Couples spend an average of almost $25,000 for their once in a lifetime wedding. This is usually over the budget they plan on spending. And by wedding, I consider just the cost of the wedding day itself. The honeymoon and wedding rings are separate expenses altogether. I’m sure you can imagine why most newlywed couples go into debt for the first couple of years after marriage. Debt problems can sure toss out the idea of your honeymoon phase lasting for too long. A wedding planner can keep you on track and find you the affordable rates you need to plan the wedding you always wanted. A wedding planner can be so resourceful, that it’s possible to spend less than you imagined it would cost.

Because of the long standing relations a Wedding Planner has with a variety of contacts, it’s easier for them to get a discount than others. This would be for the flowers, the wedding venue, the catering, the wedding decorations, lighting and sound equipment, etc. So you’ve got that Vera Wang wedding dress you’ve been thinking about since you were a girl? Why not save some cash in other aspects of your wedding. Being on a budget doesn’t always have to mean that you compromise on class. You can still have a classy, beautiful, impressive wedding on a budget.

Don’t feel guilty as the big day gets closer, to include that friend of a friend, or that colleague you kind of talk to. Adding to your guest list will mean rearranging your seating chart, adding another table and which means your catering order also goes up.

Most newly engaged couples are sending their invitations by email these days, which saves a lot of cash. Even if you feel a printed wedding invitation is necessary, you may want to think about printing them only for immediate family and friends and sending the rest by email. Also see if you can hand deliver them to family and friends nearby. If you tell your guests to RSVP by email, it will make it easier to organize which guests are coming for your wedding.

Evenings during the week or Sundays are the most unlikely days for holding a wedding. If you choose one of these days you will get a better rate than others interested in booking that venue. When you talk to your wedding planner see if you can have a per plate entrée sequence for your guests rather than an open buffet. Open buffets are more expensive than a per head catering expense. Check out your options and then consider what easily gels with your budget. Instead of an open bar, arrange with your wedding planner to have wine and beer served to your guests for limited hours during the evening.

Evaluate how many bridesmaids you have and reflect if the number of dresses is tipping your budget overboard. 2 or 3 bridesmaid will look just as nice as 5. After all, it is your big day and you shouldn’t be worrying about the expense of your bridesmaid dresses. Save yourself and your husband from dealing with uncomfortable cutbacks in your daily life for the next couple of years after marriage. Hire a wedding planner in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoy a beautiful wedding at an affordable budget.