Love is priceless. Alas, someone forgot to tell all those industries that make money off weddings, because the cost of getting hitched these days is pretty eye-watering. Still, this is one of the most important days of your life, and you’re not going to let something as petty as money get in the way of having a wedding to remember! But if you’ve got grand plans that’ll make your ceremony and party ones to remember, how do you go about paying for it? We take a look at some options below.
Get
Saving
You
might be excited about your engagement and want to host the day as soon as
possible, but there are benefits to having it way out there in the future, the
main being that you’ll be able to save up money! Think about it.
Whatever the projected cost of your wedding is, it’ll be easier to divide that
cost over, say, 24 months than it would 12 months. If you make it too near in
the future, you might have to tighten your belts right up until the big day,
and who wants that? Give yourself time to put money away into the savings
account instead.
Top
Up With Cutbacks
Most
people aren’t all that good at saving money. Sure, they can divert 15% of their
income into a savings account, but why stop there? The remaining 85% of their
income might not be being used as well as it could be. Take a look at where
you’re currently spending your money, and see if anything can go. If you cut
cable television, for instance, that could be an extra $60 in your wedding fund
A MONTH, and with cheaper online TV options available, it’s not like you’ll be
missing out on much. And what about that takeout lunch you eat every day? Make
your own, and that’s an additional $1000 a year in savings.
Budget
Days
The
best way to afford your wedding is to simply...cut back those costs. Sounds
simple enough, but how do you do it? Well, one way is to add a degree of
flexibility into some of your decisions. You might have a vision of what the
party is going to look like, but does it matter where or when it is? You can
make big savings by getting married in the “low” wedding season. Everything
becomes much more affordable if you’re not paying a premium just to get hitched
at the height of summer, for instance.
Paying
on Credit
The
thing about paying for a wedding is that the costs don’t all come at once. They
come in dribs and drabs. And actually, this is a good thing, because it breaks
down the expenses into manageable chunks rather than just having to pay in one
lump sum. Here, credit cards are your friend. If you don’t currently have a
credit card, take a look at the best secured card. You’ll be able to use
it like a regular credit card and pay off the balance each month, when you’ve
been paid. It’ll make splashing out for those costs that arrive in the middle
of the month all the more straightforward.
Claiming
Back from Guests
You’re
getting married, and you know that the guests are going to turn up with a bunch
of household items as presents. It’s thoughtful, but if you’re already living
together, then you might not need all those blenders and microwaves. Instead,
why not ask for a cash donation? This practice is actually pretty common in
certain countries, such as Spain. The guest turns up, has a great night, and
leaves $100 or whatever they can afford to pay. That can go straight into your
bank account, and help replenish the savings that spent on the wedding day.
Get
a Second Income
If
you’re positively stretched to the limit when it comes to your income, then you
might not have the financial flexibility to put money away into your savings.
In this case, you can look at adding a second source of income.
Most people think that their wage is all the money in the world they can have.
Actually, it should just be a starting point. There are plenty of easy work
from home jobs that just about anyone with an internet connection and some
spare time can start up. You might not get the equivalent of a full-time
income, but you’ll get enough to put towards your special day.
Help
from the Family
It’s
a bit old-fashioned to have the father of the bride pay for the wedding,
although sometimes we wish it weren’t. Still, just because they might not foot
the whole bill, it’s possible that they can help out. And not just the father
either; everyone in the clan can pitch in. Obviously, it’s best not to ask if
you know that they’re struggling with money, but if they’re doing pretty well,
they may like to contribute. Instead of asking for an outright cash donation,
you could ask if anybody would be willing to pitch in for, say, the
photographer.
Selling
Old Items
It
is staggering how much unused stuff people keep in their home. Studies have
shown that the average home has hundreds of dollars worth of unused goods lying
in drawers. If you’re not using it, then why do you have it? Put it on eBay,
and raise some much needed cash. You’ll be putting money towards your wedding
fund, and clearing space at the same time. It’s a win-win situation!
What
You Can Afford
Finally,
keep in mind that there’s always a way to have a special wedding, no matter
what your budget is. If you’re not flush with cash, scale down your ambitions
slightly and find a compromise. You might just find that your day turns out to
be even more special because you did things your own way rather than stretching
yourself beyond your means and putting yourself in financial difficulties. It’ll be magical no matter what you spend!
