Oct

17

How to Pay for Your Wedding without Going into Debt

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Many couples end up going way over-budget on their wedding simply because they operate under the rationale that they’re only going to do it once and it has to be amazing. To that end, they are willing to put themselves into massive debt in order to have a huge and lavish wedding with tons of guests that they may not even know particularly well (extended family, friends of parents, colleagues, and so on).

But paying beaucoup bucks to secure designer duds, an overpriced venue, and a baker that has his own reality TV series just so you can stuff the faces of a bunch of people you don’t even know doesn’t really seem like a good way to start your new life as a married couple. So here are just a few ways to keep it real and create a special day that won’t leave you drowning in debt.

The first step you can take is to opt for an “intimate” affair that only includes close family and friends. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you that you HAVE TO invite someone who hasn’t made the cut. Some parents, in particular, are keen to jack up the head count to include extended family (some of whom you’ve probably never met) and their own friends. But keep in mind that this wedding is to celebrate your marriage, not theirs, so unless they’re going to foot the bill, they don’t get to dictate the guest list. Even if your parents are helping out, you need to draw the line somewhere. And don’t invite anyone from work unless you happen to socialize with them outside the office regularly and consider them close friends. Coworkers won’t expect an invitation so don’t feel like you have to extend one.

Next, you need to seriously consider prioritizing your spending. You’ve likely saved up some money for the event, but you may still be on a pretty tight budget. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t splurge here and there (say, on the dress or the cake) if you’re willing to make cuts in other areas (like flowers and the open bar). And actually, with so many couples giving up on traditional practices, there are a lot of ways to save on just about everything these days.

The dress, for example, doesn’t have to be designer in order for the bride to get the gown she wants. She can simply go to a seamstress with a photo and have a replica made for a lot less. For the reception, some couples are opting to do high tea or only a dessert bar rather than a full meal as a way to save (although this should be noted on invitations so guests don’t arrive expecting five courses). You can also DIY a lot, from making a sea of paper flowers (use recycled paper and it’s a pretty way to do something good for the environment while saving money). And the photography, entertainment, and other services may all be carried out by friends who are willing to donate their talents as a wedding gift, instead of paying for pricy pros.

In short, you don’t need to resort to an unsecured loan in order to pay for your wedding. In fact, if you’ve gotten to the point where you’re actually considering loans, you need to step back and think about how you want to begin your new life with your partner. If you don’t want to start out up to your eyeballs in debt, then you may need to push back the date in order to save more money, or else find ways to make your day special and personal without spending money you don’t have.

Oct

7

5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Memorable

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When it comes time to select the type of entertainment for your wedding reception, you might be hesitant to go straight to the wedding DJ. You don’t mind the idea of music and dancing; after all, it’s traditional. But you’d rather have something special and unique when it comes to the entertainment, something that says more about you and your new spouse and speaks to your own particular flair as a couple. In short, you don’t want your wedding to be just like every other one you’ve attended; you want it to be memorable. So if you’re wracking your brains to come up with something that is fun and entertaining for your guests (that they’ll never forget), here are just a few ideas to consider.

1. Theme wedding. Okay, so “under the sea” has been done ad nauseum. But there are cool and modern ways to incorporate a theme into your reception that will keep your guests entertained all evening. And you don’t need to go all Lady Gaga, either. One fun theme to consider is poker. You can hire a crew to come in dressed as dealers to set up gaming stations and teach guests how to play games like Blackjack, basic poker, Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha, and even craps or roulette. You’ll have built in wedding favors with poker chips that have your engagement photo on one side and the date of your wedding on the other.

2. Fire dancers. If you want to make the reception a little wild, think about hiring fire dancers to perform. You can practically guarantee that nobody at your wedding has seen that at a reception in the past! As a cautionary note, this may be more appropriate (and safer) at an outdoor venue.

3. Flash mob. Many brides and grooms are now opting to hire a choreographer to teach them a special dance for their entrance, which they use to delight guests at their wedding. If you want to take it up a notch, consider getting the wedding party and the wait staff in on a flash mob to take place at some point during the reception. When the music starts, everyone in on the mob will make a beeline for the parquet to participate, only to disperse at the end. Your guests won’t know quite what happened, but they’re sure to be amazed by your mad skills on the dance floor.

4. Caricaturist. If you want to give each guest a truly incredible and personal wedding favor, consider hiring a caricaturist (or several if your guest list is large) to create fun, unique portraits of every person present. It’s a totally one-of-a-kind way to entertain your closets friends and relatives and ensure that they never forget your wedding.

5. Occult entertainers. If you’re interested in hiring a wedding magician but you’re worried that it won’t be enough, why not spice things up by including a palm reader, a tarot reader, and a psychic, as well? Any guests who are a little skeptical about the occult types can still be amused by the magician, while those who are more daring can have a personal reading done.