Not everyone is a fan of extravagant weddings, are they? Fortunately, there are many ideas and inspirations for arranging a budget-friendly Indian wedding. A budget wedding requires careful consideration of every aspect of the event, including everything from the stunning decorations to the meals to the photographers and presents. The brides and grooms who are counting down the days until their special day will appreciate the practical advice in our step-by-step guide that will help create a thoughtful budget that will save them money and restore the dignity of their ceremony.

Top 10 Ways to Budget for your Indian Wedding

 

1. Follow Professional Advice

Hiring a wedding planner who knows the ins and outs of putting on a lavish event is the most incredible option when you are at a loss about what to do.  A wedding planner has a thorough understanding of the costs and preparations involved in planning a wedding and can accommodate your specific requests within their schedule constraints. The notion that hiring a wedding planner would wreak havoc on your finances is entirely false. On the other hand, a wedding planner can help you put your money to good use so that your big day goes exactly as planned without missing out on vital details. As a result of their connections and expertise, these planners can help you get the most out of your money.

2. Keep Things Simple 

Simplicity is crucial when it comes to making low-budget weddings appear more luxurious. The more "things" you add to your wedding, the more money you'll have to spend on it. To avoid visual clutter, stick to traditional and timeless design elements rather than implementing many concepts at once. It is preferable to have two good events than four to seven wild ones. So, we think it's fine to have mehndi and a wedding event with a small gathering of close friends!

3. Select a Budget-Friendly Location

Instead of spending a lot of money on the venue and the decorations, opt for a location that requires a little effort to look great! Consider having a low-cost "destination" wedding in a picturesque location outside of a major city. You may save a lot of money by moving to a smaller city because there aren't as many people there.

4. Keep Track of Your Spending

A spreadsheet, planner, or notepad might help you keep track of spending. This is the best way to do it to save your sanity and avoid squandering money. It is essential to use these planners to keep track of your budget and the due dates for deposits. You may find a calendar on your smartphone. Set up a wedding savings account if you have a tight budget and are concerned about your spending habits. Set away a tiny bit of money every week leading up to the big day. Remember that a tiny amount may go a long way, regardless of the amount. If possible, avoid using a credit card.

5. Get Creative with Invitations

It's no longer customary to send official paper invitation cards to close family and friends. In addition, if some of your guests stay outside your city, you may not be able to pay a personal visit to everyone. It means that it's time to go digital. You may use free online invitation card maker tools to create your digital invite which is then easy to share with friends and family via social media, email or whatsapp. This would save you money and is also environment friendly. 

Click here to make your own personalized wedding invitation in less than 2 minutes.

6. Innovate your Wedding Outfit

Add embroidery to the blouse and dupatta to transform a plain, low-cost lehenga into a bridal ensemble. Most girls buy a lehenga by looking at the skirt first, then deciding on the lehenga. You may have a lovely wedding attire for a fraction of the cost by choosing a lighter skirt with borders but a heavy blouse and dupatta instead of a heavier skirt. Also, remember that a photographer will take photos of you from the waist up when you sit down, so wearing a heavily embedded blouse or one studded with embellishments makes sense. Most establishments won't charge you more if you want an all-over blouse or a larger design on the dupatta.

7. Do not Overdo the Flower Decorations

If you have an image or theme in mind, today's florists can recommend flower arrangements that meet your wedding budget. Smaller or less costly flower centrepieces are not necessarily terrible choices. Depending on the type of wedding you're planning, your wedding venue may be able to provide centrepiece, flower arrangement, or stylist suggestion packages. Do your research though and compare prices. Remember to select flowers that are in season. This will have a significant impact on your finances.

8. Wedding Makeup on a Budget

Visit a hair salon in your area and ask them to do your hair and makeup and adjust your outfit. You do not need to specify that you are a bride. A typical getting-ready session at a makeup salon costs between INR 3000 and INR 5000. Fortunately, Indian brides today are all about a natural, sparkling appearance these days. You don't need a lot of makeup for a wedding if you take care of your skin beforehand. On the day of the wedding, if you're not accustomed to applying makeup, you'll likely have an adverse reaction to all the foundation. You can't rely on any high-end products to fix that issue. If your skin is naturally radiant, you can get away with minimal makeup, such as a simple lip colour touch-up and eye shadow.

9. Keep the Main Course Simple

There is no need to provide several different food items for your wedding reception. Choose your main course intelligently if you're on a restricted budget. Alternatively, it would be best to go with a single dish that everyone will enjoy and a few side dishes. You can ask your caterer to prepare one enticing main dish and one diet-specific option to keep things within your budget.

10. Choose an Online RSVP

You may save a lot of paper by sending your RSVPs to your wedding guests electronically. Even if there are just 100 people, there will be hundreds of sheets of paper used for the event. Many trees perish by the time RSVP cards are sent. With an online RSVP option, there is a greater chance that you will receive a response from your guests, making it easier to track headcount in advance. By doing so, food waste can also be minimised if specific guests fail to show up. Free online invitation makers like Zelebrate offer RSVP feature in their invites. 

Wrapping Up 

We hope that after hearing all the ideas and suggestions in this blog, you'll have a better idea of how to keep your wedding costs down. Just double-check your final list of preparations to ensure there are no omissions or ambiguities. Make your shopping list is flexible enough to allow for the addition or removal of things as the situation dictates. 

Wishing you the very best for your wedding.