Hi IMs just looking some advice here. I've recently gotten engaged and we've decided to have wedding next year... But eveytime I think I'm on track organising it all, another 50 things come up that I need to be doing... Any advice on how to effectively manage it all myself(don't want wedding planner) without forgetting things and also any tips on how to keep everything cost effective.... Bridesmaid dresses etc. my dress is already sorted as gift from mothers old bridal shop in UK.. TIA
5 Replies
Write a list everything you can think of and ask family friends to check and see if there's anything you need to add. I started with date, venue and marriage celebrant.
Food
Entertainment/music
Wedding vows
Wedding music
Cake - (shop around there are some reasonably priced cake makers on Facebook and use as dessert to cut down on food costs)
Decorations - make your own or get crafty friends too help
Flowers
Cars/transport (borrow from friends or family)
Photographer (see if a friend or family member can do it)
Guest list - keep it to close family and friends
Invitations - make your own dont spend a fortune they end up in the bin
Dresses - wait for sales (if time permits)
Suits
Hair/make up (after 2 trails we all decided to do our own make up and 2 of my bridesmaids done their own hair) saved a bit
I used a spreadsheet that way I could easily compare amongst options.
The list above is good but there are many things missing from it.
Oh of course there's many things missing fom the list it's just what came straight to mind, a starting point : )
I downloaded an awesome app called "sync wedding planner". It has everything in there. Also my mum gave me a wedding planner book that was an amazing help but the app was just easier to keep a record of budget, prices, guest list and heaps more. Good luck and congrats on your engagement & upcoming wedding
Give yourself plenty of time. We are getting married next year in April and set a date about 18 months out. We started booking vendors from about 14/15 months out. We've now organised most of the big stuff with just over 12 months left. Take one thing at a time. Organise the most important things first which are venue and celebrant/pastor. Afterall everything else is just a bonus! :-) Write a list of all the things you will need, so you can tick them off one by one. A wedding book/self planner may also be handy. I just have a art diary with everything in it.
You will save money if you don't get married in peak wedding season, usually February, March, September, October and November. You could also save money by not having it on a Saturday. Go to wedding expos, they usually have specials and you can save a heap. We are saving money by using our own and a friends car. My bridesmaids are paying for their own dresses etc.
Make sure you shop around for everything, it's a bit more time consuming but will save you money. Even if you work on one thing for two weeks, have that sorted and then start on the next thing. It will become too overwhelming if you try to do everything at once. You can make a lot of stuff by looking at YouTube videos. Also make use of Pinterest. It's great for inspiration, planning and DIY.
Recpetion- You can save money at your reception by having the cake as desert, which will take one course out. You may still have to pay for plating but it will be cheaper than a whole new desert. You can also save by not paying for people's drinks. If that is not an option, have soft drink, wine and beer on the bar. Spirits add up way too quickly!! If the reception venue doesn't have a menu within your budget then ask if they can create one.
Flowers- You can save on ceremony decorations by choosing a venue that is already pretty. Flowers, you can go to a flower market if near by or choose flowers that are cheaper and bigger so that they fill the bouquet quicker. We are going with baby's breath which will be about $40 per bridesmaid.
Photographs- If there was one thing I would spend money on, that would be a good photographer!! Photos are the one thing you will have to cherish for years to come. We are paying about $1400 for ours to be there from morning til 9pm.
Invites- If you can't make your own invites, have a look at vista print. It's cheap and the invites are still beautiful. If you want to save on stationary, skip the ceremony programs and menus.
Music- ask around, someone may know someone who is just starting out and will do it cheap for promotion. The tafe or local high school could also help.
I also agree with the poster above^: if you can help it, only invite close family and friends. Not only will you save money on lots of things, it will make the day more intimate and you won't regret inviting someone just because you felt like you have to.
When you are getting married, a lot of people will put their two bits worth in, like when you have a baby. It's important to not do something because its tradition if that's not what you want. It's your wedding, so do it how you both want it. Don't be worried about offending anyone either, it's your day, not theirs. Good luck and enjoy!