Stellar J Productions has a knack for making champagne dreams happen on a beer budget. Here are some tips from the Stellar J team on how to avoid being wedding poor. Take a look and see what techniques might apply to the planning of your special day – curbing unnecessary costs will help you to maximize on your wedding investment!
- House wine is fine. Guests love free booze, plain and simple. There’s no need to stress over brands or harvests or the age of the vines and the climate they’ve grown up in – because there’s a very good chance that most of your guests won’t know the difference between a $10 bottle of Barefoot Merlot and a $100 bottle of Mendoza Malbec. If you love wine and you want to splurge, go for it – but consider channeling those expenditures toward a special bottle for your parents or bridal party, and order whatever is available in house for the rest of your party attendees.
- Consider all-in-ones. Many linen companies also provide furniture rentals. A lot of caterers offer table settings. Limos can manage transportation for bachelor/bachelorette parties as well as wedding day festivities. Bridal shower venues can double as locations for rehearsal dinners. HOTELS DO IT ALL! You get the picture. Combine services whenever possible to simplify the planning process and avoid paying extra on service and delivery fees.
- Give yourself time to shop around. The sooner you start thinking about wedding day details, the longer you have to capitalize on killer deals on things like décor, cards, gifts, hotels, beauty services – even undergarments! Make a list of everything you’ll need. Then begin adding bridal shows, trunk shows, open houses, department store sales and the like to your personal calendar. Plan time on the weekends to visit area malls, thrift stores and swap meets. Identify the holidays that match your color scheme and hit craft warehouses and supermarkets as soon as that holiday has ended, for an extra 25-75% off! You can even sign up to receive special offers via email from companies like Groupon and Living Social.
- Condense the bridal party. More people means more flowers, more thank-you cards and gifts, more hair/make-up appointments, more rehearsal dinner plates, more drinks, and let’s be real, more drama. Pick a few people who are very close to you and find roles for the then identify a few roles for the close friends and family who didn’t make the cut; you might be surprised by how happy they will be to do a scripture reading or share a toast!
- Attend free dance lessons. San Diegans can visit In Cahoots, a country line dance bar, pretty much any day of the week for a free line dance lesson and a “couples” dance lesson. You’ll learn staples like the Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Cotton Eyed Joe and Cupid Shuffle, as well as first dance favorites like the Two-Step and the Waltz. If money is tight and you want to look polished and poised during your first dance, you should definitely try the free stuff before you opt for the "for-a-fee" stuff.
- Hire a planner. A planner can assist with the vendor negotiation process and can review contracts to ensure all possible perks have been plugged in. They may be able to negotiate chargers into the table set-up, or audio to the ceremony plan – sometimes they can arrange to have leftover alcohol delivered to your bridal suite. These folks know the industry and WANT to help you make the most out of your special day so don’t be afraid to take advantage of their connections and special talents.
Jessica Geiszler, the J in Stellar J Productions, has been working in the events industry for the past 15 years. With experience spanning the public, private and non-profit industries, she has effectively planned everything from small parties to million-dollar fundraising campaigns. Connect with Stellar J Productions on Facebook, Twitter, WeddingWire, Google+ and Pinterest to stay on top of the latest wedding and event trends
