Last Minute Wedding Checklist: To-Do List a Week Before Wedding Day

To-Do List a Week Before the Wedding Day

Planning a wedding can be a very excruciating experience… but it can also be fun and rewarding, depending on how you look at it. However, there’s nothing that can truly prepare you when it all comes down to a week before your wedding day – well, at least for us, that is.

Sometimes, when it’s just days before you actually tie the knot with the one you love, all the problems start popping up. And, even when you’ve followed the most elaborate wedding planning checklist or you’ve hired a wedding planner to handle everything, there are just some things that are out of your control. 

So, to make sure these problems don’t ruin your big day, we’ve come up with the last-minute checklist that you can use a week before your actual wedding day. It can help you get everything done, checked, and ready when your set date comes. Moreover, it is crucial so you can feel confident and calm when you’re just counting the days before marrying the love of your life! Because on times like this, “pretty sure” about everything is not enough.

Last-Minute Wedding Checklist

• Check with your vendors

Your vendors play a big part of your wedding. Not only do they make your wedding more beautiful but they also make it more memorable and special. So, it’s important that you check in with them a week before the big day to make sure everything is in order. Confirm your arrangements and make sure all your professionals have the exact directions and a contact person’s number. 

Call your florist and decorations designer and check if they can deliver on your set time and date. The same thing goes with your cake and your caterer. Also, check your wedding photographer and/or videographer and if possible plan a meeting ahead of your wedding. This is to build a rapport and to help you feel comfortable while they’re taking photos and videos. 

• Prepare your final payments

During this time, consider paying all your vendors already. During your big day, it can be hard to keep track of who you still owe money to and what else you need to pay. On your wedding day, it’s important that you just have fun and enjoy every precious moment. 

However, do remember to have some sort of an “insurance policy.” When your vendors collect their final payments, have each of them sign a letter or a note that they received it. This way, at least when anyone claims they haven’t been paid yet, you have something to prove it.

• Take extra cash with you

There might be someone you know who has gone the extra mile to help you out with your wedding day. So, it’s good that you have some extra cash with you to give it as a tip, just in case. But, rather than carrying a big stack of cash in your pocket, it’s also great to have “tip envelopes” complete with their names and inside is the right amount. This way, you can give out your tips without breaking the bank.

• Put your wedding items in one place before the big day

Remember to keep your wedding favors, cake knife, and toasting glasses in one place and have them delivered to your reception site a few days beforehand. And, if you’re planning to take anything with you to the ceremony site, assign a trusted friend or family to get them there before your guests arrive. 

• Prepare your Plan B

If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, make sure you have a tent set up and remember to have umbrellas on hand for your guests just in case it rains. 

• Get transportation for your bridal party

Never leave your attendants stranded at your wedding location. If they have planned to arrive at your wedding through shared transportation, ensure that they have a car to ride at the end of the evening too.

Final Preparations are a MUST

A wedding day only happens once. And, if you want to make sure everything turns out the way you want them to be, make the final preparations. Don’t leave anything by chance. Because, if you really want to be sure and not just “pretty sure” about things, it matters that you’ve covered everything. So, use this last-minute wedding checklist and have no worries during your big day!

Also, if you don’t want the extra trouble, you can always have your wedding planner do these things for you.

How to Plan an Affordable Wedding?

Planning Your Wedding Day

After everything you have been through, from breakups to makeups, and challenge after challenge, it all finally comes to this – you’re getting married! But, it doesn’t end there because your wedding is a challenge itself. The planning process is stressful, time-consuming, and forces many couples to go crazy. Because, for one, there’s a budget you have to stick to, a timeline to follow, and a whole lot of things to do.

Now, because of all these, it may seem impossible to plan an affordable wedding without losing your mind. So, we’ve come up with a few tips to help you start the process and make sure you stick within your budget.

Getting Your Priorities Straight

Now, before we discuss anything further, you first have to figure out your priorities as a couple. What do you want to do AFTER the wedding? Are you planning to buy a house? Or, maybe start a new family? Getting your priorities straight will help you set a budget. Because, if you were planning to do all these things right after getting married, then you’ll know just how much you need to spend. It wouldn’t be wise to have a lavish wedding and start your new life together in debt, right?

Once you’ve established your budget, you have to discuss what you both like and expect. By knowing what you both want your wedding to become, you can see more clearly where you can cut and where you can save. This makes it easier for you to achieve that beautiful yet affordable wedding you desire.

How to Plan a Wedding that You Can Afford?

• Venue

The first and best way to cut down costs depends on your venue. The location where you plan to tie the knot is the most expensive detail at most weddings. Now, what you need to do is to find a single place where you can have your reception and ceremony at the same time. Doing so not only saves you money on the venue but you can also avoid paying for transportation. Plus, it’s more convenient for you and your guests as you don’t need to be moving from one point to another.

Another way to cut down on costs is to hold your function at home, at your family or friend’s property, or at an establishment you love going to as a couple. Aside from significantly getting the costs down, this also gives your wedding more meaning and personality – thus, making your big day more about you than about your wedding’s price tag.

