BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

You’ve set the date, shopped for dress, now what? You have been dreaming of your wedding day ever since you were a little girl, now that the time has come to start planning your wedding you might be struggling on where to start. First and foremost what is your budget? Once you have established a price range you can really focus on everything else.

 

Planner or no planner? With a budget in mind (and flexibility of the budget, of course) decide on whether it is feasible to hire a wedding planner or not. Weigh the pros and cons, and include the planner fees in the budget, can you afford it? Can you live without it? If you have the time, then the best solution would be to do what you can by yourself, research ideas on the Internet and in wedding books, ask friends who have recently been married, and ask for help. Designate your bridal party to help you put together a few decorations, or invitations, but don’t overwhelm them, remember you’re bridal party has a life outside of your wedding.

 

Many wedding venues/ catering services do the majority of the work on the big day for you. So once everything else is in place your caterer will make sure the tables and chairs are set, the linens are set, food goes out and everything goes off with out worrying the bride and groom. This option is the best of both worlds, you may splurge a little to find a place like this, but you don’t pay for the planner to take care of small details that you could have figured out yourself.

 

Some tasks can be fun for a bride and groom to accomplish together. Your capability to compromise and work together will set the stage for a happy marriage. Some of the details that your groom will be happy to help you with include; any type of taste testing, he may even help you pick champagne. He’ll also be enthusiastic about the entertainment, DJ vs. band, and make sure to allow his input on the music, a little of your music and a little of his. Compromising on even minor details are important for you and your soon to be spouse, it will allow you both to have a little piece of you’re individuality during the ceremony that joins your lives.

 

So back to the planner question, if you can afford to splurge, and lack the time to take on a huge task, than totally go for it! However if you want to save a little for your honeymoon, go with a middle ground and find a nice caterer. And low budget do it yourselfers remember you are taking on a huge responsibility, try not to stress out about it, and recruit all the help you can get, you are going to need it. In any case the most important thing is you enjoy your big day, you will remember it for the rest of your lives.

 
Boston Affordable Party Planning ExaminerChristine Metcalf