking a ride-hailing service — yes, just like a ride to the airport.

Invitations, programs and menus: all those paper items that you carefully choose are thrown away. The programs are left on the chairs after the ceremony and the menus are tucked under the 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,” says Ms. Harris.

If you want the paper tradition at a lesser price, skip the menus and programs. You can also find beautiful paper invitations at certain online retailers for a fraction of the price. Many printers also offer seasonal sales.

Party Favors: Please let 2022 be the year we cancel party favors. Guests leave them and you will hold on to them 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 Ms. Harris. “With photography, you definitely get what you pay for.”

If you want to put money into something, put it into photography

Sheavonne Harris, Owner and Senior Coordinator, Events by Sheavonne

The Guest Experience: Both Ms. Glantz and Ms. 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 providers: Hiring a friend or doing a task yourself can feel like a money-saving move. Ms. 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.

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, you can dispute charges.

Updated January 17, 2022 at 4:00 am