Weddings are one of the major life events that you’ll remember most. Understandably, the wed-to-be couples want the perfect wedding day, from the bouquet of flowers that line the church aisles to the food served at the reception. But in this quest to plan the perfect wedding, people tend to stretch their budget too thin. As a result, this one-day event can have a resounding long-term impact on the couple’s finances. Start your new life as husband and wife by planning a beautiful yet frugal wedding.

Create a Wedding Budget

Everyone planning to contribute to the cost of the wedding, i.e. groom, bride, parents, should meet to discuss what is in their financial means. Though weddings can be costly, this event should not put anyone in debt Having an honest discussion upfront on what is and what is not possible is crucial. Establishing a budget right away helps to manage expectations as to what choices you have in terms of decorations, number of guests, venue, and other wedding details. It won’t make sense to get all excited about possibly renting a luxury resort in Cabo for you and your guests only to find out that you don’t have the budget for it.

Break Down Your Expenses

Once you have a budget, it’s time to divide it into appropriate cost categories. Depending on your budget’s size, you may have to limit your expenses to essential cost categories, i.e. venue, food, and outfits. For instance, if your budget is $3,000 or less, you can skip costs on a venue by hosting the event in your parent’s home’s backyard or a friend’s summer beach house. If you have a more sizeable budget, however, you can add flowers and decorations, the services of a wedding planner and photographer, deserts, and even entertainment.

Rent as Much as Possible

Renting makes more practical sense when it comes to one-off events, like weddings. You need to buy an entire photo booth, decorative plants and flowers, and silverware only to use them once and never again. There are many companies that specialize in shared wedding supplies or offer discounts or rent supplies. For example, Big Dawg Party Rentals, which specializes in NYC party rentals, can rent out quality supplies at affordable rates and with a variety of sizes, colors, and styles to suit different wedding themes. Some items that may be worth renting instead of buying include tables, pop-up tents, plates and utensils, kitchen appliances, and furniture pieces.

Keep Your Guest List Small

Obviously, the more guests you invite, the higher the costs of your wedding. It results in more plates of food to serve, more furniture pieces to rent, and a bigger venue to secure in order to satisfy building safety codes. Keep your guest list short and only your closest circle of people, including parents, siblings, cousins, and best friends.

Pick a Close Wedding Location

Destination weddings do sound like a proper way to celebrate this joyous occasion, but it’s also an expensive affair. Wherever you are, there is sure to be a wedding venue that’s a few minutes drive away, whether it’s city hall or a state national park. Destination weddings aren’t just expensive for you and your guests; it’s also environmentally irresponsible due to the higher transit requirements involved, especially if you have a fairly large guest list.

Consider Seasonal Availability of Products

In springtime, for instance, flowers like roses, tulips, lilacs, and daisies are in greater supply and thus are more affordable. In wintertime, gingers, gardenia, dahlias, and anthuriums are the seasonal picks. This also applies to other ingredients and supplies you may be planning to incorporate into your wedding, either as decor or a part of the menu.

Plan and Prep Early

The more time you have to plan and prepare for the event, the more time you have to look for more affordable alternatives and negotiate with vendors. If you set a wedding date that’s six months or less from now, it leaves you with less wiggle room when trying to haggle with your caterer or band, and the other party often knows this and thus is more likely to remain rigid with their price estimates. It also gives you the option to purchase supplies during off-peak months when prices for the product may be lower.

Planning a beautiful wedding doesn’t have to come at a high expense. Follow the aforementioned tips to help you plan for your envisioned wedding without going overboard with costs.