We just set the wedding date, Valentine's Day, 2009! Yes, a mere six months away. But I love red and pink, hearts and flowers, and Valentine's Day is a perfect fit for us. Our major problem is time and our secondary problem is a limited budget. How can we possibly pull it all together? I've dreamed about my wedding all my life, but we really do not want to start our married life off in debt. How can we create our dream wedding?
Signed, Desperate in Austin
Dear Desperate,
Congratulations on setting a date! Valentine's Day is considered to be the most romantic day of the year, and you'll never have to worry about your fiancé forgetting your anniversary!
First, develop a budget to determine how much you have at your disposal. Next, since Valentine's Day is so popular, you may have a difficult time finding an available venue, especially since it's on a Saturday next year. Start making a list of all of the sites you'd like to consider and start contacting them immediately. Given your time frame and the popularity of the date, you may not be able to save any money on your venues, but there are ways to stretch a wedding budget. If you're planning a wedding ceremony at a church, ask if another couple is getting married before or after you and see if they'd be willing to split the cost of flowers. The odds are great that the color scheme will be keeping in line with Valentine's Day and will reduce the cost of flowers for both of you.
Remember to stay away from the more popular Valentine's Day flowers like roses. There are many red, pink or white flowers that will suit the theme but will be less expensive that time of year. Consult with a florist, or consider silk flowers as an alternative and buy or order early to get the best selection and guaranteed delivery.
If hearts and love are to be your theme there are many inexpensive ways to incorporate them in a wedding. Red foiled kisses, cinnamon hearts, or message hearts as favors. Maybe heart shaped red velvet cupcakes with pink icing instead of a traditional cake, or red candles and oodles of mini white lights (buy them in quantity after Christmas for huge savings) for atmosphere.
Anything pink or red will probably work for you, and romance is the name of the game. Even colored bridesmaids dresses will help the wedding "pop." Consider the latest trend and select a pink or red wedding gown for a little more individuality. Look for ways to share expenses, double usage, and get more bang for you buck.
Lastly, don't be afraid to ask all of your vendors for specials, lower prices or suggestions on ways to save money. Relax. You can do this in six months without going into debt. It'll just take a budget, some planning, and a whole lot of creativity.
