It’s no secret that weddings are an expensive affair, and it seems like they’re getting worse. According to some studies, you can thank foodie culture and social media for that.
Regardless of what’s important to you for your wedding, you’ve got to spend some decent dough if you’re not eloping.
Your dream wedding should be romantic, magical, exciting, and memorable, but getting the funds together can seem nearly impossible. For you soon-to-be newlyweds out there, we’ve got seven tips for getting the funds you need!
1. Embrace the Budget
Not everyone likes the idea of budgeting. Sure, some may get a kick out of it, but it’s a lot of math and requires a lot of forethought.
Still, you absolutely should not even start sending invites until you’ve figured out the wedding budget. This will help give you goals to strive for, and it will make certain uphill battles seem more realistic.
To budget your wedding, split up every facet of the event you can think of:
- Engagement rings
- Wedding rings
- Venue
- Wedding cake
- Food catering services
- Drinks
- Dress and suits
- Hair appointments
- Favors and gifts
- Flower arrangements
- Music or a DJ
- Photographer and/or videographer
- Transportation
- etc.
Not to overwhelm you, but there’s obviously a lot that goes into funding a wedding. It might be a good idea to brainstorm with your significant other, family, and friends.
You’ll want to set a maximum limit of how much you’re willing to spend in each area, and then rank each based on priority. No matter what, while you save and earn money, make sure that the top-priority aspects are covered before the big day.
This can help you make decisions for cutting if necessary (more on that later).
2. Adjust Monthly/Daily Spending
If you need to save up a lot of money for a wedding, then you either need to earn more money or spend less elsewhere. Cutting back expenses might seem difficult at first, but that’s why prioritizing is so important (keep your eye on the prize).
Look at your daily and monthly spending habits and look to see what you can change or remove. Here are a few ideas:
- Cancel movie, TV, and music streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, etc.)
- Cancel gym memberships
- Reduce the data plan on your phone bill
- Eat out less and cook food more
- Drink fewer lattes or tea on the go
- etc.
It can be hard to get rid of the daily luxuries that we take for granted but consider the alternatives. Instead of paying for a gym, work out at home or go for runs around your neighborhood.
3. Snag Some Side Gigs
Earning more money is sometimes easier said than done. Newer, better jobs don’t come around every day and you might not be in line for a promotion any time soon.
Side gigs and freelance jobs are more common today than ever, and they can be a nice solution when financing a wedding.
For some, this may just mean getting a part-time job on top of your full-time job. For others, it could mean taking advantage of the many freelancer apps floating around.
You could drive Uber or Lyft to taxi people around or Uber Eats or Bite Squad to deliver food. Others, such as Task Rabbit, might have you performing random tasks, such as grocery shopping for others.
If you have niche skills, consider looking for Facebook groups in your local area for other similar freelancers. You can work together to find side projects to earn you money on odd-job projects.
4. Do It Yourself
Some say that we’re becoming the DIY generation, so it would make sense to apply the same mindset for your dream wedding.
If you’re struggling to save up enough money to hire certain things or services, see what you can do yourself. For example, you can make your own invitations and favors.
Instead of renting an expensive venue, think about what’s available to you. Maybe you could have a wedding on a beach or perhaps you know someone with a beautiful property who would be willing to host.
5. Borrow Money
It feels great to finance a wedding yourself, but sometimes it just isn’t doable. A personal loan is a viable option when all other options fail.
Loans can be a great way to get some money fast, and some even come with reduced interest rates and convenient ways to pay them off. You can apply other tips from this article to pay the loan off as you go.
Applying for personal loans with bad credit is a difficult spot to be in, and that’s why some people avoid the idea entirely. You shouldn’t let that hold you back, though.
6. Ask for Help
Not only are we a generation of DIY’ers, but we’re also a generation of crowd-funders. Everything from vacations to creative projects can be funded on websites like Kickstarter, GoFundMe, Indiegogo, etc.
So, if you’re having trouble figuring out how to pay for a wedding with no money, consider just asking for help. Friends and relatives may have a soft spot for you, and be willing to see your dream come true!
7. Be Patient
Setting a date for a wedding and keeping it is important. Often, weddings are planned up to a year or more in advance, and people may be visiting you from around the country or world.
People need to be prepared, but sometimes, you may just need to be patient and hold off the big date.
You don’t want to sacrifice too much on your perfect wedding, so if the budget and funds aren’t lining up, take some more time to save. But make sure that you keep your goal in mind so that you don’t stray.
Get Creative When Funding Your Dream Wedding
We live in a time where weddings seem to get more and more expensive. Between social media and our own desires, we want to make the biggest splash possible with our dream wedding.
Getting the finances in order can be a difficult process, though, which is why you need to get creative. Get some side gigs, cut back expenses, ask for help, DIY certain aspects, and consider a personal loan.
Once you finally have all the wedding details figured out, consider some of the best honeymoon destinations to mark the occasion!
