From destination weddings on white sand beaches to lavish weddings on cruise ships, couples are getting creative to find new and thrilling ways to celebrate their nuptials.
A lavish dream wedding often comes with a price label, even for those in the bridal party. That’s why members of the marriage party must pay attention to the costs related to the marriage.
Check out cost-cutting practices designed to keep you from breaking the bank:
Set a Personal Budget
The most vital step in any financial planning or cost endeavor is establishing a budget. Make a list of all the expenses you can think of. This includes logistical costs such as travel, hotel, car rental, meals and entertainment.
Some weddings charge expenses such as hair, makeup and clothing to the bridal party. If that is the case, you will want to work those numbers into your budget, too. The cost of bridal showers and bachelorette parties is usually paid for by the members of the bridal party, so keep an eye out for those extra costs.
Now that you have all the numbers you can consider the total dollar amount. You can trim and adjust your budget as needed and begin the savings process. If you find budgeting difficult, try using a tool like monorail application to help you list and keep certain items in your budget.
Use Your Network
You may be surprised by the power and reach of your personal network. From colleagues and business contacts to your college friends, they can all play a crucial role in reducing costs related to the logistics of the bridal party and wedding day. Spread your message and ask everybody in your network if they know of any good deals or contacts that can help you save money.
For example, rather than hiring an expensive bartender, someone in your network should know a professional who can offer better prices. Networking also works for other areas of the marriage party. Are you attempting to find a photographer, florist or massage therapist for party members? Someone on your contact list may know a good person who can offer competitive rates. Just ask because networking works great on any budget.
Have Clear Financial Talks with the Bride and Groom
This is an thrilling time for the bride and groom. Emotions run high as they prepare for the most extraordinary day of their lives. The last thing anyone wants to speak about is money. But you should.
Find out the exact dollar amount the members of the bridal party are responsible for. The last thing anyone wants is a misunderstanding based on assumptions that results in hidden costs.
Email conversations work best because you can include expense breakdowns, receipts, contracts, and financial reports to help organize and record all the numbers.
Get creative
Now that you have put some of the traditional cost-saving measures into practice so you can attend a marriage, there are at all times more ways to save money. Chances are you will be friendly with the other people at the marriage. Perfect, you have just found your new travel partner. Sharing hotel rooms, meals, cars and other logistics costs is one way to save money.
Don’t forget to speak up. If you see an outrageously large dollar amount of unnecessary expenses the marriage party is responsible for, speak up and suggest a more reasonable alternative. It’s your money after all.
Do Your Homework
In most cases, the marriage is one calendar year away. That’s enough time to create a slim budget and begin saving. If you do your homework, you may have the ability to find additional cost-saving measures such as book flights and hotels in advance. Try to monitor fares and buy tickets when fares are lower. Never wait for the last minute to buy hotels and plane tickets, because you’ll at all times pay a premium price.
Don’t Forget to Celebrate
Stay proactive in terms of saving for the marriage. Attending a marriage can take a toll on your finances, but if you follow these easy steps, you’ll be ahead of the curve and then able to enjoy the celebration with the bride and groom on their special day.
