Weddings on a Budget

10 Tips To Save Money on Wedding Costs

You, like many other couples, are most likely planning your weddings on a budget. Let's face it, marriage is an expensive affair, as newly engaged couples quickly find out. Searching for ways to cut costs is often a high priority, especially to those of you who are working with a small or fixed budget.

Even so, you still want to have a beautiful ceremony and reception. Don't worry. It can be done. Here are 10 low cost wedding ideas that can reduce your expenses even further.

1. The farther away you set your wedding date the more chances you have of spotting some really good deals and taking advantage of sales. A wedding that needs to be planned in less than 3 or 4 months will be rushed... and rushed often equates to more money being spent.

2. Choose a month, day, and time of day that will take advantage of lower service fees. The wedding season is roughly from May until October. This is when wedding related services not only cost the most, but you will have a harder time booking the services you need. Weekends are the most popular choice, so consider having your wedding on a weekday instead. Evening weddings are more expensive than ones held in the morning or early afternoon.

3. Put a set amount of money aside every paycheck into a "wedding fund." When planning weddings on a budget, it's much easier to save a little bit at a time to cover expenses than to try to come up with large lump sums to pay your vendors at the last moment.

4. Always get at least three quotes per service that you are inquiring about. Prices can fluctuate wildly between vendors, so it pays to shop around.

5. Negotiate for lower prices or to have the vendor add extras at no additional cost. You may be pleasantly surprised at some of the unexpected bargains that you could come across. Besides, if you don't ask you'll never know what you could have had for free.

6. Be well prepared with a list of questions for each wedding professional that you speak with. By doing so, you will show the person that you are well aware of how the industry works and that you will not be easily taken advantage of. It also gives you a good basis to compare services of different companies to find one that will provide you with everything you require and charge a fare price.

7. After you have made a decision on each of your vendors and have signed contracts with them, be sure to call and confirm your reservation and service. Keep in touch as your wedding date draws nearer to be sure they are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. It's unfortunate, but occasionally a business may suddenly close down and the owner disappears. Not only will you loose your deposit, but you'll need to scramble to find a replacement quickly. If you keep in touch, you may get some warning signs that this person may not be in business much longer, so you can at least try to retrieve your deposit.

8. Keep records of all conversations, appointments, phone calls, contracts discussed and signed, and receipts. This is your proof in case the vendor doesn't provide you with all the services you both agreed upon. In this case, you would be well within your rights to demand a partial refund. By the same token, some vendors may try to scam extra money out of you by insisting that you owe more than agreed upon. With a copy of your signed contract on hand, plus receipts for any deposits you've made to them, you'll have proof of the balance that you really owe. This is vital for those planning low cost weddings on a budget.

9. Never sign a contract until all of your questions have been answered to your satisfaction. If you are having trouble getting answers out of a vendor, move on. You don't need that hassle. If they're being difficult now, imagine what they'll be like as your wedding date draws closer! Be sure to keep notes on everything discussed and make sure that it is all covered in writing on the contract.

10. Do not sign a contract if you feel the vendor is pressuring you. Take the time to sit back and very carefully read through the document. Compare it to the notes that you made during the initial interview with them. Remember, this is a legally binding document that you will be signing, so make sure it's right before add your signature.

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