• Wedding Dress

A bride’s dress can be very expensive. In fact, in Australia, the average cost of a wedding gown is around $5,180 in 2018. But the good news is, you don’t have to pay as much to feel as beautiful as those who spent that big. You can rent a dress or buy one from a previous bride. This can lower the price by as much as 30 to 90% of the total price. Plus, if you’re being practical, these are your best choices as you will only be using it for a single day.

However, if you really want to buy a new one, we recommend you to choose a classic dress without embellishments. Laces and beading are expensive materials that can raise a dress’ cost by a mile. Instead, you can use accessories to get the style you want. Or, you can also buy a floor sample dress and pay as low as 50% its total price, depending on its condition, for how long it has been on the floor, and on your bargaining skills.

• Wedding Photographer

Many say you can get a friend to do a photographer’s job. But, we don’t agree. Weddings are a BIG deal and to have an inexperienced individual to have such big responsibilities? Expect more problems in the future.

Your wedding day is special and it only happens once. Everything that will transpire during that day can’t be repeated or reenacted because it won’t have the same impact. Now, a professional photographer or photo booth hire company can save all these moments for you, making sure each detail and emotion is captured. You will be given photos that not only remind you of your big day but also allow you to feel the same way you did during that time. These photos will last forever and they will be the same ones you show to your future kids, grandkids, and to all your friends and family.

Now, because you need professional photographers at your wedding, the most ideal way to make their services more affordable is to hire them per hour. Day rates (8 to 10 hours) are indeed pricey and you don’t even need them for that long! The same applies to all your other vendors and suppliers. You can bring costs down by booking your florist, band, DJ, videographer, and others per hour.

• Food

You can ditch the 3 or 4-course fancy meals and go with station or buffet setups. This way, you can cut down the price from your caterer by as much as 25%.

• Decor

For your decorations, avoid buying! Even when each piece is cheap, it is better if you hire them instead. Plus, think of it this way, you won’t need 50 vases after the wedding and you probably will have a hard time looking for a buyer too. So, remember: rent or hire but just don’t buy.

 

Top 5 Common Mistakes When Trying to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Planning a Wedding on a Budget

Certainly, planning a wedding is challenging. And, it gets even more challenging when you have to do it within a tight budget. There are just too many decisions to make and too many cuts to think about, making wedding planning on a budget extremely excruciating. And, even with all the tips and articles out there on how to do it, sometimes it just doesn’t turn out the way you want them to be.

Here’s where we can help. We have noticed a few not-so-good advice that couples fall into doing. And, the result? Not so good. So, we have come up with a list of the top 5 common mistakes that people make when planning their wedding on a budget.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Wedding on a Budget

1. Getting different suppliers for a single wedding detail

For example, when you book different florists for your bouquets, ceremony, and reception decorations. While they might be cheaper apart they can cost you more when you consider delivery fees. And, they only cover one thing: flowers. Another example we often see couples make is in the decor itself. They get a different supplier for speakers and another for lighting. Again, if you factor in the additional delivery fees, you’re actually not saving money but your spending more. Those little extras can easily send you over your budget.

2. Buying everything

This is a very common mistake. Couples tend to buy multiple items because they cost cheap, individually, and they “need” it for the wedding. However, when everything is over, it’s highly likely that you won’t ever use these items again. Say, you want vases in your reception or ceremony, and you buy over 50 of them. After your wedding, where will these go? Sure, you can sell them in the future but it will be at a much lower cost. Plus, it can be difficult to find a buyer.

3. Trying to save money by getting a friend or a family member to shoot pictures from your wedding

This has been listed in many articles on how to plan weddings on a budget. And, we couldn’t disagree more. Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and every moment lasts only for a second. However, the pictures that will be taken on this day? They will be around forever. They will be the pictures you will have to look back on as you grow older and the same pictures you have to show your kids, grandkids, and friends for the rest of your life. So, you need photos that serve as great reminders of one of the biggest days of your life. Photos that are captured beautifully and those that you will love seeing 30 or 40 years down the road. And, only professional photographers can give you these photos. If you’re still not convinced, you can look at it this way: you are making an investment in your memories!

4. Not having a backup plan

This applies to outdoor weddings. Most couples tend to ignore the importance of having a contingency plan or a backup plan in case the weather isn’t what they hoped it would be – because, yet again, they are trying to save money. However, if it does rain and you’re not ready, everything you’ve planned will be wasted.

5. Saying “yes” before understanding the costs

So, let’s say you really want to get married at one specific venue. However, there’s nothing else that comes with it and you’ve already committed into booking it for your wedding. This means you have to find other vendors that can complete your setup – tables, chairs, technical equipment, etc. As a result, you actually need to shell out more money.

