In recent years, there has been growing popularity in bridal wear, pre-wedding shoots, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and destination weddings due to which there has also been a rise in the cost of weddings as well. The preferences have also taken a shift. Gone are the days when couples used to be satisfied with booking a local marriage hall, now it’s extravagant hotels, vineyards, and resorts that are on the list of venues. It’s all about the ‘wow-factor’.

Most people have a preconceived notion that a destination wedding cannot be hosted on a budget. But do not allow budget limits to crush your wedding dream. The ideal marriage on a budget can be planned. 

Here are some smart tips to make your wedding as gorgeous and magical as you had dreamed of.

1. Prepare a budget

Just like any other wedding, it is imperative that you plan your destination wedding. Make an Excel sheet if you will or create a budget diary. This will mean that your sanity is under control and your needless money is not wasted. Start a marriage savings account if you are well mindful of your budget and expenditures. But always try and avoid the use of credit cards. 

2. Pick an easy destination

By easy destination, we mean to choose a place that is easy on the pocket. The first thought that may pop into your head is to select a nearby destination. It will help in minimizing the travel costs. We advise couples to pick unique marriage locations. It could be a lovely villa over a hill or the dream site on the beach! Rest assured that over half of the marriage preparation is completed with the correct place of choice.

3. Select an off-season date

You will pay too much for a destination wedding in a peak season such as summer or spring. In the Indian marriage system, although off-peak dates are few, there is still a chance of having a wedding during off-peak seasons. You’ll get the best price if you host your marriage in the off-season because there are few marriages and the likelihood of getting the best deals in the off-season are high.

4. Start planning months in advance

Plan early allows you to take advantage of early birds, cheaper fares, and cheap fares. It is very important to prepare at an initial stage, deals will happen when you plan your marriage early. You have many possibilities to look for the best. And on airfares, you will get the best offers.

5. Keep the guest list as minimum as possible

A marriage should always be a matter of intimacy, in which only close friends and family should be included. For the rest of your friends, you can host a reception in your place. Indeed, reducing your list of guests means reducing your travel, home, food, etc. costs. You shouldn’t have to worry about Sharma Ji and the Pados wali aunty’s feelings because we bet you’re not as close to them as your childhood friends or cousins.

6. Ditch printed invites for E-invites

Send your guests a save-the-date invite using technology. It’s a great way to save not only money but also the environment. You can also DIY your wedding e-vites and that’s completely hassle-free; you can build your e-vites at your best. It’s cheap, personalized, comfortable, and absolutely awesome!

7. Hire an experienced Wedding Planner

Try to find an expert in destination weddings. This way you have a professional at hand to take good care of it, rather than having to waste hours on telephone calls attempting to solve a language barrier or make decisions on flowers and ceremonies miles away. Your wedding planner works on your schedule, takes care of your expenses, sets timetables, and ensures that all is smooth. You’re going to save time and money.

8. Minimal decor is in trend

The decoration is one of the most pricey for weddings, but what if we suggest that the minimum decoration is actually the new rage in Indian weddings. Opt for minimal decoration or go for trendy elements, such as fairy lights, vibrant mats, playful signs, and other easily accessible items. Or you could DIY some decorative items to add a personal touch.

9. #VocalforLocal

You do not need to book suppliers from your home town just because you trust them. This will not only add to your overall cost but you’ll also have to take finally take care of their food, lodging, and travel as well. Try to book your wedding providers (DJ, décorer, Mehndi artist or photographer), which are based in or near your marriage venue. Another advantage of opting for local vendors is that they know all the local resources and suppliers, making your cost go down.

10. Save on your wedding outfit

Everyone wants to be a Sabyasachi bride or look dazzling in a Manish Malhotra. We are sure you must have saved some designer bridal dresses on your desktop for inspiration. But here comes another hassle. Buying a dress or getting customized bridal wear can create a hole in your pocket. Why not try thinking of renting an outfit? Many stores offer dresses made by famous designers at economical rates. Or if you’ve already set aside a budget for it, make sure to stick to it.

11. Hire an all-inclusive venue

See if you get all-inclusive packages for the reservation of your venue for your wedding, there are plenty of locations that sell all-inclusive packages. Pick a package that looks after almost all the specifics of the wedding – without any hidden expense. This includes lighting, flowers, music, photography, lodging and meals for guests, and more. For the all-inclusive package, the price mark of each service is not only removed but also a lot of money is saved.

12. Delegate the tasks

Delegate family and friends to duties. Accept assistance, but be structured when necessary. Appoint someone within your family or friend whom you can trust and know will deliver as per your style and requirements. It can be anyone, be it your friend, brother or cousin, he/she can be trusted with getting maximum help.

13. Bargain

Bring out the true inner Indian inside you and haggle as much as you can. You can use this know-how to negotiate for the best deal with the supplier, never know when you are blessed, and at a decent price, you have a great wedding photographer or caterer. There is always a scope of bargaining.

14. Book Accommodation

Before booking a wedding venue, make sure that the venue has enough rooms to accommodate you and your guests so that the cost of booking two venues can be reduced. There will be no point in transporting your guests from the lodging venue to the wedding spot and increasing your expense.

15. Keep a check on your Budget

What’s the point of doing all the planning and budget proportioning when at the end of the day you find out that you have exceeded it. And do not be lured by the planning things that can tempt you. It is also important to have a budget-friendly mind for an affordable destination wedding. You will be well prepared for a budget-friendly wedding if you know how to manage your undesirable lavish desires.

Organizing your ideal destination wedding is no longer a far-fetched idea anymore. Our @VenueMonk team hopes that these tips will inspire you to plan your destination wedding within a budget but not compromising on the dream.