How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget Using Online Tools
I wouldn’t want to relive high school again if you paid me, but I would bungee jump at the opportunity to relive my wedding planning again. The advent and advances in online wedding planning and shopping has put brides up to their elbows in wedding cake options, dress designs, and invitation possibilities. You might not think that beautiful and memorable weddings can be planned with coupons, bargains, and discounts, but think again my brides-to-be.
As a contributing writer and researcher for several different wedding event planners I have seen the open range of wedding planning bliss that awaits online. And the best part is, there are bargains to be had around every virtual corner if you just know where to peek.
Planning the Wedding
I am not one to hire something done if I can do it for myself. The free wedding planner available through Wedding Wire is a great tool for brides who want to be the captain of their own wedding ship. Only this ship won’t be sinking – with a little planning it will be clear sailing.
Sharing experience
Sharing is supposed to make things twice as sweet, so check out this site at BrideShare that connects soon-to-be brides and just married gals in a forum to share, swap, or sell wedding related items. Those candelabras aren’t going to store very easily in your first apartment, so why not sell them for some needed newlywed cash?
Saving
The name of this site says it all: The Broke-Ass Bride, Bad-Ass Inspiration on a Broke-Ass Budget. You’ll find great bargain prices on everything from wedding dresses to cakes to photography. You can scope out the type of wedding you are dreaming about and then connect with services that might offer some great prices and allow for your dream day without a nightmare bill.
Other Tips for Saving on Wedding Planning
- Shop in person for dresses to get an idea of style and size, then go online and comparison shop.
- Go online and search for local community colleges and universities that offer Art majors. Contact the professors to see if there are any budding photographers among the students and ask to see their portfolios.
- Design and print your own invitations. You can order paper from places like Paper Direct (they will even usually send samples upon request), then utilize invitation software or even basic Word programs to design your invite. Print from home, email files to printing service companies, or take a flash drive to your local FedEx office for professional printing.
- Check out Kayak for bargain pricing on your honeymoon. Just be prepared to adjust times and days of travel for the best deals.
- Grocery stores are even getting into the game by offering bakery services in their websites. You might want to go in and taste a sample of the actual product, but comparison shopping is so much easier by just clicking through the various marble cake designs online than travelling to each bakery in town (although it doesn’t smell as good).
What you need to be aware of when you plan a wedding online
Beware of ordering from private parties and unknowns. I’m all for saving a few dollars in wedding planning, but these are important investments and the last thing you need is a truckload of turtles showing up the day before the wedding when you thought you were going to have a man in a tuxedo releasing 2 turtle doves.
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