Hello World! Welcome Friends! One of the most stressful (and costly) parts of planning a wedding is finding the perfect venue. Depending on how many guests you plan on inviting and the type of venue you’re most interested in, you could be looking at several thousand dollars. If sticking to a budget is something you’re really adamant about, perhaps, hosting the wedding at your home (or the home of someone you know) is a better option.
What could be more intimate than having your closest friends and family gather in your home to watch you and the love of your life exchange vows and commit yourselves to each other for a lifetime? As you start thinking about just how romantic and enchanting a home wedding might be, here are some budget-friendly tips to keep in mind:
Go Digital
From sending out wedding invitations to creating a wedding registry, digital is the best option if you’re looking to save money. It’s a lot more affordable than paying for customized invitations which can cost several hundred dollars to print and mail. Digital invitations can also be managed in real-time so you can keep an accurate account of who will be in attendance and who won’t. There’s also the added advantage of the time you’ll save by creating a registry online instead of hopping from one store to the next.
Keep the Guest List Small
The added bonus to having a wedding in your home is that you have a reasonable excuse for keeping the guest list to a minimum. Due to spacing, chances are you can’t invite as many people to your house as you would a reception hall. So, as you decide who you’d like to be gathered around you on your special day, try to choose those who mean the most to you. There’s always the option to record your wedding and either live stream or upload it later for those you didn’t invite.
Personalized Wedding Favors
DIY Wedding Decor
If you really want to shave the costs of your home wedding down, creativity can take you a long way. There are lots of blogs that give you tips about diy wedding decorations, how-to guides, and online tutorials you can follow along with to make them look as if they were done by a professional.
Cook Your Own Reception Dinner
Hiring a caterer can be pretty costly depending on the type of cuisine you’re most interested in eating. A great way to make your home wedding more intimate and affordable would be to prepare your own dinner. While this might not be a task the bride and groom want to take on themselves, you have a ton of family members who would love the opportunity to pitch in. Maybe there are some favorite dishes that your mother or grandmother makes that you’d love to have at your wedding. You can ask them to make enough portions for all of your guests and have a nice home cooked meal with your family and friends on your wedding day. If you have a relative who’s great with baking, you may even want to consider asking them to make the wedding cake, or at the very least, a few wedding desserts so you can save some money.
Be Your Own DJ & Photographer
Two more expensive costs associated with weddings are entertainment and photography. Instead of hiring a DJ or wedding band and a wedding photographer or videographer, you can do these things on your own. You and your fiance can download a playlist of your favorite songs and have them playing during the ceremony and reception using a smartphone and some Bluetooth speakers. If you want an experience a bit closer to that of a professional DJ, you could even purchase your own DJ equipment, as this may still be cheaper than hiring a DJ. As for photos and video, there are smartphones and cameras with capabilities that make them look just as good as the professionals. All you need are a few volunteers to take photos and videos throughout your big day. Some couples even use drones and go pro cameras to get better views and behind-the-scenes shots.
The great thing about having a wedding at home is that you’re free to do as you please. The venue is free, you can keep the guest list small, and there’s no pressure to go all out and hire a caterer, florist, DJ, or photographer. The intimacy and comfortability the home environment brings make it easier for you to stick to your budget while still planning a wedding that is near and dear to your heart.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
The Pros & Cons of Fully Furnished Homes
Tips for Vacationing With an Aging Parent
Making Improvements to Your Property Investment
Making the Neighborhood Welcome Gift Basket
Improve your Home’s Energy Use
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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