So you’ve finally found the man or woman of your dreams, the proposal was incredibly romantic and now it’s time to start planning your perfect wedding. Unfortunately, your wallet is feeling a little thin and the budget just won’t stretch far enough to pay for your fairytale day – the cost of the cake, venue, dress and all the special little touches are really adding up.
Remember, the perfect day doesn’t mean spending your life savings or, even worse, getting yourself into debt. It’s really worth pausing to think about the financial effect of your celebration. After all, one of the biggest causes of divorce is debt and financial worries.
So, instead of breaking open the piggy bank, rather ask yourself “what can we afford to spend?” and then work out how to have the best do possible within that budget.
The venue
Wedding-specific venues can prove quite costly so why not look for something a little different? A park, zoo, aquarium, museum, gallery, botanical garden or historical site can provide an amazing backdrop for a fraction of the price.
If you’re set on a specific venue, then try choosing an unusual day or unpopular season. Getting married on a Friday or Sunday can reduce venue costs while choosing a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday can provide further savings. Of course, some guests may not be able to attend a weekday wedding, which could reduce costs even further.
You can also expect major savings if you decide to get married in winter. Venues often have a cheaper price for off-season weddings to try and drum up business and you may be able to negotiate an even bigger discount if you’re sly.
The dress
Believe it or not, there is a roaring dressmaking cottage industry in China that you can tap into via eBay. Yes, quality and reliability vary massively, so research is vital. However, if you make sure to do it the right way, you can get a made-to-measure dress for around R2000. Simply search for “custom wedding dresses” on eBay.
There are some things to keep in mind however:
- Ask a lot of questions of the seller regarding delivery, measurements and design. Most sellers will send swatches so you can check colours and fabric quality before you buy.
- Make sure to factor in import tax and postage fees. This could be as much as 50% of the purchase price.
- Finally, eBay has a ratings system, so check out what others have said. Do they deliver on time, have people received what they expected and has the seller sorted out any problems quickly?
If you’re not comfortable with the imported option, you can always rent or buy and second-hand dress at the fraction of the price of a new one. You can also sell your dress to a second-hand dress or rental shop after the big day to try and recoup some of the cost.
Hair and make-up
You may choose to go the DIY route when it comes to hair and make-up but it may save some stress to get it done by a pro. However, this doesn’t mean having to fork out a small fortune.
Beauty counters at department stores will often do a free make-up assessment and trial, then simply buy the lipstick so that you can touch up during the day. Alternatively, check out your local beauty training schools. They may agree to do your hair and make-up on the day for free as part of their training.
Use family and friends’ talents
One way to save some major cash is to use the talents of family and friends. Ask for their help instead of a wedding present. Often, someone you know will be an avid or aspiring baker, photographer, DJ, florist, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Catering
As with the venue, if you choose an unusual day, you may get a big discount on the catering of your wedding.
Here are some other tips to cut down on catering costs:
- Choose a buffet over a plated meal.
- For a more informal wedding, serve appetisers instead of a full meal. This will give your guests an opportunity to mingle and you don’t have to plan your wedding around a mealtime, adding some flexibility to your agenda.
- If you have the time and a few people to pitch in and help, then baking, cooking and creating your own dishes can help save a small fortune on catering costs. This is especially true of things like soups, salads and desserts, which don’t involve long preparation times.
There are lots of ways to bring down the cost of your wedding so be smart and think carefully about what is really important to you on the day. This way you can still have a truly beautiful wedding without breaking the bank.
Remember to watch Our Perfect Wedding on Mzansi Magic every Sunday at 19:00. Join the conversation on social media by liking the official Facebook page, following @OPWMzansi on Twitter.
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