Many factors account for the national average wedding expenditure. TheKnot.com reports an average cost of $18,086-$28,400 dollars.
In these difficult economic times, couples are becoming creative in keeping the cost of their wedding down. Factors that determine wedding costs include the following:
Venue – Where you decide to have your reception.
Guest List – How many people you invite to the wedding.
Time of Wedding – Night weddings are more expensive than day weddings. Mainly, because people will consume greater amounts of food at night then at brunch time.
Wedding Cake – Where you purchase your cake makes a vast difference in the final amount paid.
Photographer – Professional photographers are expensive for weddings.
Bridal Clothing – Wedding dress, tuxedos, bridesmaid dresses are all part of the budget.
Also factor in the cost of invitations, center pieces, flowers, gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen and a disc jockey for the reception.
Increasingly, couples are getting married at a more mature age and many of them are opting to pay for their wedding. While paying for your own wedding can be expensive, it is a fantastically liberating experience, but is still a financial commitment whether a couple is footing the entire bill or assisting parents in paying for the special day.
Saving for your wedding should begin the week you become engaged. The average time between engagement and the wedding day is 12 to 18 months. Determine your budget by figuring out the amount of money you can set aside each month to cover wedding costs. A nice wedding can be achieved with a budget of $10,000 if you shop and compare prices on everything needed. The venue for the reception could be a formal country club or a town-owned pavilion.
Bridal dresses are gorgeous, yet they do not need to be the most expensive to be elegant. There are stores that also rent bridal dresses. Depending on your budget, look into renting or purchasing a pre-owned bridal dress and save thousands of dollars.
Create your own invitations. Paper and More online offers some of the best cardstock available at a fraction of the cost. Creating your own invitations and response cards will save you hundreds of dollars.
Costco is a wonderful place for fresh flowers. Currently you can purchase 12 bouquets of 12 rose sprays, that is 144 stemmed roses for $119.99. This price includes shipping. Yet another alternative is ordering silk flowers arrangements from individual crafters.
Creating your own centerpieces for the tables in another money saver. Creative and inexpensive centerpiece ideas can be found at Michael’s and other craft stores. Here is an online site offering inexpensive, yet engaging centerpiece ideas.
Opening a savings account dedicated to your wedding may help enforce the need to save. Even if you start with a small amount, a separate account will assist in making the correct spending and saving decisions. Research every aspect and expenditure, this will make it easier to bargain with vendors regarding prices Do not jump at the first price or location that comes along. Patience and planning will allow you to have a cost-effective, memorable wedding.