Adorable and Affordable Weddings
by jennifer strange
The first promise every bride and groom should make to one another—after saying “yes” to the engagement—is to not go broke for the sake of a wedding. “Debt is no way to start a marriage. Do not have a wedding that you cannot afford—period,” Leith Gaines, owner of I Do Events in Hood River, counsels. “This is a celebration of love and it can come in any form that works for the bride and groom or families involved.”
There are scores of simple, tasteful and perfectly acceptable ways to create a beautiful wedding that the couple and their guests will remember forever.
Budgeting
Talk candidly about the other “m” word: money. Open the bank accounts, and have transparent conversations with parents and other sources of financial support. It’s important that you have a final number on paper—and a firm promise not to break it—before the planning starts.
Your budget needs to cover all costs associated with your wedding, so produce a thorough checklist that allows you to assign dollar amounts to each item.
Shaving Costs
Immediate savings come from shortening the guest list, which cuts stationery, catering, rental, favors, flowers and other significant expenses. Also consider a limited bridal party. Have just a maid of honor and a best man if that makes the numbers work.
Contemplate an off-season event. High season in the Columbia Gorge is July through September. Shoulder months are May and November. December through April deliver the most bang for your buck, especially for venue rentals and catering.
Delegate events and details to others or delete them altogether. Could friends organize the bachelor or bachelorette parties? Is there a professional photographer in your circle who would do the job for cost?
“The tiny details will eat up your budget,” Lucy Gorman, owner of Lucy’s Informal Flowers, warns. She is also a partner in Mari Bliss and Gorge Events, all in Hood River. “Think big picture and choose your key pieces. If it is the music, put more money there. If it’s flowers, the cake, the location, allocate funds there. Establish how much you are willing to pay for that most important piece and go from there.”
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