How to Save $ Planning your Wedding

In the last issue we talked about how to plan the wedding of your
dreams without going crazy or going broke. In this issue we are going
to talk about how to save money when planning your perfect wedding.

When it comes to planning your own wedding there is so much to do, it
can be mind-numbing.  Good planning is essential, so I have put
together a nice checklist  for you. You can download them here:

DIY Wedding Checklist
DIY Budget Checklist

You should also invest in a folder to keep all of your notes in order.
Print out the checklists included in the file above and keep them in that
folder along with any receipts, quotes and notes that you have!

As I mentioned in the last issue, you will need to decide who will pay for
the wedding. Typical wedding etiquette dictates that the bride’s parents
pay for the wedding. These days that isn't always the case.

More often couples pay for most of the wedding themselves or the cost
is divided up into sections and shared between the couple and their
parents.

Now, assuming that you want a traditional wedding, the first decisions
to be made include: the date, your attendants, and the venue.

Traditionally, couples choose a Saturday for their big day, but they don't
realize that you can save a lot of money by having your ceremony on a
Thursday, Friday or a Sunday service on a holiday weekend.

When you are searching for just the right date you will be surprised to
find that there are many more open dates on these days and you'll save
big by choosing a less traditional day.

You may also want to consider an early wedding and reception.  For
instance a wedding at 1:00pm with a reception immediately following
can lead to a great deal of savings. Most guests will have already had
lunch before your ceremony and the reception will most likely be over by
dinner, so all you'll have to provide is some light finger foods instead of
a full meal.

Did you know that you can also save by planning your wedding between
the months of November and April. These months are less busy for
most wedding related services and locations. They are also more apt
to offer you extra discounts during the off peak season.

Where your reception will be held is another huge decision that has to
be made early on in the wedding planning stage.  If you want to opt for a
traditional reception hall, you'll have to book early to be sure you can
get the venue of your choice.

If you or someone in your family is the member of a benevolent
association (The Elks, The Moose, The American Legion), consider
these as viable options. They often give discounts to members and you
will probably have access to a huge area for your wedding reception
instead of Aunt Martha's backyard!  Just remember to book early!

If your budget is extremely tight you can look for a free place to hold
your reception such as a friend’s home, a church’s reception hall, the
local fire department’s reception hall!  Maybe even a local park, art
gallery, or your own home.

Make sure you look for your next issue soon. We will be talking about
making the guest list and picking out your invitations.

Cindy Lieber
Accredited Event Designer
OC Brides Event Coordination
www.corporateweddingplanner.com
Cindy@ocbrides.com
(714) 970-6380

P.S.  If you need help creating that timeline for your day of events, let me know.  I would be happy to help.  Just click here and let me know!


I wanted to share a service we love ......



Stay comfortable on your special day!!