How To Plan A Wedding With a Shoestring Budget

The secret to a successful wedding is preparation and organization. To get you started, we've put up am easy wedding planning guide that you can use as a jumping-off point and dive into as you go along.

Let's get started!

Decide on a day and time.
Agree on a budget.
Determine the number of guests
Begin searching for venues.

1. Set a date for your proposal and begin planning your wedding.

Two years after the day of their engagement, most couples set their wedding date. You have a full year to investigate wedding ideas and color schemes as well as budgets and locations for the big day. As these plans are set into motion, the main work begins around a year prior to the wedding day.

Use our free wedding timeline checklists and weekly planners to keep track of your wedding plans.

Set a date for an engagement and plan the details

It's a good idea to inform guests of the wedding date at the same time you announce your engagement formally, host an engagement party, send out notices, etc. If you plan to be married, you'll probably invite the same folks to your engagement party. Using this information, you'll be able to figure out how many people you'll need to feed at the wedding reception.

There may not be a precise date yet, but a general concept of the year and season would be quite helpful. This allows your guests to plan and save for wedding attire, transportation, possible child care, and gifts. They may also have to make work and vacation plans in the meantime.

2. Agree on a budget for the wedding.

Consider the following:

What is the cost of the wedding?
Discuss how to divide costs between families if you plan on doing so.
When it comes to paying for a wedding, there are a variety of cultural expectations and traditions. Assume nothing and be open to discussing it with your family.

Whether or not the money is provided in advance and put into a special wedding savings account/pot is up for debate.
Or, will people pay their bills as they come in?
Is it possible that various people will be held liable for different expenses?
Do you have to put money aside? Can you set aside enough money to cover your monthly expenses and make your mortgage or rent payments on time?
Third, figure out how many visitors you'll have and how much money you'll have to spend.

3. Keep Your Guest List Small

Determining the number of wedding guests can have an impact on the whole wedding budget, or the price of the wedding may rise as a result of the decision. Having a predetermined budget will limit the number of guests you can have at the wedding ceremony and reception. Your wedding budget and guest list can help you decide whether to have a large or small wedding, a formal or informal ceremony, and the ideal location for your wedding.

4. Decide on a location for the ceremony and reception.

When the wedding date, guest list, and budget are all finalized, you may begin searching for wedding ceremony and reception locations.

Vendors should be asked these 25 questions.

Do they have the date you want for your wedding available?

In terms of total number of guests, including standing and seated, how many are possible?

When will we be able to get entry to the wedding site so we can start decorating?

Yes, we'll be able to get ready there.

Is there a safe place to keep the presents?

Is there a wheelchair ramp, and if so, where are the restrooms located?

What time will it be today?

Is there an open bar, and if so, how much does it cost?

Is there a corkage fee if we bring our own bottle?

What if we bring our own food and caterer?

What is included in the venue rental agreement?

Is there a set number of people that will be serving on the day?

Is there a place to stay for us and our visitors?

Is there a discount for booking a large number of rooms at once?

Do we need to bring our own wedding cake stand, or may you lend us yours?

Our wedding falls on the same day as what else?

What time do we have to get up and be ready to depart?

Is there a cancellation policy in place?

I'd like a breakdown of the charges on an itemized invoice.

Insurance?

Do they have a variety of options for those with dietary restrictions?

The distance from your place of residence 23. The distance and accessibility of the ceremony and reception sites by public transportation

Overnight accommodations, group bookings, and savings that are readily available

In the off-season, can I receive a better pricing for a weekday booking?

Get at least three estimates.

Meet Your Vendors and Send Out Your Save The Dates

Your wedding invitations should be ordered and sent out. Make sure everyone on your guest list receives a "Save the Date" card.
Register for a wedding gift registry online or in a department shop. Having a wedding gift registration online may be preferable because not all of your guests will be able to make it to a certain High Street store. When preparing gift lists, keep ease of use in mind.
Meet the officiant and other wedding officials.
Confirm the details of the rehearsal, as well as any additional details that may be relevant.
Get in touch with service providers and set up a meeting.

The Order of Booking Your Wedding Vendors

First priority is those large expenditure parts of your wedding for which professionals get booked up in some cases a couple of years ahead. They also only accommodate a limited number of weddings per week. As such if you have a preference, snap up that vendor quickly!

First Priority

· Wedding Planner (they can take care of the following for you!)
· Wedding Venue
· Bridal Salon
· Ceremony Officiant
· Photographer
· Caterer
· Reception Band or DJ