7 Tips For Planning a “Signature Wedding” on a Small Budget

There is no direct correlation between your budget size and having a fabulous and stunning wedding.  Truth be told, many a brides have managed to plan the most beautiful weddings on small budgets with no one being the wiser.  The key to pulling off this feat is lots of planning, research and planning.  Below I have provided some tips you can use to make your budget (no matter what the size) work for you!

Tip #1 – Request quotes from a few florists and price compare. There are florists out there at various price points, and it is good to see what is out there and which florists are willing to work with you.

Tip #2 - Choose flowers that are in season because that will help reduce extra costs.

Tip #3 - Hire a planner! Wedding Planners have longstanding relationships with vendors and venues, and can really assist in bringing down the costs.   A good planner will ultimately pay for him/herself in the end.

Tip #4 -If the venue has their own white linens, use them, and accent them with great napkins and flowers. If you can afford to rent linens from an outside vendor, make sure you request quotes from a few companies.  Just like florists, there are varying levels of price and it is important to see what is out there so you can make the best choice for your wedding.

Tip #5 -Try skip using flowers all together and invest in something more creative for a centerpiece.  Think vintage chandeliers (which you can buy from a flea market), or a few hurricane candles or vases filled with unique items. You can also try reworking the tables to form long tables instead of traditional rounds, possibly reducing the number of centerpieces you actually even need.

Tips # 6 -Integrate your personality and style into the small details which really define a “Signature Wedding” such as place cards, table numbers, ceremony details, etc. It is in the details where your style really comes out and you can add this feel with little touches.

Tip # 7 -Instead of having a large cake to feed all your guests, opt in favor of having a fabulous but smaller cake, and using a sheet cake to feed your guests. This will save you a substantial amount of money and your cake will still be the stunning one you want.

~Step 2 - Budget Basics - Setting Your Priorities~

Now that you have determined what your wedding style is or at least you have an idea, it's now time to tackle a topic that most couples dread - determining the wedding budget. As you know everyone's wedding is as unique as the couples that are getting married - well the same philosophy holds true for the wedding budget. Let me share with you a little secret...it is possible to create a beautiful wedding on any budget...you just have to set realistic expectations.




So first things first, before we start talking about money, it's important to determine the elements of your wedding and their priorities. Below I have provided you with a priority list. On it we have identified 15 wedding elements to get you started. Look at the list and start ranking the following elements of your wedding according to their relative importance to you. Mark a "1" next to those elements that are the "most important areas"; a "2" by the "medium important areas"; and a "3" next to those that are the "least important" to you. Feel free to add additional elements that relate to your wedding.

Priorities List

___ Ceremony

___ Number of Guest

___ Size of Wedding

___ Location

___ Season

___ Food and Drink

___ Music - ceremony

___ Music - reception

___ Flowers

___ Tabletop Decor and Linen

___ Lighting and Mood

___ Invitations and Printing

___ Fashion

___ Photography/Videography

___ Other_______________

___ Other_______________

___ Other_______________

___ Other_______________

___ Other_______________

This exercise is most effective when done as a couple. Make two copies of the priorities sheet and give one copy to your fiance. Do your ranking separately and when you're finished, sit together and compare lists. This is a great exercise to start discussing what is most important to each of you and will help you both determine where your budget and your attention should be directed first.

Next we will discuss actually putting the budget together.

Happy Planning!