Weddings have always been a momentous occasion of love, commitment and camaraderie which brings couples together to celebrate the beginning of their new lives. While it is certainly an occasion of celebration, the pricey cost associated with them often leaves couples stressed and overwhelmed. As a result it becomes paramount to set a realistic wedding budget well beforehand the big day, to make the wedding planning process as seamless as possible.
“Planning weddings can be expensive but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dream wedding,” says Pawan Gupta, CEO-CO-founder, Betterhalf.
Planning your dream wedding begins with setting priorities and understanding what truly matters to you and your partner. “Start by researching the average wedding expenses in your area or where you plan to host the wedding, which will give you a realistic idea of how much you need to budget for each aspect of the wedding, whilst avoiding the temptation to overspend and staying true to the wedding vision,” adds Gupta.
When you’re trying to cut costs, adding an additional wedding element can seem contradictory. However, when it comes to hiring wedding planners you actually stand an opportunity to save more by investing in their expertise, deep arsenal of knowledge, and connections with multiple vendors. Not only will you be saved from being exploited by wedding vendors, but will actually be able to access the right vendors at the lowest cost possible.
Highlighting the need for wedding planners Gupta believes, “Partnering with a wedding planner signifies entrusting your wedding vision to expert professionals dedicated to curating unforgettable moments tailored to your unique story.”
Irrespective of how opulent or minimalist you want your wedding to be, listing and discussing your non-negotiables, which can either be an exquisite wedding venue, food, or even the dreamiest outfit with your partner plays an invaluable role in budgeting. Once you have reached a common ground that aligns with both of your priorities, you can augment the process of categorisation, determining how much you’re willing to spend on each distinct element, enabling you to keep track of both the requirements and budget at each step.
Since Indian weddings are grand affairs, Senthil Kumar R, Associate Director, Food & Beverage Service, Clarks Exotica – Convention Resort & Spa advises, “Figure out what’s most important to you, like the venue or food, and then spend accordingly. While choosing a venue, consider your cultural traditions and rituals, along with the number of guests, food, decorations, giveaways, and other details. Additionally, it’s essential to plan and allocate funds for unexpected expenses or last-minute changes, which can be achieved via a contingency fund, providing you with the peace of mind to tackle any surprises that might come along the way.”
At the same time, couples often tend to forget that we live in a digitised world, which has transformed technology into a source dispensable for our end, even for wedding budget optimisation. For a low-cost wedding, technology can act as the key helping you save expenses at the most critical junctions. For instance, you could create a wedding website or send E-invites instead of spending money on printing invitation cards.Furthermore, you can use an array of online tools which can help track wedding spending, and leverage social media to extract some cheap DIY decor ideas.
Besides this, time flies by extremely fast, one day you’re just engaged and the next you’re walking down the aisle.
Kritika Tater, Co-founder, Kaira Weddings opines, “Within the intricacies of wedding planning, and especially a budget one, you can never leave things for the last moment. Not only will you be in a constant state of panic , but there are high chances you would have to pay double the price on such short notice. Don’t let this be the nightmare just waiting to happen, instead plan ahead of time to optimise costs and experience the wedding that lives upto your expectations.”
Setting a wedding budget is nothing in comparison to finding a needle in the haystack. Upon first glance this task may seem like a jargon of impossibilities, but with careful planning, prioritisation, and in-depth discussions with your partner, the silver lining will eventually find its way. To make this process as smooth as possible, it’s a prudent choice to consult wedding planners, and make them your budgeting partners for achieving the ultimate wedding bliss. Having said that, the important thing to always note is that the most special element of your wedding is the journey that you’re about to begin; for which you don’t need to spend a fortune to make it everlasting.