How to Stay on Budget for Your Wedding

Congratulations! You have made the decision to commit and ready to take the next step in planning your big day. This is the perfect time to start thinking about your budget. Unless you are fortunate enough to have unlimited funds, it is essential to set appropriate budget limitations. Your wedding is the most important day in your life, however, starting a life full of debt after your big day will surely cause you unnecessary stress and financial strain for the next few years. The secret of every great wedding is to budget - and to stick to that budget. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to stay on budget for your big day:

1. Get organized

Buy a folder, some dividers and set up section for each part of your wedding: the dress, the flowers, the entertainments, catering, flavors and etc… Keep all related information in that folder so you know exactly where everything is.

2. Do your Research

Before you book any wedding supplier or commit to a venue - do some research. Check out the venue’s competitors and see their package options/prices. Most brides and grooms have never brought some of the things you will need for your wedding so you will not automatically know  what the market price is.

3. Negotiate

Think of your wedding as a business and you are a well needed customer, with money to spend. Your suppliers will expect you to try and get the best price. Do not be afraid to negotiate and you may surprise yourself. If you know yourself and know for a fact, that you are not comfortable with negotiations, bring a friend / relative who is. PS. Be nice to the vendors. No one wants to work with a bridezilla.

4. Get everything in writing - and keep it!

You should always get your quotes and agreements in writing. Even, when negotiating on a price, make sure you get everything in writing. Keep the receipts and stick them into your bridal folder ( see step 1 ). This way everything is in one spot, in case you ever need to reference a price check later on.

5. Watch out for hidden costs

Reading the fine print is a tedious task and it is certainly boring, but it MUST BE DONE. Before making the commitment, make sure you understand all terms of the agreements on both sides of the parties. This will help you avoid sudden surprises that typically come up at the worst possible time.

6. Watch out for extra costs

Your wedding agreement may be clear, however, make sure you are aware of any extra costs. Those little guys can add up and bring you will over your budget.

7. Review, review, review!

Make sure you sit down on monthly bases to review your budget to ensure you are still on track and following the numbers. It is easy to get carried away in the spur of the moment, but if you are truly trying to stick to you budget - it is essential to review it periodically to ensure everything is going as planned.

8. Book ahead

Don’t wait till the last possible moment to commit to a venue or a cake decorator. The typical peak time for booking wedding services is from December to February. To make your life easier, try booking your services either before December or after February to avoid the “Wedding Rush Hour”.

9. Don’t forget to ask questions

Don’t feel shy or awkward asking financial questions. Your suppliers understands, and will be more willing to work with you if you are straightforward about what you want and what kind of financial commitment you can make. If you don’t ask questions you may miss out on a special deal which can save you a ton of money in the long run.

10. Stick to the budget

While you shop for products and services for your wedding you are bound to see nice little things that costs just a bit more than you budgeted. Don’t be fooled by thinking that adding those little things won't put you order the budget. Those costs add up and you will be stuck paying an extra arm and a leg before you know it. Try to stick to what you allocated for each product and if you cannot resist going over the budget in one area, only do so when you have worked out where you can save that amount somewhere else.

Top 10 Spots for Your Beach Wedding

Top 10 Locations for Your Destination Wedding

Destination weddings: stunning beaches, Margaritas flowing, Mariachi band is playing. If you are looking to relax on your special day - having a destination wedding is the way to know. I had my wedding in Mexico and it was the perfect day with the perfect ending. I snorkeled in the morning, had a massage in the afternoon and by the time the ceremony came around I was fed, happy, and most of all, stress-free.

However, it wasn’t always stress-free. In fact, agreeing on a destination wedding was one of the topics that my husband and I CONSTANTLY fought about. So I wanted to write this blog post and simplify the search for you. I did some research online, and also for my own wedding a few years back, and came up with this list of top 10 Destination Wedding Spots to have your beach wedding:

10. Curacao.

Curacao is located just off the coast of South America, right next to Aruba. Not too many people know where Curacao is located, and because of this, this exclusive islands gets the number 10 spot. Curacao prides itself on having high end resorts and beautiful beaches.

9. Los Cabos

Located in Mexico is a wonderful, luxurious get away. Los Cabos has a ton of adult-only hotels. Prices of venues are definitely on the higher-end when comparing to other prices in Mexico, however the scenery is truly beautiful.

8. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a perfect spot if you are looking for a “chill, relaxed” location without the typical hype of tourists. Don’t get me wrong - there are obviously tourists, but from personal experience - beaches like in Rincon are perfect getaways if you are looking for that rustic wedding and some epic surf.

7. St. Lucia

Beautiful island with stunning views, rainforest and volcanic plugs. Your background for the pictures will look absolutely breathtaking. St. Lucia offers a wide variety of resorts with amazing beaches.

6. Dominican Republic

DR is known for the stunning beaches and Punta Cana. DR offers the most variety of all inclusive resorts. When researching your venues, don’t forget to inquire about different wedding packages available.

