But your Guest List and have a Fabulous Wedding on a budget

Saving money, while planning your dream wedding, is easier said than done. Budgets are tight and weddings can get very expensive. According to The Wedding Report, a market research publication, the average American wedding costs almost $29,000. That is AVERAGE. Most people do not have that kind of budget. A wedding does not have to cost more than a new car. In fact, remember that the more “high-end” weddings of more affluent families skew these figures. So how can a wedding be planned, on a lower budget and still be a fun, exciting, and fabulous event?


After becoming engaged, it is important for couples to set down with who ever else may be involved in financing the wedding, and come up with a budget. Include all money that is available for financing the wedding. It is best not to take out a loan, if it can be prevented. No one wants to enter their new married life in debt. A great tool for assistance in coming up with a wedding budget is a “Wedding Budget Calculator”. A Budget Calculator can be found by doing a search on Google, or at most commercial wedding websites. Most are similar and one is no better than the other. The calculator tool will include all the pertinent items, such as catering and flowers. It is important to be able to account for every little item in order to keep on the strictest of budgets.

Discuss the vision for the perfect day. Make a list of what is important to you and what will be necessary to make this day happen. Jot down what is absolutely needed, such as officiate and wedding license. The only requirement to be married is someone to officiate and a license. That would make everything very simple, if one were talking about just being legally married. However, wedding planning is an entirely different matter. For most, must haves to host a wedding include ceremony site, reception site, wedding rings, flowers, favors, lighting, DJ or band, and let us not forget the white wedding dress. The list can go on and include so much.

There are many ways to cut the wedding budget. One can still have a fabulous wedding on a smaller budget by cutting out unnecessary items and focusing on a few details that are important. One of the easiest ways to cut the wedding budget is to cut the guest list. This alone will possibly cut the budget by thousands of dollars. When the number of guests are cut, other cuts will follow. So much of the budget goes on a “per person” basis. If there will be a meal at the reception, the catering cost is “per guest”. The guests will need a place to sit, cutting down on this number will cut down on tables, chairs, and place settings. When the numbers of tables are cut, naturally, the numbers of centerpieces are cut; in turn, this cuts the flower budget. One can see how once the ball is rolling in cutting out each item, the budget will go down, as well.

How can one cut the guest list when there are so many people to invite? Well, first decide whom it is necessary to invite. Close family and friends, of course they make the cut. However, is it necessary to invite your dad’s, boss’s daughter? Is she a close friend or an acquaintance met a few times at company parties? So you grew up, next door to someone all of your life, how long has it been since you have seen or communicated with this person? If it is over a year, it might be ok to leave them off the list. Unless the parents are helping with the wedding bills, it is not necessary to invite their friends. If a family friend has had an influence, of course find room on the guest list. Leave off “And Guest” on the RSVP card, and cut the guest list even further. If a guest is in a committed relationship of more than 6 months, their significant other’s name is added to the invitation. This should end confusion if a “date” is to be included. Adjust these tips to fit your needs and you will see your budget decline.

According to Bridal Association of America, The average wedding caterer cost, including food and food service, drinks and drink service and cake and cake cutting fees is $12,790. (http://www.bridalassociationofamerica.com/Wedding_Statistics) If the average wedding guest count is 150 people, that comes to about $85.00 a person. If 50 people are cut from the guest list, there is a savings of $4,250.00 on catering alone.

Since catering is not the only cost that is dependant on the number of guests, the savings will add up in other areas, as well. For example, since the guest list has been cut by 50, and most round tables in reception halls seat 10, you are eliminating 5 tables. In turn, there is an elimination of five table clothes, five centerpieces, and 50 chair covers and sashes. If each of the items are broken down with the average cost, here are the savings:

Tablecloth 17.50 x 5 = 87.5
Centerpiece 60.00 x 5 = 300.00 (average centerpiece cost, found on ProjectWedding.com was 50.00 to 70.00)
Chair Covers and sashes 3.50 x 50 = 175.00
Total savings: 562.50

Cutting the guest list by 50 people has saved almost $5000.00 on the total cost of the wedding. This is just taking into account the above examples. Having a dream wedding is within reach while inviting those who are most important in a couples life. Just think with a smaller guest list, there will be more time to spend with each of the guests. They are there to celebrate this occasion, after all.

There are many creative ways to cut the budget down to what is more affordable. Cutting the guest list is only the beginning of what can be done. The “average” wedding cost of 29, 000 is not required to have a fabulous wedding.

Best Wishes,

Tiffany
http://www.diamondeventsbytiffany.com/