She Strengthens

Planning the Wedding of Our Dreams without Breaking the Bank

Last year, I said yes to my partner of seven years in the City of Love, Paris. The engagement was a dream come true, but as soon as we returned home, I found myself drowning in the vast ocean of online wedding planning. With no siblings and only one wedding under my belt, navigating the wedding industry felt daunting. Thankfully, I had recently started taking control of my finances and had transformed from a reckless spender to a responsible saver. This new mindset allowed me to approach wedding planning with a clear head and a focus on what truly mattered.

Setting the Tone with a Heart-to-Heart

Before we began planning, my partner and I had a candid conversation about our vision for the big day. We discussed our budget, our priorities, and what we were willing to compromise on. This conversation was crucial in setting the tone for our planning process. We created a mood board with photos and prices of potential venues to ensure we were on the same page. We also decided to pay for the wedding ourselves, which meant we needed to create a savings plan to achieve our goal.

The Guest List: A Budget Buster or Saver?

Your guest list can make or break your budget. It’s easy to get carried away and invite everyone you’ve ever known, but this can lead to unnecessary expenses. We opted for an intimate wedding with only immediate family and close friends, which made it easier to say no to distant relatives and acquaintances. Remember, it’s your day, and it’s okay to prioritize your own desires.

Rethinking the Backyard Wedding

A backyard wedding may seem like the most affordable option, but it’s not always the case. When you factor in the cost of renting tables, chairs, cutlery, and even portable toilets, the expenses can add up quickly. We found a restaurant with a garden in the back, which gave us the rustic feel we wanted without the added costs.

DIY Delights: Flowers and More

Wedding flower arrangements can be pricey, but DIYing them can be a fun and cost-effective solution. I purchased wholesale flowers and greenery online, thrifted vases and candle holders, and watched YouTube tutorials to learn how to create beautiful arrangements. This not only saved us money but also created a special memory with my husband. If DIYing isn’t your thing, find another creative outlet, like making menu cards or place cards.

The Value of a Wedding Coordinator

Our wedding was a mostly DIY affair, but one piece of advice I’d give is to hire a day-of coordinator. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it allowed us to relax and enjoy our special day. Our coordinator handled any hiccups that arose, leaving us free to focus on what mattered most – getting married.

Embracing Unconventionality

Your wedding doesn’t have to follow traditional norms. We cherry-picked the elements that mattered to us, like having a wedding cake and a dance party, and skipped others, like a wedding party and shower. By prioritizing our budget and desires, we created a unique and unforgettable experience.

Starting Our New Chapter Debt-Free

The day after our wedding, we reflected on how well the day went and how proud we were to have achieved our goal of saving for our wedding and honeymoon debt-free. This accomplishment made our wedding memories even sweeter. Remember, weddings are different for everyone, but sticking to your budget and having open conversations with your partner can guide you through the chaos of wedding planning.