Relationships are already complex and complicated, and no two marriages are alike, so adding financial stress to the mix won’t lead to marital bliss. With careful planning, prioritizing what’s important to you and your future spouse, you can have the wedding you want and your budget too.

Choose your number one priority

Most future couples have fantastic dreams about their wedding day. Maybe it’s a huge flower wall that will be outrageously beautiful and make guests’ eyes pop. Maybe it’s an elaborate, tailored wedding dress that will turn you into a vision. Or maybe it’s a wedding aisle filled with hundreds of floating candles.

Whatever your dream is, it probably costs a lot of money to make it happen. To avoid going into debt for your special day, choose your wedding item that is most important to you, at almost any cost. Cut costs in other venues to leave extra room in your budget for your show stopper, and if you start wanting to overdo it in another area, remind yourself that this part of your wedding will be just as you dreamed of.

Skip invitations (average cost: $ 590)

Ordinary mail has been like this in the last millennium. Upgrade your wedding and reduce your budget by creating a free electronic invitation that includes all the wedding details along with an option to respond via an embedded link. You’ll be doing your wallet and the environment a favor!

Choose a non-traditional venue (average cost: $ 10,500)

A typical wedding venue can take the biggest bite out of a wedding budget. Make your wedding truly special and save on costs at the same time by choosing an out-of-the-box venue like an art gallery, your favorite luxury restaurant or even atop a lookout point. Just be sure to consider the cost of the amenities you may need to hire for your location, such as lights, curtains, cutlery and cutlery, and portable toilets.

Skip the rehearsal dinner (average cost: $ 1,900)

Yes, you can get married without the rehearsal dinner! Wouldn’t you rather skip your practice round and invest that money in something with lasting value? If you feel you need proof to make sure everything goes smoothly, ask the officiant and members of the bride and groom party to practice the ceremony only in a short test without food.

Choose a non-wedding dress or gown (average cost: $ 1,600)

Everything on your list gets more expensive when you turn to the word “wedding”. Save on one of these expenses by purchasing a dress or gown that isn’t designed exclusively for a wedding. If you’re looking for a dress, any floor-length white dress you pick up at a department store or boutique will do, and you can always add embellishments to dress it up a bit. If you are looking for something other than a tuxedo, a tweed vest can still give a formal look and look just as good.

You’ll still save a fortune on the cost of your wedding dress and show your unique sense of style.

Limit the number of guests (average cost per guest: $ 70)

Every person at your reception counts. Many parts of your wedding, such as the catering, the bar and the cake, cost more with each additional person. Keep your wedding intimate by inviting only guests who will add real joy to your special day. You can limit the plus one, specify that the welcome is adults only, or limit the guest list to only the people who are currently in your life instead of inviting every old friend and acquaintance. Cutting 20 guests off your list can easily save you a thousand dollars.

Get flowers from florist stocks (average cost: $ 2,000)

If you’re getting married during a busy wedding season, when florists hold events several times a week, you may be able to get your flowers for a fraction of the normal cost, or even no cost at all. Ask floral designers about the excess inventory they need to get rid of before it goes bad. They may be more than happy to get these blooms out of their hands for a low price.

You can also save on the cost of flowers by sticking only to seasonal and locally grown blooms. As a bonus, flowers that haven’t had to travel for hours or days to get to your wedding will look fresher and more vibrant.

Think back to your cake (average cost: $ 500)

Each level on that creamy cake will cost you. Consider a shorter or narrower cake for photos and cutting, and ask the restaurateur to serve a frosted sheet cake so that there is enough for all of your guests. You can also save a few hundred dollars by choosing a non-traditional dessert, like your favorite cake or warm brownies with store-bought ice cream.

It is important to know what you can comfortably afford before making your plans. Sit down with your future spouse and parents and create a budget. Don’t forget the miscellaneous expenses, such as tips, wedding fees, gifts for carers, and thank you cards.

Here are other tips for avoiding post-wedding financial problems:

• Pay your credit cards while you use them. Using a credit card to pay off deposits can be smart, but if you can’t pay them in full, pay more than the minimum monthly rate.
• Don’t count on cash gifts to pay for your wedding. Spend only what you can afford on your own and use the money you receive to help you with your financial goals.
• Communicate with each other. Talk often and openly about the wedding budget, bills to pay, and choices to make.
• Don’t get married during peak season. You’ll have more influence in negotiating prices on anything from catering to the band if you can avoid getting married during the height of the wedding season.

You can keep your special day uniquely yours but within your budget. Start married life on a solid financial footing with as little debt as possible to ensure you spend many happy years together.