Getting married is one of the most exciting changes in your life. It is the ultimate celebration to cherish with your partner for the rest of your lives. However, weddings can be very expensive as the average wedding costs in Canada is approximately $30,000. But, you do not have to break the bank to create a stylish, special, and memorable occasion.
Here are the financial tips for planning the wedding of your dreams:
1. Stationery
Stationery is one of the first things in your wedding list. These include invitations, save-the-date cards, and thank you notes, which can quickly add up. In order to help your budget, you should shop around for the best prices and keep your design simple and minimalist for the cheapest price. You can also print your own stationery at home for additional savings or even consider going digital with your stationery to be eco-friendly.
2. Wedding Transportation
Many people opt for a limo at their wedding, which can get very, very pricey. Instead of renting a limo for your wedding transportation, ask a friend or family member if they have a nice vehicle or a classic car you can use instead for your wedding day.
3. Dresses, Decorations & Flowers
You can easily overspend on your wedding dress, but you do not have to overspend. You can look into a boutique for your dress shopping in order to save some money. For decorations, choosing to have a wedding in December will save you a lot since most churches and venues are already decorated for Christmas and winter holidays. And for flowers, you can choose to use flowers that are in-season instead of using pricey flowers like peonies. Choose to stick to one or two type of flowers and a lot of greenery to fill in your arrangements.
Did you know you can save money at your venue by changing the time of day and duration of stay that you book? Booking a venue for your wedding in the off-season will make a dent in costs. Looking into a Friday afternoon or evening, or even Saturday around brunch will help you keep costs down. You can also consider booking a 3 hour event instead of a 5 hour event if you are looking to save more.
5. Catering & Cake
One of the most expensive parts of any wedding meal are drinks. Therefore, try asking your venue if you can provide your own drinks. For the menu, you can be less expensive by choosing chicken over steaks and giving your guest a choice of 2 entrees instead of 3 or 4. For your cake, you can purchase a smaller cake with one or two tiers rather than 3 or 4 to give you substantial savings.
6. Consult a Financial Advisor
When it comes to your dream wedding, you might be asking “what is the most-cost effective way to pay for our dream wedding?” Consulting a financial advisor will provide advice on how to efficiently handle the cost of your dream wedding.