Time VS. Money
Oh, I know how it goes. You’re on a budget – a strict budget. And finding vendors, especially the triumvirate – your venue, catering and photographer - can be frustrating. You can spend a lot of weekends searching and meeting and pricing and at some point, you may think to yourself: screw it, I’m just going to go with this place/vendor because I just don’t want to look any more. Even though it’s thousands of dollars over our budget, we’ll make it work. Somehow.
Wow, think how pretty this centerpiece would be at half the size!
NO. Giving up is not an option, you just have to think about it differently. Seriously, even if it doesn’t feel like you have time, you actually do, so let time take the place of money. One more hour-long online research session or $1,000? One more weekend or $5,000? I think we all known the right answers. But don’t set yourself up, either. The wedding site that starts at $100 per person is not going to chop their rates in half for you. Stay away from couture gowns unless you’re willing to go pre-owned. Steak and lobster are expensive if you’re not having your wedding in Mexico. If you have to save money, stay away from these options. It’s the same reason I avoid the shoe section in Macys – the heart covets what the eye sees. Take a deep breath, take a break, scream out loud and stomp your feet if you have to, then ask around and use the resources you have to find the resources you need. It’s not true that what you’re looking for isn’t possible or available, you just haven’t found it, yet. And the last vendor you met with is not the last choice that you have.
Turn away from the light! Specifically, lights like this one, they're expensive.
In a way, it’s a lot like dieting. The Wedding Stuff is gorgeous, you KNOW it’s going to taste great, but it’s not going to help you reach your goal. As a matter fact, it’s going to send you careening in the opposite direction. I’m not the girl telling you that it’s always going to be easy. But as Dumbledore would say, wedding planning can often be a choice between what is easy, and what is right. Or in this case, right for you and your bank account. And you are going to feel like such a rock star at the end of the day, guaranteed.
Letting time take the place of money should extend past your Big Three picks, too. I’m not just talking about DIY, I’m talking about sitting down with your other vendors, actual and potential, and figuring out how to cut costs. You can get invite kits at Target or Michael’s, or you can ask about cheaper options in an email to online vendors or ask at the stationery store. Just because it’s not in front of the store on the home page, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Go for the massive centerpieces, or ask how you can get comparable pretty for a lower price? One hour of your life (plus travel, maybe) vs $500 (plus postage!). Again, you know the answer to that one, too. Less flowers, more candles? Printing instead of calligraphy? Make your own favors or do away with them all together? What can you pick up and deliver yourself? And since it’s your money, or even your family’s money, don’t worry about what other people think.
Take the time and save the money! So, how have you let time take the place of money? Or do you have any questions about how to go about doing that with your wedding?
This Week’s Wedding Deals:
Courtesy of Etsy.com
Oooh, Etsy. I should stay away from that site just like I stay away from that site, but every week they get more and more of my money. This week, they’re rocking the birdcage veils, starting for as little at $20, like this one. You’re welcome!
Wedding Chicks and Green Bride Guide are teaming up to give one lucky reader a $300 shopping spree. Green Bride Guide is one of the most comprehensive and credible resource for eco-friendly wedding ideas, products and services. Just go their online store, pick out a few of your favorite items, and leave a comment about them on this post on Wedding Chicks. The winner will be picked next Thursday, September 9th.
And if that’s not enough, Green Bride Guide also has a coupon code that’s good for $10 off any purchase of $50 or more. Just Type in “10OFF50″ at checkout.
For real, for serious, you need to sign up for the Broke-Ass Brigade newsletter. It’s finally about to launch and it promises to be jam packed with hella awesome deals, squeals, and steals… and its going to be the exclusive way to get them. So sign up, why dontcha?
See you at the end of the aisle, and enjoy the long weekend,
Plus, I'm a big bargain hunter myself – I can't tell you the last time I bought anything full price – so I just turn it into a game. How many more levels do I have to go down to find a cheaper price? This is also a good way to procrastinate at work.
I also think a wedding planner can SAVE you money. It sounds almost counter-intuitive, but planners really know how to help with splurge areas and save areas…and they have existing relationships with vendors that they can leverage to get better discounts.
Loved your article. It if full of great tips and advice that many of us need to take to heart. I also love etsy. It is so hard not to spend money there.
@Claire – thank you! Yeah, etsy is amazing and addictive. And unfortunately, I subscribe to like, THREE of their newsletters, selling stuff that I must buy. @PreOwnedWedding – that's certainly what I try and do as a planner!
i think we have to think outside the traditional 'wedding' vision to find great bargains. i have thought outside the box for our wedding & found awesome cheaper alternatives. for example, i do not like the way a traditional wedding looks, nor the standard function rooms. so we have hired an art gallery exhibition space and will bring in our own caterers. it will be unique and because the gallery space is not a wedding venue, it's totally cheap!!!
Yes, do not give up! these things are far too important to go with something that's just "ok" especially as you'll be kicking yourself (hard) if the perfect solution pops up just a few weeks later.
PS Gorgeous veil
I posted about this earlier on my own blog. Your article has actually given me some food for thought, I really feel you will have made many very intriguing points. I want I’d found it earlier, previous to writing my own post.