RAD's Golden Rules

It doesn’t have to be a million dollars – planning a wedding for a fraction of the price.

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We are in a cost of living crisis and today is was announced in New Zealand we are officially in a recession. During the pandemic we had couples shifting dates around once, sometimes three times so you’re forgiven for asking yourself “Why can’t 2024 be an easier year to get married in?!”.

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It’s no secret that while some weddings are going ahead BAU, other couples are cutting costs to ensure their day can go ahead without a negative financial impact on their day to day life.

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If you want to save money when marrying your one true love here are my golden rules:

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- List all of the vendors you are going to need and then choose which ones are the most important to you when it comes to investment. A celebrant is a must have and you need a venue and a photographer. You will need to hire what the venue doesn’t have, and you need to feed your guests. Quantity of alcohol is wedding dependent, the number of florals you want is very much personal preference and so is your choice of entertainment. Spending an hour together discussing what you value as a couple and what you want your day to look like before engaging with any vendors, will make the world of difference when it comes to budgeting and planning!

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- Allow for a longer lead time put aside money each week. It is not uncommon for couples to open a savings account and transfer across $X each week into their ‘wedding’ account. This allows you to ‘work backwards’ when budgeting. For example: you have 106 weeks until your dream date and you can afford to put $220 aside a week so your budget is $23,320.

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- Venue selection is critical! When looking at venue quotes don’t compare cost for cost, compare cost for inclusions, across all quotes. A venue that provides you with chairs, tables, a speaker + mic, toilets… is already going to save you hundreds of dollars on hire.

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- DO NOT take out a loan for your wedding. Honestly, don’t. You will regret it later. I think of wedding planning budgets as a debit card not a credit card situation. Only commit to what you can afford at the time the payment is due. Space out vendor payments (pay some in advance and some closer to the wedding – communicate with them they generally won’t mind!), decrease where possible (you don’t need dessert and a cake if your meal is filling) and every person is an extra cost (have you met your second cousin’s new boyfriend she has been dating for a month? No. Then sorry, he’s not coming).

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- Nobody will know if your dress is second hand… seriously. The other Bride wore it for one day and it probably cost her $3,000.

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Enjoy the wedding planning process and I hope these tips help keep the financial stress at bay.

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If you're finding it challenging to manage expenses, consider seeking guidance from a wedding planner over a one-hour consultation. Our ability to connect you with vendors efficiently can save both time and money. With a clear understanding of your vision for the day, we hold valuable insights into local vendors and their pricing structures.

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