You’re newly engaged: aka you’re constantly looking at top wedding blogs, pinning has become your second job, and your wedding coordinator is on speed dial (or, if you don’t have one, then you feel like you’re ready to become one). But you can never fully anticipate the wedding day until it’s finally here. You’ve been pre planning your wedding since age 4 and that will realistically land you in debt. The last thing you want to do is start your happily ever after out in financial struggle. You’ve probably come across a lot of articles about how to have a wedding on a strict budget. That’s obviously important, but usually cutting down the budget means making a lot of sacrifices. You shouldn’t have to make any sacrifices on the big day! Try these tips on how to execute your dream wedding on half the budget!
1. Don’t be afraid to accept a pre-loved engagement ring.
Diamonds are literally billions of years old. They are a lot like cars, once you drive them off the lot they’re worth much less. So accepting a ring that was worn for a few years is nothing! You can get the ring of your dreams for less than you ever anticipated. Used rings have character and are much more unique than the brand new ones that flood your news feed. Also, let’s get real; “Ring Karma” is not a thing. You can get the ring of your dreams while saving thousands. Considering you’re going to be wearing this every day for the rest of your life, it’s worth it to get one that is amazing. Pawn shops allow you to get amazing diamonds for less, and ultimately starting your wedding planning adventure off with an amazing start.
2. Make a list of must-haves
When it comes down to it, some things are a lot more important to you than other things. There’s some aspects of your wedding that you thought were crucial but in reality you could go without. For example, if you really don’t want to cut down on the guest list but don’t mind if there aren’t flowers on every table then ct down on the flower centerpieces. make a list of priorities in order to include the most important things to you and cut out the things you could go without. You’ll easily remove the things you don’t care about as much and you’ll end up saving a ton of money.
3. Book a DJ instead of a live band
If you’re contemplating between a live band and a DJ, go with the DJ. Everyone wants to dance to their favorite songs at a wedding-not a band they’ve never heard of. When you choose a band you’re running the risk of them butchering your favorite song and putting a damper on the wedding. With DJ’s you get the real deal and save a ton of money while doing so, booking a DJ is much more cost-effective than a live-band. If you want to save even more money recruit a music oriented student to MC your party, and customize your perfect playlist for a flawless night of dancing. 
4. Cut down on your guest list
I know that this is really difficult to do. You want everyone to see how fabulous your wedding day is. This is a tough one, especially if you have a huge family. However, cutting down on the guest list is a quick way to save a ton of money. On average it can cost around $220 per guest, that’s a lot of money! If you can cut out just a handful of the guests you don’t know that well you will save a ton of money. It can be really hard, but it’s worth it when it comes to your budget.
5. Minimize your bridal party
Okay, so this one is a bit of a sacrifice. Just like your guest list your bridal party could do some trimming as well. it costs a lot to have a huge bridal party. The bigger your entourage the bigger everything else gets such as the bachelorette party and the increasing number of bouquets. If there are some people in your bridal party that you just aren’t that close with (like your future spouses sister-in-law or the cousin you haven’t seen in years) don’t be reluctant to leave them out of your bridal party. You can involve them in other ways, like by reading something at the ceremony, and you’ll save a ton of money.
6. Utilize your friends and family
If you’re planning a wedding where a lot of your friends and family are local, don’t be afraid to ask them for help. You would be surpassed by how many connections you have and how willing they are to help. Everyone loves a wedding, and they will be honored to make their own special contribution. Maybe your cousin’s best friend makes cake’s as a hobby and is dying to make a wedding cake that is instagram worthy. Maybe your cousin who’s in hair school knows who to do the perfect wedding day hair style, she would love to make you look beautiful on your big day. On top of that, your family and friends might even want to help set up for the big day, which cuts down on the hired help you need. Your family and friends are just as excited as you are for your big day, so I’m sure they would be more than happy to help.
7. Cut the photographer short
Seriously, nobody likes those sweaty pictures of them dancing at your reception that they will inevitably get tagged in on Facebook. They’re not exactly the kind of pictures you want to make copies of and frame them in your house. In fact, most people will actually un-tag themselves in these to save themselves from the condescending looks from their boss. Save yourself some money (and your guests some embarrassment) by cutting the photographer loose after dinner. Going this route will help you afford a photographer who usually wouldn’t be in your budget!
8. Don’t be afraid of DIY projects.
Take advantage of the internet! I know that everyone says this but Pinterest is a life saver when it comes to weddings. It’s letting women put on the weddings of their dreams on a budget by teaching them how to do it themselves. It has helped so many brides execute the weddings that they’ve wanted since childhood. You’d be surprised by the amazing DIYs you’ll find online that you wouldn’t have thought of yourself, and even more than that, there are a ton of free PDFs and printables that could save you a small fortune on paper goods like invites, save the dates, menus, and programs! 