Yahoo Lifestyle 
6 ways to avoid wedding debt
If you’re recently engaged and planning a wedding, congrats! But after the excitement has worn off, we know the reality of wedding planning and the huge costs involved are quick to bring future brides and grooms back to reality.
“The wedding industry has turned into this big giant beast,” says Deborah DeFrancesco, a wedding planner and founder of Bitchless Bride.
As a wedding planner, Deborah has seen couples max out multiple credit cards and borrow money from family, something she says can lead to conflicts and stress throughout the planning process.
“Save the fighting for when you’re married,” Deborah jokes. “For your wedding, you should have a set budget and you should do everything in your power to make sure that you don’t go over it because you will fight your way through your wedding planning.”
Here Deborah has shared her six tips to avoid debt while wedding planning.
Figure out what you can afford
Deborah says the first thing an engaged couple should do when they start to tackle wedding planning it to sit down and talk.
“You have to have a very honest conversation with your significant other to find out what you can afford – not just today and not just for your wedding day but also, what do you want from the next five or 10 years,” she says.
Setting your expectations for your life ahead will help set your priorities for your wedding, and will help you think of saving for your longer future together.
“Everything will feel very big to you if you don’t save a little as you go,” she says.
Make a realistic guest list
The easiest way to figure out your budget is to look at your guest list.
“If you attach a dollar amount to each person coming, that’s essentially your budget,” Deborah says. “The more people you have, the more money you’re going to spend: it’s very simple math.”
If you can stick to that number, you’re on your way to keeping your wedding in the budget you’ve set with your partner.
Prioritise your must-haves
Deborah says she often has to sit down with clients and help them rein in their expectations to get them to match their budget.
“I need to sit them down and say, ‘You have champagne tastes, your budget is kind of a beer level, so we need to find a happy medium,’” she says. “We talk a lot about prioritising what is important to them.”
If food is your priority, Deborah says you might need to cut back on decor, or have an open bar for only part of the reception in order to splurge on top-notch catering.
“Once you prioritise, you can allocate where everything else goes,” she says.
Don’t DIY
While DIY may be a popular way to save money on wedding decor, Deborah says it’s just not worth it.
“Remember that your time is money,” she says. “Know that any project you start is probably going to take about double than you think it will, and you’ll probably end up buying it anyway.”
Deborah may have a more discerning eye, but she also says most people can tell when items are hand-made, so skip the crafts and allocate your money – and time – elsewhere.
Consider a short-term wedding planner
As a wedding planner, Deborah says it’s important you’re spending your money in the right places and trying to remain as stress-free as possible. She recommends hiring a month-of planner to help you to the finish line.
“They’re basically there to hold your hand and act as a liaison,” she says. “If you are someone who is extremely organised, you might just want a month-of planner to help you finish things so on that day you can truly enjoy yourself.”
Keep it in perspective
While it’s easy to get wrapped up in the wallet-busting must-haves you think you need for your wedding, Deborah says it’s important to step back and remember what the day is about.
“Take a step back from the entire situation and think ‘who are you marrying and what kind of life do you want to build together?’” she says. “The wedding day will be the start of that.”
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