ALT-1 Wedding the most Expensive Party of your Life
You've just won $25,000! What will you do with it? You might invest or save, take a fabulous vacation or two, put a down payment on a home, buy a brand new car in cash, or you could pay for the average American wedding today.
This may seem like an extravagant figure to some who have not been in the market in recent years, but let's take a few figures into account. An average wedding dress will cost approximately $1000. Getting a photographer to shoot for the ceremony, and three hours of a reception and create a typical wedding album of the photos sets you back nearly $5000. Venue rental will cost $2000 on average, which doesn't include the cost of catering and alcohol, which will run in the neighborhood of $5,000 for a well stocked appetizer buffet and two hour open bar for 100 guests. So far we have a bill of $13,000, which doesn't include flowers, the groom's attire, the bride's accessories, the minister's fee, cake, or any incidentals and extras not mentioned.
Now you can see how easily the costs can add up. So what can we do about it?
Problem #1: Trying to keep up with the Joneses (or That Girl From the Hills).We are flooded today with images of the celebrity weddings, platinum brides, and even bridezillas. If you have always dreamed of an ice sculpture of two swans creating a heart with their necks, then by all means, budget for that. If you want it because the blonde pop star of the moment had one at her wedding and you want everyone to think you're just as fabulous as she is, forget it. You'll end up with a dripping ice lump, a soggy tablecloth, and debt that may cost you more than one paycheck by the end of the night.
The Fix: Pick a Signature Element and Plan Around It.Everyone wants something that makes their day special and memorable, so pick one or two of those things, and budget for them early on. You want a chocolate fountain, great! Try reusing some flowers from the ceremony site at the reception to save some dough elsewhere in the budget.
Problem #2: Blowing (or Ignoring) the BudgetYou kept the caterer in check, talked the venue into cutting you a deal, and chose a great florist who is willing to give you options.and then the dress happened. Maybe you couldn't narrow your guest list, so you're paying for 200 plated dinners instead of 150. Everyone has the opportunity to splurge many times during the planning phase, and the temptation grows the closer you get to the big day.
The Fix: Make a Budget Together and Stick to ItKnow early on what you can spend on each of the major elements. If you can scrimp on the flowers, you've got a bit more to put toward the photographer. Your Aunt volunteers to make your cake, you can splurge on those favors you love. Be upfront with vendors and planners on what you've got to spend, and hold them to it! They may even be able to help by suggesting low cost alternatives.
Problem # 3: This Stuff is Expensive!It really is. The wedding industry is geared toward selling the dream day from all angles. Even if you've done your planning and stuck to your budget, you may find that things are still adding up to more than you're comfortable with. You start having nightmares of vendors zombie walking at you with cake samples and bridesmaids dresses.
The Fix: Consider your alternativesIn your vision you're wearing THE dress, walking down the aisle surrounded by your friends and family holding a bouquet of calla lilies. Congratulations, you've chosen one of the most expensive and fragile blossoms around. Rewind that vision, and maybe what you actually saw was a bouquet of soft whites and pale greens, which could be achieved with another less expensive blossom, or mixture of blossoms. Take relatives up on their offers to help (as long as they actually have some expertise in the area). Your college aged cousin wants to DJ and promises no "Chicken Dance" or stripper music while your husband removes the garter? You've just saved yourself $600. Also consider venues that provide more than one service. If you can find a ceremony site, that has accommodations for a reception and provides cake and appetizers, you may have just saved a bundle, and prevented your grandma from getting lost driving in downtown traffic from the church to the reception hall.
So now you know the basics of creating a beautiful and memorable day without breaking the bank. Your wedding will be a day to remember forever, but keep in mind that it is only one day, and most people will be there to celebrate you and your spouse, not to pick apart the details or rate it on a 1-10 scale. What? Those ARE your friends? Then Vegas, followed by a fab honeymoon may be just your style.
