So, you’ve found yourself engaged! Congratulations! What an exciting time in your life, whether the first or third engagement; it’s always a blissful time to revel in your ideas of what your “happily ever after” will look like. If your fiance is thrifty like you, they probably did a lot of research when searching for the perfect engagement ring – from the four C’s of diamonds to whether they wanted to go lab-grown or mined for your stone.
After the dust has settled from all the engagement excitement, you’re likely to start dreaming of your ideal wedding. If the time of year you’re looking to wed during the spring, there are some effortless and affordable options to keep your wedding thrifty and beautiful. Let’s take a look at some ways to keep your event gorgeous but also within budget.
Getting Married at Home
For weddings that happen during the cooler months like fall and winter, you’ll likely have a service indoors as well as your reception. These rentals mean serious cash since most of us don’t live in homes large enough to host a wedding and reception the size we want comfortably. By having your wedding at your home, you’re not only saving on venue costs, but you’re in the same spot as your reception as well. You can budget for rental tables and chairs and possibly a backup tent if the weather goes south. But deciding to keep things close to home is ridiculously thrifty.
Flowers are in Season
One great thing about having a spring wedding is that flowers are in season. Virtually any flower, no matter which is your favorite, will be in season during the springtime – which means you’re not paying the exorbitant upcharges for importing flowers from warmer climates or flowers that require more TLC to be grown during the off-season.
If you’re a gardener yourself or you have a close friend or loved one who is, consider asking them to provide the flowers for the event or use the ones you’ve grown yourself. Not only will this add a personal touch to the event, but they’ll also be native blooms fresh off the vine, making their colors extra vibrant and beautiful.
If you know you’re going to have a more extended engagement and want a beautiful floral backdrop for your wedding, you could plan by planting seeds in the appropriate months to yield the flowers you want at your wedding, which will save you a ton in florist fees.
Cottage Chic
The Cottage Chic vibe has shown it has serious staying power, probably because it’s so easy to DIY. If you want to save a lot of money (whether for a downpayment on the house or just to stack in the bank), DIYing a Cottage Chic theme could be your answer. Most people already are fans of the look, even if they don’t choose to decorate their homes this way.
The bohemian feel fits perfectly with the spring weather, and nothing is sweeter than gauzy details for a wedding. Additionally, mason jars are affordable and can be everything from drinking vessels to vases for flowers at tables. The neutrality of the Cottage Chic theme also lets the more essential things – like the bride and groom – stand out.
Spring Break
Another reason that spring weddings are a must is many people have spring break time that allows them to attend your event. This affects the budget for things like officiants, DJs, and caterers. When you utilize your village to help execute your wedding, you want to make sure they’ll all be available when you need them, so if you have a friend who DJs as a side gig, ask them! A loved one who is also a florist? I’m sure they’d oblige. You get the idea. Of course, everyone will be available to see your nuptials, but they can at least help with the planning even if they don’t work the event – and probably show you where you can save some serious money.
Planning a wedding can be stressful, and a massive part of that stress is, you guessed it – money. So, consider the above-mentioned reasons why spring may be your best bet when you want to stay thrifty even with your wedding planning. Many things can be DIY during this season, and it’s a beautiful time of year. Congratulations! And happy planning!