1. Make your own wedding planning book. Pull from other sources, talk with married friends. It's important to make it personalized for what you want your day to be, but still have a plan or checklist.
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
3. You don't have to have a full course meal at the reception. Think about a fun DIY dessert bar, or involve extended family or friends that aren't in the wedding party. Have them bring y'alls favorite desserts as a wedding gift! This can even be done with finger foods! Our family brought our favorite desserts (thanks to my sister-in-law for this idea) and then we had a candy station for the favors! This was also a wedding gift ;)
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
Photo by Teia Squires Fuller
4. Seek out talents. Do you have a friend or family member that can decorate? See if they would mind helping you as a wedding gift or for a reasonable price that fits in your budget. *Print off pictures, draw diagrams. This will help achieve your ideas and themes. Do you know someone that is gifted with musical talents? Check out people in your church! Chances are, you'll already know their level of talent! Same thing goes for someone to run the sound system or coordinate the day! You definitely need someone to tell people where you want them to stand and when to enter! Hey, you might even know a DJ or videographer! We also knew someone in our church who baked cakes on the side and she did a fabulous job on our cake! Don't be scared to ask! We budgeted a small cash or special gift for people that helped with the big things like the decor, music, and cake.
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
5. Only buy what you can't find or don't have! We had an antique theme, so naturally, we went "picking" at our grandparent's houses. Not having an antique theme? Seek out brides you know in your community. Ask to borrow items. If they are uneasy, pay a small rental fee that can be given back after returning the items. Even check out online wedding blogs that sell previously used decor! Wait until you have exhausted all your options and gathered what you could, then buy what you need. Look for half priced weeks at places like Hobby Lobby! It'll save you a lot! I was blessed by the most amazing decorator ever, my second mom growing up, and she had lots of things from a previous wedding for us to use in addition to our family's things and old photographs!
Photo by Teia Squires Fuller
6. Delegate. Don't put everything on yourself. People that you are close to and trust, actually do want to help! *This is not a ticket to be a bridezilla though. Really appreciate people that want to help you and don't overload one person! Pick and choose things to delegate wisely.
7. Look for dress sales! This is key. Some brides spend more on their dress than we did on our entire wedding! Although this is one of the most important aspects of your day, you can still find your dream dress at a dream price. My dress was from a local store that was going out of business. She had most all dresses 30% off and the owner was personable and amazing to work with. It arrived at the store on Tuesday and I was the first person to try it on that Saturday! It was the second dress I tried on, because I was set on a lace dress. But, the lace one, was horrific on me. Be open to trying on different styles :) My dress total was a whopping $345.00!!! It was perfect. Oh, and it had POCKETS!
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
8. Don't pay 54783403 for a photographer. Pictures are definitely one of the most important parts, if not the most important, of the day, so this decision is vital. First, think about people you know. Look at their websites, even meet and talk with them! Sometimes they don't post their prices, because they can vary. See if their style matches what you BOTH want. Don't forget to include the groom ;) If you don't know anyone, and you want to budget the most on this, then definitely go with what you want! Seek out reviews. Read blogs! Sometimes photographers will have a second shooter, so it'd be worth paying more. See what the packages include and read the fine print of contracts! Make a list of all the pictures you want. Communicate that and see what would be realistic. This is an area to splurge if you can!
9. Use some fake flowers or grow them! Not all your flowers have to be real. Put them together yourself! It could be something fun to do with your bridesmaids! If that's scary for you, order your bouquet and use fake flowers for your bridesmaids, or something creative like cotton for the groomsmen. Online blogs and talented people you know would be a good source! If you want to grow them yourself, see what will grow when you want your wedding to be and go from there! For me, that seems terrifying, but maybe you have a green thumb. :) This decision will definitely depend on when you have your wedding and what your comfort level is! Ours were all fake for the ceremony and I now have my bouquet in a mason jar by our bed!
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
10. Make small things memorable. My sister made my garter and my handkerchief. This was incredibly special to use on the day and to have as a keep sake! My necklace was a graduation gift from my parents that had a simple round diamond from my great grandmother's ring. Maybe you don't have these things, but talk with family. See what options you have for your something borrowed, something old, something blue, and something new! The ceremony should reflect you both! You can "tweak" traditional things to make it your own. We did unity salt instead of sand, because we loved the symbolism it had with our gospel centered lives as being the Salt of the earth. We also decided to have our parents stand beside us and give their blessing instead of my dad "giving" me away. Be creative! The ceremony is more special than some people make it out to be.
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
Photo by Gretchen Lynn Robards
I know this doesn't address everything and in no way will this insure your wedding to be $3,000, but I hope it'll help anyone trying to plan their special day on a tight budget! For us, we could have spent more, but we didn't want to. It was a personal conviction to be good stewards of our money and focus on the marriage being the most important part, but don't feel badly for having a bigger budget! It's an important day that you've always dreamed of, which makes all this hard work worth it! I hope and pray you have as many amazing people in your life to help and learn from as we did. We couldn't have done it without them! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Photo by Teia Squires Fuller
Oh, and don't forget to include your groom and in-laws! It's their day as much as it is yours! If you're a Christian, you're still called to Christlikeness even while you plan your wedding ;)
Happy planning and have fun!
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