Introducing the Virtual Wedding Coach
Hello to all the Budget Savvy Brides! I am MonicaD, The Virtual Wedding Coach & Owner of Bella's YOUnique Bridal Boutique in New Castle, DE. I am so excited to be able to share with you on how to have the wedding you have always dreamed of without breaking the bank. Got a blank check or a black card? Me either!
However if you do, well just give yourself a hand, because that makes wedding planning so much easier. But if you do not, don't fret...help is on the way! If you are like our budget savvy bride Maddy, saving for years to host the biggest celebration ever! She even put the money for each category in a separate envelope, just so she would stay on point with her budget. She would spend No more No less!
Maddy definitely has a handle on her finances and she is one who loves excellence, quality and elegance, but for this big event, she didn't anticipate how expensive a wedding could be. She is passionate about being frugal; and loves the hunt for her desired treasure. Maybe you can identify with her frugality, and that is great! Doesn't mean that you are cheap or broke, it just means you have a BIG vision, and your bank account may not be padded enough to support that vision.
Maddy had a notion that the bigger the wedding, the happier she and her fiancee would be. That is not necessarily the case, although the fancy venue, with multiple food choices is always great, but not at the expense of your peace of mind. We will show you how to achieve the desired look at the ideal cost. Just takes a little creativity and few good friends.
Excellence and elegance does not always have to come at a price that will break the budget, Yes I said it BUDGET! "The "B" word is not Always a Bad Word (Available on Amazon.com) I will be taking excerpts from time to time from this little pre-planning guide that I penned last year. What is being savvy mean? Simply put, having practical knowledge; the ability to make good judgments, sharpness, and common sense. Debt does not have to enter into the equation when planning your wedding.
However, as I like to point out, if you have adequate funds to support your wedding plan, and splurge here and there on some extra trinkets! I say go for it! Nothing like a grand celebration without the financial stress. But that is not always the case, and you don't have to feel less than or slighted if you are not able to put on that grand affair. Be true to who you are! As for me, that would be Frugal and Fun!
I would like to leave you with a few tips today to get you started if you have recently become engaged.
#1 Determine your wedding style
You have to sit down and have a serious conversation about your wedding style as a couple. One person might like a full formal affair, and the other would be satisfied with a few guests at a small fire hall. How do you blend the two styles together? Well that's why we are here. Perhaps compromise on location and scale up a notch and do a few DIY projects will bring peace to each party. There are ways to achieve the look without the price. I would also like to add, never compare your wedding to what your friends had or a relative might have had. I can't say this enough, be true to who you are! You are the greatest carbon copy of you. Embrace your uniqueness!
#2 Discuss the Budget
I don't know how many times in my own life, I have made large purchases and didn't count the cost. Write it down, everything that you might like to include at your wedding. Do some research regarding cost, but be realistic. I worked as a member services representative at a financial institution, and there was a member who wanted to borrow in excess of $15,000 for their wedding. Are you serious? It's not likely that they could support the loan note, if they did not have ample savings for the wedding. Determine who will pay for what (we will cover budgeting in greater detail later) like parents, or a family member of if you will fund the event yourselves. Before moving forward with plans, go to a restaurant or a park (talking money over food is always better), and have a heart to heart talk about how much you are willing to spend on your wedding. Always keep in mind the objective...which is to come together as husband and wife and celebrate the love of your life with family and friends!
#3 Discuss possible venue options
Once you have determined your wedding style, then take a look at venue options. The growing trend for logistical reasons are to have the ceremony and the reception in the same place. If that is you, then look at the location, the decor, colors, furnishings, etc. If you like a more laid back setting, perhaps you won't need to reserve the venue that is filled with chandeliers and Victorian furniture. Perhaps a hotel, or event facility that caters to a more corporate setting, that way you can make it your own. Also, once you make that decision, come up with your ideal date and contact them immediately to see if that date is available. If you do have a special date, that you would like to have your wedding on, time is of the essence!
On next week, we will discuss the option of hiring a wedding planner/coordinator. You might be surprised at what I have to say!
Check us out every Tuesday on our YouTube Channel, @TheVirtualWedding Coach.com Follow me on Instagram @savvy.monicad. Follow Bella's YOUnique Bridal Boutique on Facebook @bella's YOUnique bridal. There will be new blog posts every Friday, beginning June 16th. For questions or comments send an email to monica@thevirtualweddingcoach.com
Until next week, Happy Planning!