More Effective Ways to Help You Stick to Your Budget

To avoid the common mistakes listed above, we have come up with ways on how to avoid them and effectively help you stick to your budget. For one, consider working with a single business to save on delivery fees or additional charges. To give you an idea, if you book a photographer and videographer from one company, you’ll actually be given big discounts!

Secondly, consider hiring items rather than buying them. Keep in mind that you will only be using such items once! This tip also greatly applies to the bride’s and groom’s attire. You can save a whole lot of money if you rent a wedding dress and tux!

In addition, the most ideal way to save on having great photos for your big day is to pay professional photographers by their hourly rate. Of course, day rates and 8-hour packages can be pricey but you won’t need them for that long.

In regards to your contingency plan, ask any of your chosen suppliers if they can provide you with umbrellas and tents in case the weather does not go as planned. And, since this will be an emergency plan, you don’t have to pay it in full. You only have to cover the 50% deposit and pay the rest if you do end up using them. This not only gives you peace of mind but you can also pay less. Lastly, make sure you have a complete picture of the expenses entailed with each detail before finally saying yes!

 

10 Tips on Choosing Your Bridal Dress on a Budget

Planning a Wedding on a Budget

BUDGET – this is probably the most important word often thrown around when it comes to wedding planning. There are numerous tips and articles on how to cut down costs for several vendors. For one, there are couples who try to save money by having their reception and ceremony at one venue. Or, they hold their wedding at their family’s homes and properties. And, there are also many who ditch the fancy 4 or 5-course meals for a buffet style of catering. Now, these are all great ways on how to plan a wedding on a budget. But, there are also some that we just can’t recommend you to do.

For example, many couples turn to friends or family members over professional photographers – to which we strongly disagree. You can’t really put a price on the memories you can keep forever. Wedding photography is a skill and it takes years to master. This is why we never advise getting people you know with good phones and camera to cover such an important event. The same goes for videographers too! The most ideal way to save a few bucks on your photographer and videographer is to pay them hourly. Forget the day rates and 8-hour packages because you won’t need them for that long.

See, there are many ways to achieve the wedding of your dreams without going over your budget. And, like the other details of your wedding, you can also cut down costs on your wedding dress too!

Choosing a Bridal Dress on a Budget

Did you know that in 2016, the average price of a wedding dress in Australia was at $2,475? This figure has doubled ever since with the average cost of $4,000 in 2017 and $5,180 in 2018. Sounds crazy, right? But you know what, you don’t have to drop that same amount for your white dress. You can actually find the “one” and stay within your budget. And, we’re here to help!

We believe that there’s the perfect dress for every bride, no matter your style, timeline, or budget. With our tips, you will have the wedding dress of dreams and stay within your means. No need to spend more than you have to. We will help you find the one you will love today, on your wedding day, and even years from now when you look back on your lovely wedding photos.

10 Tips on Choosing your Bridal Dress and Stay Within Your Budget

1. Go for simple – Find a dress with a classic design, one that has no embellishments of any sort. This will lower your price tag by a mile since materials such as beading and lace are a lot more expensive. You can then use accessories to achieve the style of dress you are after.
2. Avoid alterations – Asking to alter the sleeves or have the neckline changed can cost you hundreds of dollars. Save money by finding a gown that you are happy with just the way it is.
3. Rent a dress – While not the most romantic way to find the dress you love, renting a dress sure is the most practical. There are designer dresses that are offered for a fraction of the cost and you get to choose the one that really sticks out to you.
4. Buy from other brides – Again, while not the most romantic, buying a used gown can save you up to 30 to 90% of the gown’s original price. Besides, unlike other pieces of clothing, it was probably only worn once.
5. Go short – Shorter dresses are usually less expensive compared to full-length gowns. And, if you’re planning on a beach wedding or a destination wedding, they are the most ideal attire you can wear. Plus, they are easy to pack too which is great if you’re hopping on a plane.
6. Opt for Corset – gowns with lace-up corset-styles on the back are not only beautiful but they can help you save on alterations too. You can fit the bodice of the dress perfectly to match your body measurements. And, since they can be custom-fit, you don’t have to worry about your body changes as you approach your big day.
7. Shop at the right time – Another way to find that perfect dress at an affordable cost is to shop during winter or summer. During this time, retailers have to make room for the new dresses designers make. So, they will sell their old stocks and samples at lower prices even reaching as high as 80% off.
8. Take the floor sample home – Once you have fallen in love with a dress you tried on, save some serious cash by taking that exact sample home. Ordering a new version of that same gown is pretty expensive but if you choose to buy the sample, you can the price down by as much as 50%. Of course, this depends on the time it’s been on the floor, the condition it’s in, and your negotiating skills.
9. Purchase online – there are many brides who have had success finding the “one” on the internet. Not only are they a lot cheaper but they look incredibly well too.
10. Look away from dresses over your budget – It might seem fun to try on expensive designer gowns but trust us, it’s a bad idea, especially when you’re sticking to a budget. The thing is, once you put on a more expensive dress, it is most likely that you will like it. Thus, making it impossible for you to be happy with anything cheaper.