When it comes to special events, few are as fun, exciting or expensive as weddings. If you're currently planning your big day, you may be quickly finding out that even the smallest expenses start adding up quickly, and this can make it seem as though you'll never get the money together for your dream wedding. Fortunately, by following a few simple tips, you can save up for your wedding quicker than you thought and still have money left over. Having browsed We Know Money for ideas, here are a few of the most effective ways to get the cash saved for your special day without having to take on a second job or an expensive loan:
Create a Plan
The first step in saving for your wedding is to make a savings plan. This means writing out a budget for all of your wedding expenses and then figuring out how much your will need to save each day, week or month in order to achieve your goals. An easy way to do this is to set benchmarks that must be met by a certain date and then marking them off as you go. Keep your plan in plain sight on a refrigerator, counter space or beside your bed so that you can't avoid looking at it daily. Having a set wedding date is also a good idea, as this can create a sense of urgency and force you to start saving now.
Make It a Family Affair
In the past, many people followed the tradition of having the bride's family pay for the wedding while the groom's family paid for the honeymoon. These days, unless your families can afford these things, you may want to go a more modern route by getting everyone involved in paying for your wedding expenses. This means both the bride and groom can enlist the help of family members to contribute to a savings fund, and the bride and groom themselves can contribute. You can also ask family members who are planning on offering a cash gift for your wedding to put that money toward your wedding savings instead.
Be Disciplined
As with any type of saving, it takes discipline to pull it off. If you're one of the many people who have trouble forcing yourself to save, you may want to speak with your bank about setting up a separate savings account for your wedding. After this is set up, your bank can then take a portion of your paycheck each time you get paid and the money can be placed in your wedding savings account. Another way of doing this is to enlist the help of a trusted family member. Make an agreement with this family member that allows you to give them a portion of your income in cash each time you get paid, and they will then hold the money for you until you need it for your wedding purchases.
Don't Limit Yourself
Another great way to increase your wedding savings is to put in extra money, even if it's not in your plan. As mentioned, your wedding savings plan should document a specific dollar amount that you will need to save each day, week or month, but this doesn't mean that you can't put in extra if you run into unexpected money. Things like bonuses from work, tax refunds or unexpected gifts should go directly into your wedding savings plan. The best part about doing this is that you can have extra money for your wedding, but you can also choose to hold onto the extra money and begin a new savings account with your spouse after you're married.
It's also important to remember that your wedding is ultimately about the special union between you and your spouse. If you aren't able to get every penny together for your wedding, remember that no matter what, the event will be one that you and your spouse will cherish forever. In fact, you'll probably be so caught up in the magic of the occasion that you won't even be thinking about what you do and do not have. Enjoy your special day and create a lifetime of happy, loving memories!
GenTM is a freelance writer and a blogger. One of her greatest dream is to become a wedding planner but found herself following her mom's footsteps and became an entrepreneur. Her personal blog is called 365 Slimming Days, where she writes about her love of beauty, fitness, and health.
