Weddings in India have always been a flamboyant affair and its saddening that most of the parents spend their hard earned savings for their daughter’s wedding. Hence, it becomes imperative that we as girls take the responsibility of planning our wedding in a manner that our parents feel elated and at the same time everything is planned in a budgeted manner.
I have always been a very flamboyant person and wanted a dream wedding but was very cost conscious, being elder of two sisters I had my own responsibilities and hence I planned everything in my wedding along with my parents and other family members and got the best of everything in budget. Here I would like to share some tips from my wedding preparation that would help you plan your dream wedding in the most cost effective manner.
Sharing some pics from my wedding to give you a slight idea of how different functions looked like:
My sangeet and sagai:
While planning for wedding, you will be shocked to know how much of a simple flower arrangement costs.
So, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can plan things sensibly and effectively;
1. Do not choose the most ‘auspicious’ date
In our culture deciding a wedding date is a tedious task and the pandits will give you a list of dates to choose from. In this process, make sure that you don’t end up choosing the most auspicious date because everything right from wedding venue to décor goes up a lot on these dates, so consider choosing a date which is auspicious yet won’t cost you much.
2. Make a draft of your financial situation and calculate the expected expenses
To plan a perfect wedding and to rule out any financial burden, it is imperative that we ask our parents to openly share their financial situation with us , also add your financial situation and then chalk out the expected areas of expenses. It is the most satisfying feeling to be a financial support for your parents but also keep a separate fund for post-wedding expenses.
The next step is to draft all the expected expenses and also mention expected costs simultaneously to bring them in tune with your finances. Make sure to be very practical with the amount you are ready to spend on all the expenses, be it wedding venue, jewellery, wedding dresses, gifts or decoration.
3. Deciding over Venue
This is the most important thing in planning for a wedding because it all narrows down to how smoothly things go on the wedding day. Hence, if you are not planning for a destination wedding then it is sensible to choose a venue closer to your house, since it will help you in saving a lot in hiring rental buses or cars, moreover it will be convenient for your family to manage everything easily.
One particular trend that is very visible in weddings is…choosing a wedding garden as the venue. Considering our super long guest list we inevitably settle down for a garden, however have you ever considered the extra burden the garden marriages put on your pocket. Right from the cost of garden to decoration to catering to generator… every cost is segregated and eventually you end up paying more then you planned. This was my concern when I chose my wedding venue and hence I zeroed down on a banquet wedding, despite a long guest list, I believed that a banquet wedding has following advantages:
- Flowing crowd: If the banquet is big and separated from the dining area then you need not bother much since the crowd in a wedding is always flowing so not everyone will gather at the same time.
- No Hassles in catering: Since the food is taken care of by the hotel, you don’t have to bother a bit managing with the caterer, who otherwise would keep your family bothering at the last moment for something that is falling short, also your brothers don’t have to bother for shopping for tons of milk, kgs of different vegetables and many more such things… 😉 They can be relaxed and can enjoy the family functions. Moreover, you can also taste the food before finalizing the menu.
- Exotic feel: Selecting a good banquet will definitely add to the entire feel with a very rich look and put your guests in awe.
- Minimum Decoration: Choose a hotel which is prestigious since it will definitely have a self decorated banquet. The benefit..??? you will save a lot on decoration, My only costs was on decoration of toran gate, the stage, mandap and the guests lobby.
Moreover, it is prudent to select a location in advance so that you can take advantage of your bargaining power.
Here are some pictures from my wedding venue in Jaipur @Shakun Hotel and Resorts
4. Prioritize Your Things
Make sure that everything in your wedding is planned in advance. Choose the work that is of utmost importance first and then switch to those which are of least importance. By doing this you will be able to spend your money wisely. You can consult a wedding planner who can advise you in this regard and help you in planning things effectively.
5. Use Artificial Flowers
It is always beautiful to have flower décoration but when you sit down to decide a décor with fresh flowers you will be shocked to know that it costs a hefty amount…. so in order to save your pocket and fresh flowers, it is best to go for artificial flowers. We all know that the wedding can’t be beautiful without the flowers, so choose some beautiful colors and believe me it will enhance the décor. Just make sure that artificial flowers have look of fresh flowers…!!!
6. Jewellery Shopping
This is the costliest affair for any wedding, so be sensible when doing the most prudent task. Be it gold, platinum, diamond or a combination that you choose for ornaments, just be creative and also remember to buy only those ornaments which you intend to wear and not just keep in your lockers. You can also buy some artificial stones or Kundan jewellery matching with heavy sarees and party dresses.
Other thing is that always be sure to buy ornaments which are hallmarked, weight them properly and don’t pay hefty making charges for diamond and gold jewellery.
7. Creative Invitations
I understand that you want to send Digital cards to everyone but if you are stuck with relatives who insist that the actual cards are still the best option, then believe me you can always choose a simple invitation card and yes the fun when the entire family sits together to write the addresses is a cherished experience. Just remember to choose an elegant and simple card to invite everyone. If you have a long friends and colleagues’ list then you can also create a digital invitation to invite these people and save some cards…!!!
8. Make Off-Season Purchases
We all know that shopping in peak seasons specially during Diwali always costs more and the so called ‘sale’ is an alluring attempt. So make sure to do your shopping a little before or after this time, so that you get the best deal. Be clear of what you want. I was always clear that I wanted a red gotta patti lehenga….!!! At the same time don’t spend too much money on your wedding attire because you will hardly get occasions when you can repeat the outfit and you also can’t even repeat it often…!! So, buy something that looks rich but is budget friendly.
Another excellent tip is to never ever shop from big brands….Just go there and have a look at what is trending and then head to a traditional shop, there are full chances that you will find the same stuff for lesser price. I did the same and had a great experience….!!! Have a look….!!!
Moreover, for your honeymoon clothes, purchase from online shopping portals since you will find wonderful western dresses that too at throw away prices. You can easily compare the price from different websites and also shop according to the place you are travelling to.
9. Create a sensible Guest List
Rationalizing your guest list is a sensible option to bring things in budget. But this idea does not always make sense to our parents. So, sit with them and try to reach a conclusion where instead of inviting all members of one family, you can choose to invite just some of them. By doing this you can also concentrate on people who are your utmost priority.
10. Honeymoon planning
Don’t leave this planning for the last month and make sure that you book the journey and hotel tickets well in advance. It is also a good way to bond along with your partner and get to know each other’s preferences. I prefer choosing a place which is peaceful because after all the hustle and bustle of wedding, it is best to relax in each other’s arms. I have seen couples who plan for a super hectic Europe tour which drains out all their left out energies
Keeping this in mind we chose to go to Maldives and believe me that proved out to be the best decision for us. We enjoyed thoroughly and came back rejuvenated…!!!
You can also to go to such exclusive and exotic destinations to get to know your partner better… 🙂
With all these ideas I am sure that you now have an idea as how to plan your dream wedding within a budget. So, here is wishing you and your partner a blessed wedding and all the happiness for your best times ahead….!!!
STAY HAPPY….STAY BLESSED…!!!
Kiran gaggar
Impressive tips