source: http://www.saveanddress.com/
Weddings can be as expensive or as budget-friendly as you want them to be. That being said, most couples want to get the most for their money and create a day they will always remember. In many cases, you can save money on your wedding by taking on some of the tasks yourself. If you are naturally handy, you may even enjoy the challenge. However, some wedding tasks are better suited to a professional. It is important to know your own limits and to realize what parts of the wedding preparations may take so much work on your part that it actually makes sense to hire a professional. Before you sign up to “do-it-yourself”, consider these tasks that many wedding planners feel are best left to the experts.
Catering
While you may love cooking, trying to plan, cook, serve and clean-up after the meal at your reception is hard work. If you decide to do this yourself, not only will you run yourself ragged, your “assistants” will wind up spending the day working too. Catering is a big expense, but well worth it in terms of your own sanity. If you do not have the funds to hire a caterer, consider a very simple “buffet –style” meal with cold cuts, cheese, breads, crackers and desserts. That way, all the preparation is completed ahead of time and you can still relax and enjoy your big day.
The Cake
If you have never made a wedding cake, you may not realize how big of an undertaking it can be to make one. If you want the cake of your dreams, you will probably have to pay a professional. One way to have a “dream cake” and save money is to have a small decorative cake made, but purchase a tasty, yet simple, sheet cake to serve.
Photography
Photographers are expensive, there is no doubt about that. However, your wedding photographs are something you will treasure for a lifetime and you don’t want to trust your memories to an iPhone. If you do not want to hire a professional photographer, consider a hiring a friend or family member who has a high-quality camera and a few skills. This “happy medium” can save you a few dollars but still give you excellent photographs.
Location
One way many people think they can save money is by hosting a “quaint” wedding at home. However, if you start adding up the price this can actually become much more expensive than renting a reception hall. A wedding in your backyard means chairs for the ceremony, banquet tables, seating for the meal, possibly a dance floor, and a tent in case of rain. Plus, if you rent a banquet room, you will likely have an easier time with post-wedding clean-up too. Food is obviously one of the things you want to make sure are absolutely perfect in your wedding, so do your research and find the best banquet room service that you can. Consider all of these costs before “saving money” by holding your wedding in a private location.
The Dress
The wedding dress is what makes a bride feel like a bride. While it can be tempting to try to make do with a borrowed or used dress, it is worth it for the bride to have her dream dress if she can fit it in the budget by cutting back in other areas.
While putting together your wedding may be a may be a major undertaking, there is no reason to make it harder on yourself than it has to be. The bride, groom and any major “helpers” should sit down and decide what can be easily done without paid assistance and what jobs require a professional touch. If you are honest with yourself about what matters most, you can strike the perfect balance between saving money and saving your sanity.
Samantha Hunt works at eInvite, an online retailer of wedding invitations, stationery, bar and bat mitzvah invitations, save-the-dates, birthday party invitations, and other custom paper goods.
