{"id":14414,"date":"2015-07-19T10:00:05","date_gmt":"2015-07-19T09:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.weddingdates.co.uk\/blog\/?p=14414"},"modified":"2021-02-09T15:49:47","modified_gmt":"2021-02-09T15:49:47","slug":"planning-tips-budget-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weddingdates.co.uk\/blog\/planning-tips-budget-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Plan A Wedding On A Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wedding and money experts estimate that your big day will cost around \u00a321,000 to \u00a324,000. Most of us won\u2019t be lucky enough to have that sort of money tucked away.\u00a0 So here are some ideas on how you can be saving-savvy, make the most of your budget, and have your perfect wedding.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/p>\n

Talk about how much you have<\/h2>\n

Establishing how much you both have \u2013 and want \u2013 to spend will help manage your expectations, and from here you can put a plan together. Some couples don\u2019t have any savings so you might need to consider taking out a loan or working out how long you will need to save up for.<\/p>\n

Talking over these details early on is good practice for married life \u2013 and quite romantic! Having hard data behind you will also make it easier for both sets of parents to decide how much they are able to help you out financially.<\/p>\n

Some of the things you need to consider are, registrar\u2019s fees, venue or church fees, entertainment, dress, suit hire, decorations, flowers, hen party, cake, photographer, gifts, catering, invitations, cars, rings and if you want to go on honeymoon, you\u2019ll need to factor in the expenses for this too.<\/p>\n

\"Wedding<\/p>\n

Shop around and learn to negotiate<\/h2>\n

If you have the luxury of time on your side then you should absolutely compare prices for everything, from the buffet to the dress. Shopping around gives you the chance to haggle. Wedding suppliers tend to expect customers to negotiate and if you can pay a deposit or the whole amount months in advance you might get a discount. Make sure if you hand over any money that you get a receipt, and that you\u2019re confident your supplier is well established.<\/p>\n

You can also pick up some bargains at wedding fairs, bridal shows and exhibitions. There are also many online outlets, where you can snap up clearance bargains.<\/p>\n

Choose an unusual day<\/h2>\n

If you are able to choose a day well in advance, think about having the wedding on a day that isn\u2019t in high demand: often you will find that venue prices are higher on a bank holiday weekend or a Saturday than they are mid-week. \u00a0Or consider getting married in November, which tends to be a quieter period for wedding suppliers. If you can plan months or even years in advance, you can give out ‘save the date’ cards or notices early enough so your guests can book time off work.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

DIY Shortcuts<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019d rather spend your budget on food, drink and entertainment than postage stamps and hired cars, here are some ways you can get your priorities right!<\/p>\n