5. Jamaica 

Beautiful beaches, stunning sunsets and tons of scenic spots. Most of all - 7 Mile Beach. Just imagine… 7 miles of crystal clear water and softest sand in the world.

4. Bahamas 

I visited Bahamas on a cruise and was amazed at the diversity of the place. On one have - you have Atlantis. You can purchase day passes and enjoy all of the amenities Atlantis has to offer. On another hand you have funky restaurants, downtown and tons of attractions. If you are looking to get away from the crowds there are plenty of smaller hotels, away from the crowds.

3. St. Martin 

St. Martin is a stunning place. It has everything you could ever ask for: the beautiful beach, the tropical sands and the stunning mountains. St. Martin is typically not your cheapest destination, however, there are plenty of hotels to choose from - depending on your budget.

2. Aruba 

Aruba gets the number 2 spot for a wonderful reason: It has the perfect weather year round. Aruba is located outside of the hurricane belt and rarely experiences bad weather. You sure won’t have to worry about hurricane ruining your wedding.

1. Riviera Maya 

My person favorite. Not only because I had my own wedding in Mexico, but because it is a perfect getaway for “the traveler type”. If you are looking to sightsee, explore and submerge yourself in culture - Riviera Maya is perfect. Mexico’s prices are exceptionally affordable. You’ve got the Mayan Ruins, the adventure parks, Cenotes, zip lining, partying in Cancun and getting a taste of Mayan culture of the Mayan in Tulum. Quite honestly, for the price we payed staying in Puerto Aventuras, we were able to fit in 3 days worth of adventure and exploring. This is why, in my opinion - Mexico definitely takes the win.

No matter where you chose to have your wedding - make sure you do a thorough research of the hotels and packages offered by all of the places. Keep in mind flight prices and the overall costs of the trip to your guests.

What to expect when planning a destination wedding

A friend of mine posted in a Facebook status last week requesting opinions on destination weddings. Here’s a tip – never post a “How Do You Feel About…?” query if you have your heart set on a particular idea. She received a response to everything from “Too Expensive!” to “You’re selfish if you make that decision!” ... This girl isn't even engaged, and was just expressing curiosity about an option. Yet, the name calling and harsh criticism was flying five seconds after she hit the post option.

1. Before putting down a nonrefundable deposit at a resort, research the time of year you’ll be traveling. The great deal you might be getting could be due to the fact that it’s a noted time for hurricanes or inclement weather in that region. Having a destination wedding in the resort's off season could potentially save you some serious bucks, so you may want to look into that option as well. 

2. Rather than being put off by all the negativity of opinions (which people will have if you decide to have your wedding in the Caribbean, Disney World, or the pizzeria around the corner) look into the reasoning as to why a destination wedding might be difficult for you to have, especially if the issues arise with people you really want to attend your wedding. 

3. Destination weddings can be rather pricey for guests. Even though the resort might offer all inclusive deals, the cost of everything that’s “free” has to be factored in somewhere. Besides airfare and accommodations, there’s also the issue and added expenses that if they have pets or children, they will have to pay for and acquire the care for them while they are traveling. 

4. Research your country / place of your wedding. This is crucial. For example, when getting married in Mexico you will need to be in the country for at least 48 hours. In addition, you will need to submit a blood test to the local hospital ( don't ask me why ). In Saint Martin you must have 3 witnesses from each bridal party.  The point is this: make sure you do a thorough research on wedding procedures in that particular country before you actually book your venue.

5. Requesting ample time off from work in order to travel to and from to attend the wedding might also be an issue for some if their jobs are not very flexible with scheduling and vacation time. Keep that in mind when setting the date. Some people are simply unable to take off a week from work to travel to the Bahamas.

6. Certain places require a passport to travel to and to return to the country of origin. Adult American passport books and cards cost over $160. They also can take approximately 4 – 6 weeks for a routine application, and 3 weeks for expedited application (which is another fee). Information about obtaining American passports can be found at US Passports and International Travel. 

7. Also, take into the consideration that if you have family members or friends that you really want to be there on your special day, but have medical conditions that need to be monitored or cannot travel for long periods because of a condition, might not be able to attend. My poor friend, who was probably just looking for information on how to plan one or issues that had arisen while others were planning theirs texted me that night thanking me “for being the only person that actually answered her with any sense of reasoning!” What did I write as a comment? The same thing I will write in this article: If it’s what you and your future spouse really want, have a destination wedding, but be understanding that guests you invite might not be able to attend for very valid reasons.

Last words of wisdom: Destination Weddings are a lot of fun. They can cost a fraction of a price you would otherwise pay here, and you will have an amazing time. Before making any major decisions, talk to your groom and research all possible options. Evaluate your budget and make a pros and cons list. If the "pros" outweigh the "cons" - start your research as soon as you can.

Until next time,