FinancesPlanning a wedding is no small matter. Factor upon factor will have to be considered and reconsidered before the final decision is made. one main factor to consider is the budget. Naturally, the bigger the budget, the more resources there are to rely on to achieve that beautiful, impressionable wedding. This is not to say that a smaller purse will not achieve the same result – in fact, real-life situations will often prove to us that sometimes it is the smaller, cheaper wedding that will be etched in memory, aside from being healthier on the pockets.
For starters, NO, it is not a good For starters, NO, it is not a good idea to take a loan to finance your wedding. But it is not an income earning asset you are borrowing against with the capacity to pay its own bills. Try as much as possible to see what can be done with the cash in hand. Fund raising from friends and family is an option. Actually, that is the reason why many people still maintain the committee system of organizing a wedding in Kenya today.First things first, start by listing all the possible things you may want to have at your weddings don’t forget the traditional parties as all the traveling does cost. When listing don’t forget to input the cost of each item . Research the costs of all the items and come up with a tendative total budget.
This will allow you to know how much you are likely to spend on your wedding. See if you have enough saved up or you need to save some more by cutting or eliminating some items or being clever with your budget or pushing your wedding ahead till you have enough. Once you have a good idea how much your wedding will cost then you are ready. Don’t start by leaving deposits everywhere then late in planning realize you do not have enough cash You have managed to save up, source and collect as much money as you could.
How do you allocate funds appropriately? The suppliers that you decide to use must be willing to offer you
good services for the money that you are willing to spend. Most vendors ought to give you their honest and professional opinion in regards to how best to maximize your funds with what you both want and need.
The main things to prioritize when planning a wedding are : the guest list, wedding and reception venue, catering costs; costs of the wedding gown and groom’s suit (whether rented or purchased). When on a tight budget, you can still have the wedding of your dreams, albeit on a smaller, possibly cozier scale.
The most sensitive area of all to consider when planning a wedding on a small budget is the guest list. The guest list will contribute almost 60% of your budget. More often than not, this will be the time when the wedded couple will have disagreements with each other, in-laws, parents, even extended family members, who will insist that this and that person must be invited simply because of blood. However, who and who NOT to invite is strictly a bride-and-groom issue especially if you are on budget. Unfortunately, this rule is not respected, and almost never followed, by many.
The number of guests will affect your budget directly. We asked Jimton Okeyo of Havey Star Caterers to tell us, What are some of the factors that affect guest attendance and how can you save on costs?
Factor 1. Weddings are special
Weddings are social events and invited guests will always tend to come with partners, kids and sometimes even friends to keep them company as they enjoy the day. Friends and relatives that were not invited because of some reason also show up on this day. Unless its card only, most weddings are over attended.
We do have very interesting experience and some factors normally come into play. These are tribe, though not so common, status in society and accessibility to reception.
Tip: If you are on a budget make you’re a strictly cards only
Factor 2. Tribe
For example Kikuyu weddings in Nairobi are normally well attended unlike any other tribe in Kenya. Reason being that the so-called shags are within a few kilometers from Nairobi like Dagoreti, Kawangare and Kiambu. So relatives find it easy to travel and attend the wedding and then go back home on the same day without a lot of logistics. On the other hand people from Western, Nyanza and so on can only arrange for a few relatives to attend since its costly and a lot of planning is needed on issue like where guests will sleep.
Factor 3. Status
This of course applies to celebrities and other well known people. Sometimes if not controlled can be over attended if enough measures are not put in place.
Tip : Make it card only.
Factor 4. Accessibility/Venue
Naturally, having the ceremony at a place where everyone and anyone can come and watch is the ideal dream for every wedded couple but it will cost you. certain venues that are accessible to the general public can be difficult to control. Or sometimes for venues that hold more than one wedding - you can end up feeding the other wedding guests – it has happened.
Tip : opt for venues not accessible to everyone say a game park
or a hotel.
Factor 5. Timing
People are more relaxed both psychologically and financially during the month of December generally because schools and colleges are closed and so family budgets are flexible and there is money to spend. Most people also take leave for the holidays. It’s time to dress up and make merry. Weddings become the place to be at that time
