Wedding Tip or Trick of the Week
:: Sorry, the SNL Clip of Steve Martin's "Don't Buy Stuff You Can't Afford" was removed by YouTube ::
Okay, this tip is inspired by a recent business seminar. The above video is a funny clip that proves the point (which my husband often reminds me): don't spend what you don't have.
Now this can be a tricky principle when planning your dream wedding. So here's a game plan for getting what you want without getting into debt.
1) Make a list of what's most important to you about your wedding day. Is it your dress? Your photography (hint, hint)? Take a moment to define what your wedding priorities are.
2) Make a list of what will last beyond the big day. In addition to your marriage, what will you take away with you to remember your wedding bliss? Will it be your bouquet, the centerpieces, a wedding album? Take a few moments to define this list as well.
3) Compare and contrast. Take both lists and go through each item. If wedding cake made the important list - then cross check it against the what will last list. Did it make it onto both? As you cross-list what's important and what will last, take note of the items that are on both lists. These are your wedding priorities.
4) Budget. Now figure out what you have to spend for your wedding. Calculate any money coming in from family or other friends into your budget. Assign the most money to those few things that are most valuable and work down from there. You might be surprised how affordable your wedding can be!
5) Take action. Take the money you plan to spend for your wedding and put it in a high-yield savings account or a short term CD. Earn money on your money! Maybe that interest will fund the vintage car, instead of the limo you have budgeted.
The most important part of this plan is simply that: having a plan. People are less likely to spend too much on something they don't truly care about when there's a plan. So make your wedding plan your New Year's resolution. :)
Merry Christmas! Enjoy the clip.
Labels: Wedding Tip or Trick of the Week
posted by Christine Lee Smith Photography at
9:15 AM
4 Comments:
Great tips! Prioritizing different aspects of your wedding is sooo important. My wife and I didn't really do that and now we wish we'd given more thought to:
our photographer
our seating arrangements
our favors
We still had a great time, but we could have improved things a bit.
Thanks for this, Christine. I was just visiting your blog because I was regretting not being able to afford you, and I was just bummed. So ... typical of me ... I decided to visit your site to make myself feel even worse! Heh. I'm funny that way!
But anyway, it's good to read about budgets, and I know we have to stick to what we can afford. It's only wise, eh?
Wishing you all the best in 2008! Keep up your beautiful work!
(We do have meetings with two photographers this coming weekend when I fly down ... we'll see how they go!)
Great job on the tips, it is so easy for couple to get caught up in "what's expected" and not truly consider what is most important to them and budget accordingly.
Have a prosperous new year,
Frank
All great ideas!
I ask all of my clients before I even see them what their priorities are.
And what Frank said in the comment about "what's expected" is very true. Every wedding, every couple, and every budget is unique. And you do NOT have to spend a fortune to have a great wedding!
Michael
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