4 Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding

Don't go broke before starting your life together! Here are some tips from a wedding industry insider to keeping down the costs of your big day.

There's a lot of discussion as to how much to pay for wedding services. One can get dizzy trying to decide which pricing suites them. Being that I am a wedding vendor and have been a bride myself, I thought I'd share some personal insight.

Today's culture is more about buying something because it's a cheap and immediate thrill rather than buying a well-made, beautiful item that will last forever. This mentality carries over to brides and grooms choosing their wedding vendors. Budgeting is an important aspect of wedding planning. However, focusing only on the dollar amount and not thinking of quality is never the way to go.

Click here for Bundle's top 15 bridal shops near you

I firmly believe you get what you pay for. However, I'm also a frugalista. I wait for sales, shop at consignment stores, and will take advantage of Living Social and Groupon.

Although coupons are great, here's something to think about: an authentic Chanel blouse may be $100 at a consignment store but it will last forever, never go out-of-style, and will make you feel special each time you wear it. A handful of pieces from Wal-Mart will cost the same and will usually fall apart within a year (if that)! That's not to say that I don't buy clothes from Target, but for important events or priceless occasions, I value quality.

DATA: Click to see how your neighbors are spending their money at Wal-Mart

While planning my own wedding I was neither a luxury bride nor a budget bride. I was a bride who wanted to feel gorgeous and enjoy my wedding. Now, twelve years later, I can still open my album and think, "I looked great, my pictures are gorgeous, and everything was flawless." I can also reflect on my wedding with joy. Tips for bridesmaids to save money.

Because I hired professionals, there weren't last-minute surprises like the florist swapping out cheaper flowers than the ones chosen or a different band showing up than the one that had been seen prior to booking. Yes, these things happen with the less professional vendors.

Here are four ways you can cut costs on your wedding:

1. Skip the Preview. Instead of booking lower-cost hair and makeup artists and paying them for a preview and wedding day services, book a higher priced artist on the wedding day only. Forget the preview appointment. As long as you have a magazine picture or a photo of the look you want, professionals can easily deliver. You'll end up with higher quality for the same price. Click here for the top 15 hair salons near you.

2. Dermatology at Home. Don't get microdermabrasion or facials in preparation for your big day. Do it yourself by using a washcloth and granular cleaner to exfoliate every day (twice per day if you have thick or oily skin). First cleanse the skin. Second, apply granular cleaner to the entire face like a masque. Grab some apricot scrub, which is cheap and available at grocery stores, and wet a washcloth, moving it in circular motions all over the face. After washing your face again, spray with an equalizing and gentle toner and apply moisturizer. The top 15 skincare and waxing services near you.

• Click here for the Bundle algorithm's choice for top cosmetics dealers near you

3. A Wedding Dress for Success. Many of the expensive bridal designers are starting to offer more cost-effective gowns as well. The material of the gowns are not as top-notch or as detailed, but you'll benefit from the designer's superb taste and fabulous skills. Also research having your gown custom-designed. Many times it will cost the same as a mass-marketed gown and will be designed for your specific body type and measurements. A custom-design made of an easily attained fabric may cost less than a generic gown made of an imported, rare, or hard to get material and will usually look a lot better on you because it's made specifically for you! Wedding dress economics.

• 10 Crazy-Expensive Wedding Dress Stores

4. Two-for-One Photography. Research photographers who offer both photography and videography. Because you are booking the same person, said vendors may offer you a "bundle price" or a discount. Again, don't sacrifice quality for price. Many of the cheaper photographers/videographers may be lower-priced on the front-end, but end up charging you for edits, proofs, quality albums, etc. Make sure you have all the details so that you can compare apples to apples. Sometimes, the cheaper vendors end up costing the same if not more than the higher end vendors. The same applies for all of your wedding vendors. Here are the top 15 photography studios in your city.

Cake topper photo courtesy of the editor
Dresses image courtesy of wonderlane 

Written by Galtime.com for YourTango

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