Congratulations! You’re engaged! And, you’re about to embark on the exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) journey of planning your dream wedding. Here at Shades of Teal, we are expert Vassar wedding planners, we couldn’t be more thrilled for you. We also have loads of advice, because we know that planning a wedding in Vassar (or anywhere, really) can make your head spin.

As you begin the process, the first step is to establish your budget. Everything you do stems from understanding this. Your budget answers key questions about the venue, guest list, food, decor, etc. 

Oftentimes, we’ve found that brides are on a tighter budget than they would have hoped or are working hard to stretch their budget in several different directions. It’s a good thing we at Shades of Teal have been doing this for a while! Because we’ve put together a list of our top five ways to maximize your wedding budget, especially as you’re planning your Vassar wedding here in beautiful Michigan! Ready? Here we go…

#1 – Venue

Did you know that some venues offer multiple services on-site, and selecting a venue like this can save you considerable amounts of money? To make your budget stretch the farthest, select a venue that offers a one-stop-shop for many of your wedding day needs. Some venues only offer the space. But others include multiple vendors, such as decor & rentals, a coordinator, a planner, design, etc. By using a Vassar wedding venue that offers all of these services, you save significantly on cost and planning! If you need help selecting a stellar Vassar wedding venue, we wrote a blog post about just that!

#2 – Floral

Flowers can quickly and easily become one of the highest-ticket items on your wedding day checklist. A great way to save money on floral services is repurposing your ceremony floral arrangements for your reception. If you have a show-stopping floral arch, move it to behind your head table or sweetheart table after the ceremony. Why just enjoy it for those quick few minutes of the ceremony? Arrangements that were down the aisle or at the base of the arch could potentially serve as centerpieces for cocktail tables, on the dessert display, or seating chart table.

#3 – Guest List Size

One of the most impactful ways to stretch your budget is to have a smaller, more intimate wedding. While the average Vassar wedding costs $36,000 in 2022, you could have the same wedding with your closest loved ones for around $10,000 instead. You could even opt for a pop-up wedding with your closest loved ones for even less! Save the rest of your budget for your honeymoon, a house, or anything else!

#4 – Select Your Own Vendors

Some venues require you to choose vendors from their specific list. For example, they may only work with three pre-selected florists, and you must choose one of those three. In order to save some money along the way, select a venue that does not require you to use particular vendors. You can easily save by selecting your own vendors or even using willing family members or friends. And if you need suggestions on Vassar wedding vendors, we at Shades of Teal know some of the best!

#5 – Rent Your Decor

While it may seem more expensive at first, buying and storing your own decor adds up quickly. Trust me, scouring Facebook Marketplace for decor items, picking them up, and storing it all isn’t as easy as it sounds. It takes a lot of time and coordination! Not to mention, a few dollars here and there can easily add up. Plus, you’re more likely to buy items you don’t need. Renting from a rental company will save you time and money, as most rental companies only charge a fraction of what it would be to buy the same items, and they can deliver and set up so you don’t have to! Sounds like a win to us!

BONUS – #6 – Hire a Great Wedding Planner

We gave you five simple budget tweaks to help you stretch your budget the farthest. But, you know one of the simplest ways to stretch your budget? Hire a fantastic wedding planner who has your best interest at heart. We know that may sound counterintuitive because if you’re trying to save a little cash, why would you add another vendor? But, truly, a great wedding planner is worth her weight in gold (or at least all the pennies they’ll save you!) A wedding planner that is focused on the true needs and wishes of the wedding couple, like Shades of Teal, will actually save you more money by cutting unnecessary costs and helping you simplify and focus on your goals.

Looking for a great wedding planner in Vassar, MI? Look no further than Shades of Teal. We truly have the heart of all of our couples as our number one priority and will work tirelessly to create your dream day. Click here to send us a message, and tell us all about your wedding dreams! Congratulations!