Last week, we took a look at some of the major wedding budget mistakes that most brides make while planning their special day. In the second part of the article, we take a look at 5 other wedding budget mistakes that many brides all across the country don’t account for in the planning process:
Crash Wedding Planning
Image courtesy Ankur Dandekar Photography
How long does it actually take to plan a wedding? Experts say that the right time to begin is at least 1 year before the wedding date. This gives you ample time to decide on what kind of a wedding you want, make a list of options with regard to the wedding dress, meet personally with vendors and so on. On the outside, wedding planning may appear to be a piece of cake (literally!) but it’s not and there are so many nitty gritties that actually go into making the perfect wedding. Avoid squeezing in 6 months’ worth of planning into a space of 3 months or less because you are certainly going to spend more than you originally budgeted for.
Picking an Expensive Venue
Image courtesy Ankur Dandekar Photography
There are so many differences of opinion when it comes to selecting the perfect venue. Sometimes, it feels like your home is the perfect spot to say ‘I Do’ and at other times, you really want to feel like a princess and have the ceremony in nothing less than a 5 or 6 star hotel. Don’t forget that if you choose to go in for a more expensive option, you will also end up paying more for catering and for other general services provided. Going in for a glamourous wedding venue just because impressing the guests is important is a huge wedding budget mistake.
Hiring the Wrong Photographer
Image courtesy Camera Crew
Candid wedding photography is making all the right noises and that’s why photographers who specialise in clicking moments that would have otherwise gone missed are trending. However, it’s not simply enough to go by a photographer’s website or gallery pictures. What you need to do is to meet the photographer in person and see if you can work with him to create an amazing photo album. Reviews and feedback are important but so is sticking to your wedding budget.
Paying too much for Flowers
Image courtesy Ankur Dandekar
Flowers are one accessory that you can’t do without no matter how big or small the occasion. The rate for a specific flower depends entirely on the season and its availability. So, if you insist on getting blooms that need to be shipped in or transported from elsewhere, you can bet that the figures will just add up to your bill. Avoid doing that and go with artificial flowers or even potted plants that the guests can take back home as a keepsake. Or, go for smaller bouquets with blooms that are in season.
Last minute shopping for Thank you Gifts
Image courtesy Camera Crew
Picking up the right presents for your guests is always a tedious task and the best way to take advantage of this situation is by purchasing gifts when a good sale is on. It could be from your favourite shop, on an online site or even during certain festive seasons of the year. You’ll get plenty of choices to select from and best of all, at half the rate that you would have spent otherwise. A little bit of careful planning can help you avoid this wedding budget mistake.
Main Image courtesy Camera Crew