 Wedding Memories, Instead Of Bills,
Can Last A Lifetime If You Curb Costs
People accumulate large debts in a variety of ways. One of the more common culprits is the high cost of weddings for young couples, and of course, their parents.
Many say they feel it's the one area where they can justify going into debt. After all, they aren't blowing thousands of dollars on a fancy sound system or a cruise to the Bahamas. This is for a day they will remember the rest of their lives!
For many newlyweds, remembering that day won't be a problem, especially with all those monthly reminders that appear in the mail box.
However, there are plenty of ways to keep your wedding at a reasonable cost, and still have that day you've always dreamed of.
For starters, many couples spend a fortune on the engagement ring and wedding bands.
Surely everyone has heard that you should spend two months' salary on the engagement ring. People never stop to consider, though, that the two-month rule was devised by people who sell diamonds.
For most people, two or three weeks' salary will buy a very nice piece of jewelry. In some families, there's a relative that has a diamond she never wears; maybe she's willing to give it to the couple as a wedding gift.
Other cost-saving wedding tips include:
- The Wedding Gown. Brides spend hundreds of dollars on a gown they only wear once before boxing it up and putting it in the attic. Wedding gown rentals usually start at about $100, and if you're willing to spend more, you can rent a much nicer gown than what you can buy for the same money.
- Photography. In addition to what they charge to take the pictures, most photographers keep the negatives and charge you again for the prints, and at a nice mark-up. If you don't have a friend or relative who has photography experience, hire someone just for the formal shots and have friends take the candid reception photos.
Or, put a disposable camera on each table at the reception and let your guests provide the photography. You'll get some great shots and your friends and family will have a lot of fun. Make sure you put a clearly marked basket near the door so people will drop them off on the way out.
- The Reception. Schedule the wedding so the reception is during the day. People tend to eat less - and drink less - in the afternoon-than at night. Also, brunch food is less expensive than dinner.
- Entertainment. Disc jockeys are less expensive than live bands and can usually provide a wider variety of music. Another benefit to using an experienced disc jockey is that they've worked at hundreds of weddings, so they can truly serve as masters of ceremonies, making sure all the customary events happen at the right time.
- The best rule of thumb, however, in planning a beautiful wedding within a reasonable budget is to decide in advance how much you want to spend - and be disciplined; don't go over the budget.
Be wary of overly aggressive sales people who may tell you it's okay to splurge, just this once, because it's for your wedding.
Remember, the memories from your wedding should last a lifetime, not the bills. Make sure all the feelings are positive by not piling up a mountain of debt.
Often I am asked about ways of involving family members into the Wedding Ceremony. I offer the following suggestions:
Terry M. Clark, Justice of the Peace
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