Wherever there is an Indian wedding in the world, chances are it is not small-scale. Even the intimate ones become expensive as the guest list cannot be cut short, hence the term “Big Fat Indian Wedding.” Traditionally, the father of the bride would bear most of the ceremonial costs, like Mehendi and Sangeet, but today the groom’s family also chip in, due to the rising costs of hosting big events. In addition to that there’s pressure from society and the need to display cultural flamboyance with oomph which makes sticking to a budget impossible. Here are a few tips on how to get an Indian wedding on a budget.
Planning Ahead: Most people take time for granted and don’t realize how much they can save by not waiting for the last-minute. Whether it is your wedding venue, caterer, photographer, or just shopping around for a better deal, you must plan way ahead – at least 1 year for the venue and about 6 months for the rest. Even if you’re lucky enough to find caterers in the last minute, they may not give your guests the best quality or menu choice with a rush to complete your order. Make your calls well in advance to negotiate for a perfect start to your budget wedding.
Wedding Dresses: As soon as you shop from a designer lehenga choli for wedding store, chances are that most of your wedding budget will go into buying wedding attire for yourself and your close family members. You can go for an off-season, designer wedding dress, but that too may be expensive. Alternatively, the Internet is great for picking out affordable bridal wear quickly.
Grab awesome deals when you buy wedding sarees online or a wedding salwar kameez suits for you bridal trousseau from a wedding wear specialist like Simaaya Fashions. Remember an Indian wedding can go on for 5 to 7 days, starting with the engagement, mehendi, sangeet ceremonies, wedding day, reception and so on.
Almost always the bride never gets a chance to wear her bridal dress on other occasions. So opt for an heirloom saree you’ve inherited from your mother or grandmother. Alternatively, you can be the ultimate modern bride and choose a light-weight, comfortable and striking bridal anarkali for your big day.
Off-Season Wedding: In India, most weddings happen in Winter, so if you plan your wedding a month or two before or after this, you can make huge savings. Keeping in mind the time of year, pick the most suitable and comfortable dress to wear on your wedding day, that may not be the most popular. Discover wedding dresses online in Spring colours or Fall colours or even have a monsoon wedding in India!
Buy In Bulk: Whether it’s clothing or napkins, buy what you must in large numbers, instead of walking into small boutiques for each and everything. It will save you both time and money.
Don’t Go Overboard: Be practical and don’t go into debt for your wedding. If that baraat wedding venue is out of your reach, then go for a smaller do. It may be tempting to impress all your friends and family with champagne and expensive appetizers, but remember those people who really matter, won’t care how much you spent on them, but genuinely care about you on your big day.