To Pay or Not to Pay?

Increasingly couples are asking the question: Should they pay to have a wedding planner?

It's a valid concern...and one that has many implications. Wedding planners can certainly save couples time and energy. For busy couples who don't have the time or attention needed to work out details, the wedding planner can be a godsend. But planners also cost money, or a percentage of the total wedding costs, and so couples who have a fixed wedding budget can often find that a planner is too expensive.

However, there are alternatives.

Consider these options:

Have a family member or good friend serve as the planner and give this person the stickiest details (the ones you don't want to worry with). A trusted friend can do the work and make the wedding easier.

Or, find a wedding planner who will actually save you money by keeping you on budget. Give the wedding planner your total budget and say, "This is what we have to work with. It's our total budget. So you make the wedding happen on this amount and make the tough decisions for us."

Cookbook

Do you need some extra cash for the wedding? Need a quick way to make a few extra bucks?

How about burning your own recipes onto a dozen CDs and selling them for $10 each? That's a cool hundred in just a few minutes of work and you probably have a dozen friends who enjoy your cooking and would love to take one off your hands.

Brides looking to have a debt free wedding should also create some quick and easy ways to fund their special day.

Why the Long Tux?

Increasingly I note that wedding parties are foregoing the traditional black tux for a more "informal" look of the black suit and necktie. And why knot (not)? After all, since the average wedding now costs more than $10,000, couples can save money by not renting the tuxes and accessories.

As one groom put it recently, "What's wrong with a black suit?" Saves money, time, and a lot of heartache. I've known more than one couple who had to pay for an extra day or two or rental because they couldn't get the tuxes back within the 24-hour rental period.

Really . . . why the long tux?

Saving for the Wedding

Want three quick tips for setting aside some fast money for your wedding plans? Try these:

1. Skip the coffee and latte purchases for a year. Make your own. Savings annually: $750
2. Don't purchase a drink when you eat out (only drink water). Annual savings: $150 or more.
3. When you fix a meal at home, make a bit extra and eat these leftovers the next day. Savings annually: $2000 or more for a family of four ($1000 for a couple).

So there you have it...a quick way to save nearly $2000 a year for your wedding budget.