Keep a Lid on Wedding Costs

He/she popped the question, presented the ring and the engagement is on! In the excitement of planning for the wedding, it’s easy to be caught off guard by the accumulating costs of getting married. The average cost of a U.S. wedding in 2017, according to costofwedding.com, is more than $26,500. But if couples take some dedicated time to plan out their nuptials, the wedding doesn’t have to break the bank. Below are some tips.

Treat the Wedding Like a Major Purchase

Think of the wedding like you would any major purchase. Say you’re in the market for an expensive car. Would you go straight to one dealer and buy immediately? Or would you first research the car, set your budget, examine the optional features and take a test drive?

Wedding planning takes a lot of research and test driving. Get an idea of how much different aspects of the wedding will cost, and arrive at a budget you both can live with. Most things—from the dress to the reception venue to the catering—can vary widely from one vendor to the next, so it pays to shop around.

Plan Ahead

If you have the leisure, check items off your list sooner rather than later. Popular wedding and reception venues are booked at least 8-12 months out, so the event venues should be one of your first decisions. Again, check prices and amenities of several possible locations. If you are looking at a destination wedding, this is particularly important so you can secure your lodging and venue and buy plane tickets when they are the least expensive. If you have your heart set on a popular band or DJ, or a specific photographer, reserve their time well ahead of your wedding date as well.

One good way to stay on schedule with the various tasks of wedding planning is to set up a calendar or a chronological list of all the tasks and the time frame in which they need to happen. Check out this example from Here Comes the Guide.

Alternately, you can divide and conquer by splitting the list with your partner or among select willing family members and friends. Decide which person will take care of which tasks. Obviously, there are some details that you and your partner will have to decide together, but one person can be designated to take the lead, gather information, and help other volunteers.

Prioritize

Identify the “must-haves” and things that are less important. To stay in budget, you’ll both have to maintain a degree of flexibility. If one thing ends up costing more than you expected, one of you may have to give up something else. Before you find yourself in that predicament, decide early in the process what aspects of your wedding are non-negotiable, and what elements are open to change.

Weddings, like life, involve a lot of trade offs. No aspect of the wedding is more important than the person to whom you are getting married. As you deal with all the stress of the details and decisions, keep that truth topmost on your mind.

Control the Largest Costs

Rentals and catering are the biggest chunk of the budget, but also a place where you can save money. Some venues (like hotels) have required minimums. You may have to use their catering service with their menu choices and guarantee a certain number of guests. Food items are often priced on a per guest basis, with required taxes and gratuities added. Rental costs will also vary by the size of your guest list and the day of the week. So, to save money:

• Pick a venue with a reasonable catering policy. At the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center we allow guests to choose from one of our preferred caterers or bring their own.
• Keep the guest list trimmed. The more people you feed, the more it will cost. In addition, if you have fewer guests,

  

  you might be able to rent a smaller, less expensive reception room. For example, couples have opted to use a portion of the Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center’s Evergreen Hall instead of the full space since it costs less. Typically, the less space you need, the less you pay.

• Because prices are always higher when demand is greater, consider holding your reception on a weeknight instead of the weekend.
• Consider other important factors for you and your guests. Is the venue easy to find? Will guests have to pay for parking? Is the venue handicap accessible for any older or disabled guests who are less mobile?

Planning a wedding is a lot of work, and it can cost more than you expect. By planning ahead, keeping your eye on the prize and making smart choices along the way, you can still have a wonderful wedding without going broke. If we can help, do let us know!