3 Strategies to Keep Your Dream Wedding Budget Friendly

If you are a bride-to-be who has kept up on the latest figures for the cost of a wedding, you might be feeling a bit intimidated. According to the latest data from 2016, the average wedding in America now costs $35,329. If this number is higher than your budget, there’s no need to worry. While this is an average figure, it is by no means what you have to pay. You are in control of how much you spend on your wedding, and it is totally possible to create the day of your dreams without going broke. Explore three top strategies for keeping your North Carolina dream wedding budget friendly:

Shop vendors at local wedding shows

While it is easy to save money on your wedding dress (the average cost for a wedding dress is now $1,100), it isn't always as easy to save on other parts of a wedding. However, local wedding shows make it simple to score incredible deals. From wedding photography vendors, to cake vendors, and everything in between, wedding shows provide a place to find exclusive promotions you won’t find every day. Often times, vendors will provide special coupons or major discounts if you book within a few days of the event. This can translate to thousands of dollars in savings, especially if you reserve services with multiple vendors. Plus, wedding shows are a wonderful place to fully experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of what local companies have to offer.

Find creative sources of money

When it comes to planning your wedding, it’s important to consider the different financial options, as every dollar counts. Even small savings and deals can help out a lot in the long run. That's why this is the time to find creative ways to make money to put toward your wedding expenses. Have gift cards that could be used toward items for the big day? Now is the time to put them to use. Have reward points on one (or more) of your credit cards? Using reward credit cards to your advantage can make a dent in the total amount you spend. Also, feel free to sell used items at local consignment stores, resale stores, or online to earn extra cash to help fund your dream wedding.

Buy used wherever possible

Although you will have many items that should be purchased new, there are some items that can be purchased used. If you are flexible on various elements of your wedding, you can get expensive decorative items for much lower than what is offered in any store. Many brides sell their used centerpieces, tables, linens, candles, and more at unbelievably low costs. You can often find these deals on social media sites, online auction sites, or on sites that allow brides to place these items for sale. You might be surprised at the high quality of the items you can find!

Planning a dream wedding doesn’t have to cost a fortune. By shopping deals at local wedding shows, using reward credit cards to your advantage, and buying used decorative items, you can get exactly what you want while saving thousands.

Written by Chrissy Green