5 Wedding Planning Tips — save money on your big day
1. Reuse floral pieces: Using flowers for your ceremony decorations? Think about designs that will easily translate from ceremony to reception to cut back on floral costs. Many pieces that you have for the ceremony can easily be used into the reception décor, such as your bridesmaids’ bouquets and aisle flowers.
2. Try DIY: The possibilities for DIY projects for your wedding are endless. From invitations, to programs, to iPod playlists, think about what you can do yourselves before you shell out dough. If you’re not as crafty, enlist the help of a few family members or bridesmaids to help with you get the projects done well ahead of the big day!
3. Keep the guest list small: Ultimately, the biggest costs of the day will go to food and drink, and that price tag can rise very quickly with a lot of guests. Work with everyone involved in your wedding, including parents, to limit your guest list to a size you can afford without stress.
4. Be flexible with your date: Depending on your location, many venues offer off-season rates at a less expensive price than during the popular summer months. Also consider getting married on a Friday or Thursday. It may not be as convenient for guests, but if it keeps your budget in check, it could be well worth it.
5. Go green: One great way to save money is to cut out paper goods from your wedding, including sending e-mail invitations or save the dates, and limiting the amount of items printed for your day. You’ll help the planet too! [What do you think? — Claire x]
5 Pre-Wedding Money Discussion Tips — it pays to think ahead
1. Go through your money history: It may not be the most pleasant of conversations, but make sure to walk your partner through your past financial history, including your debts, credit score and any issues you’ve had. It’s difficult to build a financial future together without talking about your past first.
2. Discuss your habits: In most couples, differences exist between each partner’s everyday money habits. Do you go out to lunch every day? Do your splurge on vintage records? Where does your paycheck go in a given week? Ask yourselves these questions before you head down the aisle to better understand your partner’s attitudes toward money.
3. Look into the future: When couples have common financial goals, it can strengthen and help their union grow. Make sure to talk about what you’d like to achieve financially in the next five, ten or even 20 years. Communicate with one another what your hopes are for your time together down the road.
4. Stay honest: Avoid hiding purchases or other money issues from your partner. Cultivate a trusting, mutually respectful financial relationship by being open and honest about what you buy and how much you spend.
5. Practice makes perfect: If you’re not sure how to go about sharing your finances, give it a whirl before the wedding. Practice sharing a current account or a credit card for a few weeks and see how you do. See what issues come up and how you work them out. Then, if and when you do merge your money for the long term, you’ll have a good idea of how it will work best for you as a couple.
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These tips were compiled by Save.co.uk. Planning a wedding can be hard work, and every added detail equates to another expense. Save.co.uk has put together 5 tips on how to save some pennies without compromising on the big day, and 5 more tips to help couples navigate the potential nightmare of joint finances after the confetti has settled.
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