Wedding Planning on a budget!

So it has been a couple of days since my last post, as things are quite busy throughout the week. I wanted to dedicate today's post to all of my budget savvy brides!

I have been engaged for just under a year now and we were originally going to get married on April 12, 2012, however due to some unforeseen circumstances we had to put the wedding on hold. Now that 2012 is here and things are finally settling back in, slowly but surely, it is time to pull out the wedding planner, my stack of bridal magazines and start planning again.

This time around, since we initially already put deposits down on a venue, honeymoon, wedding dress, photographer, and cake, I am a lot more conscious about how much things cost and what really isn't necessary. I feel better about keeping a budget in mind, rather than booking all of these things and then realizing that I will have to sell a kidney to be able to afford it all.

I always feel like a lot of brides get assistance, financially, from other family members, but, unfortunately, this is not the case with Sean and myself. We will pay most of the wedding ourselves with the exception of possible last minute funds that will come from mom and dad that they are able to give to us. As mentioned before, Sean and I are an average couple living off of an average salary. This brings me back to the title of this post: wedding planning on a budget!

Wedding Savvy Tips:
1. Think ahead! 
Although many great weddings happen in a short period of time, if you rush to set a date that is not too far away, chances are you will spend more money because you have to make decisions quickly and do not have time to sample different vendors.
2. Think weekday!
Many times, brides will receive an incredible discount for having a wedding Monday through Thursday and you will also be more likely to get the venue you want, if it is a popular one. Just an example, the venue we initially picked out had a $1000 price difference for the rental space and we have no food and beverage minimums, whereas the Friday - Sunday weddings had a $3500 food and beverage minimum.
3. Think destination wedding!
With a destination wedding, you can combine wedding and honeymoon into one trip. Most destination weddings are also all inclusive, so you do not need to worry about additional costs.
4. Think small!
Do you really need 3rd cousin Ruthie who you have not spoken to since you were 16 at an event that is so near and dear to your heart? Smaller weddings have a much more romantic and intimate feel and also cuts your cost on anything and everything.
5. Think breakfast!

Early morning breakfast, brunch, or lunch receptions are about 30% cheaper (if not more) per person. It is a rising trend that will be memorable for all of your guests. Also, if your wedding is earlier in the day, chances are  people will not drink as much, so there is no need to invest in an open premium liquor bar. Rather, have breakfast/brunch/lunch themed drinks, such as mimosas, bellinis, lemonade, coffee, and even bloody marys. Your guest will still have their alcohol fix but in a much more wallet-friendly way!
6. Think homemade favors!
If you like to bake, like me, fill mason jars with the dry ingredients to your favorite cake or cookie and pass these out as favors. They are useful and come from the heart, rather than spending $10+ per person on something that they will leave (on purpose or by accident) on the table at the end of the celebration.
7. Think Party, not Wedding!
What I mean by this is in reference to ordering your wedding cake. If you tell them the cake is intended for a wedding, there is an automatic price increase. Why? Because they can! If you are not into the traditional wedding cake design and like something a little more personalized, tell them you are wanting to order a cake for a party. Tell them exactly what you want and you will get it at less of a price than if you tell them its for a wedding!

These are just some of the tips I can share with you at this time. I am sure I will think of plenty more as the times goes on. We have not set a concrete date for the wedding, but are planning on doing it around the first week of October 2013, as this will be our anniversary!