How to Plan a Big Wedding on a Small Budget
- 1). Figure out how much money you can spend on the entire wedding, including the ceremony and reception.
- 2). Make your list of wedding guests. This number will determine many details of your wedding.
- 3). Start with the biggest expense of the wedding, which is the reception. Use the Internet to research wedding venues in your area. Call as many venues as it takes to find three that meet your budget. Make appointments to see each venue. While there, ask about catering. Some venues make you use a particular caterer, while others let you bring in whichever catering company you want. If they have a particular caterer, be sure to look those prices over, and ask if they have a minimum food and drink limit. While at the venues, find out if they provide chairs, tables, china and other decorations. This is an important factor in the cost.
- 4). Make as many wedding items as you can at home. Wedding bouquets and floral centerpieces are very expensive, so you can save money by buying flowers wholesale and putting them together yourself. Minimize the expense of wedding invitations by making them yourself. Many websites offer free templates for invitations and programs, so you're left only paying for paper, printing and postage.
- 5). Plan your wedding for the afternoon, or on a day other than Saturday. This is one of the biggest ways to save money on your wedding. Venues and other vendors will often cut down prices for a wedding that isn't on a Saturday night. An afternoon wedding means you can get away with appetizers instead of a full dinner.
