Are you a newly engaged couple who wants to have a Pinterest-inspired wedding but doesn't want to spend too much on your wedding day? Or are you just interested in getting an idea of how to prepare for it? Fret not, here are some tips to celebrate your big day without hurting your pockets. I will share some tips that worked for us when we had our budgetarian dream destination wedding.
1. Set your wedding budget (and stick to it! 😊)
The first thing that we did was set our budget. The wedding budget will be the baseline of every decisions that you will make during the planning so you and your partner should discuss this first. Once you have set your realistic budget, it is very important to stick to it no matter how hard and tempting it may get during the preparations. 😁 I assure you, all the upgrades your supplier will suggest to you are very alluring. It is really helpful to be mindful of your budget if you want to be as practical as possible. As a prudent couple, we made the decision to not spend too much on our big day and to save for our future after the wedding—amortization for our new home, furniture, traveling together, and so on.
While it is highly recommended to ensure that all important aspects are considered during the planning process, setting up a contingency fund for unexpected expenses is also a must. You can use the cushion to tip your suppliers, give as extra prizes for games, and the like.
A side story: Unlike many brides who dream of wearing an extravagant bespoke wedding gown, I decided to forgo customizing mine. We bought a very cheap ready to wear (RTW) gown in an online shopping store (Shopee! 😁). I got mine for less than Php 5000. My husband's coat set was also RTW and bought online for less than Php 3000. We were also able to sold our gown and coat set after the wedding! 😉 There are many RTWs nowadays that look elegant as well. There were brides who also opt to buy a secondhand gown. This choice will depend based on your liking.
2. Set up your negotiables and non-negotiables.
Sit down with your partner and discuss your negotiables and non-negotiables. Identify your priorities and be willing to compromise on the rest. This will help you stay within your budget and help you focus your efforts on what's really important for you.
Our first non-negotiable is the wedding ring. Since this will be used for a lifetime and we believe that this is the emblem of our commitment and covenant bond with each other, we want something that will last and something that will grow with us. Second, to relive the memories and emotions of our big day, we also prioritized a good quality photo and video. And finally, we decided on the venue as a non-negotiable as we want a garden wedding and a location where we can both have the ceremony and the wedding fete.
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3. Choose your preferred date.
Your preferred wedding date is the first thing that will be asked when you book reservations for your suppliers. It also has an effect in your budget. Suppliers charge their highest prices when their services are most in demand, such as for a June or December wedding on a Saturday or holiday. If you’re not flexible about the date and you really want to base your decision on the sentiment of the date, expect a slight increase in prices from your suppliers.
4. Decide on whether you will hire a planning assistant or do the planning yourself (DIY).
Planning your own wedding gives you control and flexibility. You can customize every element of your special day, from big to the smallest details. This level of personalization can result in a wedding that truly reflects your unique tastes and preferences. DIY wedding planning can also be a cost-saving opportunity. You can reduce the expenses by omitting those unnecessary items and allocate your funds to other important items.
On the other hand, while DIY wedding planning offers flexibility and cost savings, there are several advantages to hiring a professional wedding planner. Easy access to their expert knowledge and industry connections is a major benefit. Since they are in the industry, they have the experience to easily connect with other suppliers and run the program smoothly. Another benefit is the reduced stress during the planning sessions.
Nowadays, there are options for full planning coordinators and on-the-day (OTD) coordinators. For us, we opted for the OTD coordinators and did the planning ourselves. The decision between DIY and professional wedding planning is ultimately based on your personal preferences and priorities.
5. Be organized.
You can use checklists to gather all your thoughts, budgets, wedding suppliers, guest list, and other details in one place. There are also online tools that you can use to help you organize. We got our checklist from our OTD coordinator.
6. Look for suppliers and read carefully the contract before signing them.
This is actually one of the critical parts in wedding preparations. You should be very careful in choosing your suppliers. Your suppliers play a vital role in ensuring your wedding day is memorable and smooth sailing. They should be able to share your vision and deliver your desired outcome. In addition, you should ensure that they are legit as there were many couples who were scammed by their suppliers after the downpayment has been settled. Be thorough in background checking them. You want your wedding day to be the best day in your entire life.
We are fortunate that my husband is also involved in the wedding industry. He is a videographer and he has collaborated with most of the suppliers that we engaged with, including the venue, hair and makeup artist, photo and video team, and the host. For other suppliers, we have engaged the tie-up partners of the venue and conducted thorough checks for their legitimacy. Moreover, before signing any contracts you arrange with your suppliers, be sure to closely review every detail, especially the terms and conditions, and cancellation policies as you may end up spending more if their terms are not met. Everything has to be written in the contract, and if there is anything that is not clear with you, discuss it with your suppliers.
7. Work on your guest list.
Choosing your guest list is a hard task as it depends largely on your budget and preferences. It is important that you and your partner agree on who you are going to invite. In the Philippines, it is a culture to invite everyone in the family line and the community. Depending on your choice, it will surely have an impact to your budget. We strongly suggest that you choose those with whom you both share a profound connection as they are the ones that will likely to stay until the end of the program.
8. Maximize digital platforms.
Everyone knows that the invitations sent will be discarded after the event. For us, we used wedding websites for our guests instead of printing out invitations. We only printed a few copies for our principal sponsors and ourselves for personal use. Here is our wedding e-nvitation and below is the hardcopy. I designed our printed invitation using Canva and sourced out a shop that can print limited copies. Doing so enabled us to save a few thousand pesos compared to ordering from a supplier which has a minimum number of orders and costs much more.
9. DIY Strategically.
If you have the time and interest in crafts, DIY wedding decorations can be another cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your wedding day. Plenty of DIY projects can be done including gifts for the sponsors, welcome bags or souvenirs, welcome signage, etc. For things like wedding day flowers or food, however, professional help is best.
Remember that the goal is to have fun on your big day, but did you know that you can also enjoy your preparations? 😊 Believe me, you can as I did! ♡
Embrace the moment and experience the love as you embark on a journey of marriage! Don't worry about the minutiae and if some things aren't perfect. The guests will remember how you have enjoyed your big day and not those things that didn't come as planned. Be sure to relax, take pleasure in all the special moments with your loved ones, and don't forget to eat! 😁
Congrats on your engagement and happy wedding preps! 💗💞
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