10 Budgeting Tips for the Frugal Minded :)

[Sllefebvr]

haha I love it!
 

Originally Posted by atalanta 

What I am about to type is probably comforting albeit possibly bad advice... you could always sell what's not personalized.
 

 

 

[Bruuning17]

Hehe, I love it too!  I'm going to try and avoid having to sell stuff I buy and don't need, but I just can't help it 
 

Originally Posted by atalanta 

What I am about to type is probably comforting albeit possibly bad advice... you could always sell what's not personalized.
 

 

 

[J-me]

We are expecting around 75 guests, and while our budget will definitely exceed 10K, it's still MUCH less than if we had the wedding of our dreams in the U.S.! We are taking care of 3 nights of our wedding party's stay as a way of saying thank you (just the wedding party, no other guests), we are splurging on photography (Del Sol), as well as our attire, the invites & save the dates, makeup/hair ppl, a DJ, etc.....but those are the things most important to us. We are saving in other ways - I'm making my own programs, menus, & escort cards as well as bringing most of our own decor (chair sashes, paper lanters, LED tea lights, bouquets/bouts etc.) relying on the beautiful surroundings around us to provide most of the scenery

 

All in all, even DW's can add up! But a DW on a budget is most definitely possible if you're willing to cut in certain areas. It's just a matter of prioritizing what you want to splurge on & areas you can sacrifice...good luck!
 

Originally Posted by koseefowokan 

This was really helpful but I  am still puzzled. A budget of $10,000 or slightly below still seems really high to me. So I'd like to know this: What makes the budget so high if you saved so much money on your dress and centerpieces? Are you paying for guests' flights, accommodations, etc? Is the food that expensive? This question is not just for you but also for others who have budgets that are over $10,000. I was under the impression that one of the reasons why people choose destination weddings in large part because it is less expensive that a wedding at home for 100+ people. 

 

[koseefowokan]

Thanks, that was really helpful!

[koseefowokan]

Thanks! I'm definitely also trying to save money on invites and buying decorations to take down there. 

[koseefowokan]

Same here. My wedding is in April and I've already started buying some decor/favors because I like to take advantage of sales. And yes, I agree-whatever I won't use, I'll sell OR give away at my AHR.

[KGrulke]

great ideas!

[brendee2005]

Thanks for sharing!! Great tips!

[FabiLara]

 

These are awesome tips, thank you so much, OP!

 

Here are mine

 

1- Take the 3 biggest expenses on your budget, and sweat to negotiate them. Truth is, most of the Western world is in a recession-like economy, so trust me, they need your business to pay the mortgage on their expensive house they decided to buy in 07 and prior, when money seemed to be growing on trees in this industry. Just ask! My wise dad says "What have you got to lose? You ALREADY have a NO! ". Gotta lov'im! For FI and I, we plan to spend the most money on our honeymoon, so I've already signed up to their newsletter and am waiting for discounts, or we might sign up to a vacation club and get some nice discounts. Remember: a tiny 10% discount off a big ticket item will be bigger than a huge 50% off a small ticket item. Go for the big stuff first!

 

2- Allow yourself time to change your mind. Although you've fallen in love with THAT 5k photographer, chances are, you can still find a better package or a better value photog. I've been looking into this for a LONG time, and trust me, if you fall in love with a photog or dress, or videographer, keep looking and in a couple of months you'll find one you'll love just as much, for much less money (own experience).

 

3- Be ready to slash things altogether. Some people on this forum are not having a bridal party, others not having a cake, or programs, or OOT bags, or open bars....the list goes on. If you don't really want it, consider scrapping it.

 

4- Think to yourself "If I wasn't getting married, would this be a good purchase on its own?". Most times, we think that because someone slapped the name "wedding" on a product, it's better quality or "worth it". Not always so!

 

5- Choose your location CAREFULLY. For us, it meant changing from Jamaica to Mexico - so far, much better value. We've also decided on a location that will allow us to have our own vendors, more freedom usually means better price. 

 

6- google locally! For a google search for whatever you want, but using google.com.mx for Mexico, or google.com.jm, select "pages from _____ only" at the left hand side and look for ideas and vendors!

 

Best of luck to all of us frugal brides!

 

 

[mishele81]

Wow, amazing tips thanks|!!!!