Starting out in life is full of firsts and exciting new experiences. Moving out of your parents’ home into your own place, whether it is a dorm room, apartment, shared housing etc. it is all new and exciting. Most young people do not start out with everything they need to make a home, so lots of expenses can start to add up, especially if you are planning on getting married during those formidable years. Finding ways to make ends meet while still planning the once in a lifetime event can be challenging.
Getting married can get pretty expensive if you want it to! It can be thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. It all depends on the budget you are working with. The wedding dress alone can be over $1000 CAD. Finding ways to keep costs low, it key so that you aren’t paying for your wedding years down the road!
Keeping costs down when you are young and getting married:
Traditionally the bride’s parents are to pay for the wedding, however that is not always the case, and so we have come up with some fun ideas for that special day that won’t break the bank!
Picnic in the Park:
You can reserve covered picnic areas in local parks and enjoy a fun afternoon being wed in nature. Keep in mind that weather could spoil your plans, be sure to have a back up plan! You can have a local restaurant or grocery store create easy picnic foods that won’t be as costly as one might imagine. Have your guests watch from the covered picnic area as you walk to your groom to be wedded in marital bliss.
Host it at your Favorite Restaurant:
Lots of restaurants have private dining areas; depending on the size of your group you can generally get the space for free! These restaurants will usually require a minimum tab spent during the time on food and drinks to cover their costs. A likely minimum tab could be $1000-$1200 CAD and if you order appetizers for your guests to enjoy and provide soda, water, tea and anything other than those beverages could be paid for by the guests.
Courthouse Wedding:
You can always get married at the local courthouse and then just invite friends and family to join you for dinner or drinks at a local restaurant or bar if you prefer. At the end of the day, you are still married weather you pay tens of thousands of dollars or a few bucks at the courthouse. The cost to be married at the courthouse varies from $20 – $120 CAD, depending on where you are looking to tie the knot.
Destination Wedding:
Destination weddings do not always cost an arm and a leg. As long you are only paying for you and your groom to travel and stay, versus paying for family and friends. It can be a fun and economical way to exchange your vows. Most resorts have several wedding packages so you can choose to spend a little or a lot.
Backyard B-B-Q Wedding:
If you and your future spouse have already bought a home, or have a friend or family member with a large yard, have a B-B-Q Wedding Ceremony! Ask each guest to instead of buying a present for the ceremony, to simply bring a side dish to share with a recipe card to give to the new couple.
Should You Opt for the Lavish Wedding or Not?
Financially speaking it is best to start out your marriage within your means and not having a large wedding bill to pay for is a great start. Getting married is a reason to celebrate for sure, but going into debt to have a lavish party should be avoided. With plenty of budget friendly ways to bring your friends and family together as you tie the knot it’s no wonder there are thousands of ideas of how to get married and not over spend. Remember at the end of the day you still get to marry the love of your life and really that should be all that matters.
I’ve been thinking about just doing a courthouse wedding myself and putting the money I save into buying a house. It sounds more practical than a lavish wedding to me