Many people get engaged around Thanksgiving and Christmas because this is a time when all the family is together. Once all the engagement celebrations are over, thoughts will turn to planning the big day. But can you get married without spending a small fortune?
There is no doubting that weddings are expensive, but with some careful planning you can easily have a fabulous same-sex wedding on a tight budget. The good folk at OutCoast say that there are many affordable gay friendly resorts in Florida destinations such as Orlando, which will make it easier to choose the perfect venue. Or if you really want to cut back on the cost, you could get married at home if you have the space. Below are a few other ways to keep the overall cost down:
Keep the Guest List Small
You might feel like you need to invite everyone you know, but if you keep your guest list to your closest family members and friends, you can have a much more intimate wedding with the people who love and accept you. Inviting every family member that you both have could mean you are inviting people who frown upon the idea of your big day, or even some who are openly homophobic. And this is the last thing you need on the most important day of your life.
Provide Your Own Alcohol
Some venues will allow you to provide your own alcohol as long as you pay a corkage fee. The corkage fee is charged to cover the cost of chilling, pouring, and serving the alcohol. It is worth checking if this fee applies and whether it would be worthwhile going for this option. The good thing about bringing your own alcohol is that you can begin stockpiling months in advance and buy when items are discounted, which could save you more money.
Make Your Own Invitations
If you are creative, you can save quite a bit of money by making your own invitations. DIY invitations can have a more personal touch, and if you are keeping your guest list low you will not have to make so many. You can find a whole range of suitable templates for wedding invitations online that you can use. However, some couples choose to send out digital invitations these days. It is obviously cheaper and is much better for the environment.
Get Friends and Family Members to Help
You may be able to save on the cost of your wedding by enlisting the help of your family members and friends. Think about who might be able to help with things like hair and makeup, nails, photography, videography, entertainment, and flowers. You could ask them to exchange their skills for presents. The more help you get from loved ones, the more personal your special day will be.
Conclusion
Getting married is a special time. But as members of the LGBTQ community will often be funding their big day themselves, it is no surprise that they might want to keep the costs down. The good news is that it is entirely possible to have a fantastic wedding on a budget by taking the time to find the perfect affordable venue and by keeping the guest list small. Remember, the more guests you have, the more your wedding is likely to cost in terms of food and drink.
Using your own skills and those of the people who love you will also help you to avoid spending a small fortune and will make your big day much more personal and enjoyable.
