On a Budget

Planning Tips

Choose a venue like Hidden Meadow Ranch where you can have both your ceremony and reception.

On a Budget

Q. I’m planning a wedding on a tight budget. How can I prioritize my expenses and avoid compromising on what I really want for my wedding day?

A. The good news is you are not alone. According to the Bridal Association of America, 77 percent of couples are paying for their wedding themselves. Even if you have help from family, the majority of brides are working within a budget, so your vendors
won’t be surprised to hear that you are, too.

Take photography, for example. “Couples on a budget can still afford the most premier photographers, you just have to know how,” counsels Sara Cruz-Mora, owner of Brides for Brides Photography. Photographers can customize a time-only package that can save couples almost half of an all-inclusive package. To offset the expense of purchasing prints, an online photo registry like the one Brides for Brides offers allows guests to purchase photo items as gifts for you and your groom.

When choosing your venue, a site that can accommodate both your ceremony and reception will typically be less expensive than booking two separate sites. Aldea Wedding and Events owner Daisy Joy suggests that brides look for all-inclusive packages to save money on décor and rentals. At almost every site, choosing a weekday wedding is significantly less expensive than a weekend wedding.

Hiring a wedding planner is the first expense most couples choose to forgo, but this isn’t necessarily the wisest choice. But there are ways to contain costs: Instead of hiring a professional to plan your entire wedding, consider investing in an hourly or “day-of” coordinator. “It costs much less than the full planning package and the planner will get involved toward the most stressful time of the wedding plans, including the full-day coordination so you can sit back and relax entirely,” explains Cicely Rocha-Miller of Life Design Event Planning.

Couples Can request one videographer instead of two to help cut costs, explains Taryn Bills, owner of Serendipity Videography. Additionally, consider purchasing a shorter highlight film. Both options allow you to save money without sacrificing video coverage of your wedding.

When it comes to working within a budget, timing is everything. Consider planning your wedding during Arizona’s off-peak season from June through August. Resorts have lower rates at this time and your other vendors may offer you summer specials, too.

“All vendors should be hired on their value, not just their price,” says LunaDisc Entertainment owner Rick Canez. From his perspective, he explains, even if a bride wants an iPod wedding, they will still need speakers, a mixer, microphones and someone to run the equipment. At the end of the day, remember that you get what you pay for, but by asking for discounts and keeping a close eye on your costs, you can still have the
wedding of your dreams.