Saying I do to your boo, again? Don’t max out the budget with your vow renewal. Learn different ways to pay for the ceremony where you recommit to your love.
Are you ready to say “I do” to your one true love all over again? Renewing your vows is a beautiful way to recommit yourselves to your marriage.
With this special moment comes some expenses, especially if you’re planning a formal vow renewal and celebration.
Check out these six ways you can pay for this special day without breaking the bank or busting your budget.
- Make Your Own Invitations
For a formal wedding, custom invitations are perfectly normal, and they can get to be pretty pricey. For your vow renewal, consider making your own invitations to save some serious cash.
Look for blank cards that feature a beautiful cover, and then fill in the information about the ceremony inside by hand. You can also try your hand with greeting card kits.
These crafty kits are inexpensive, and they offer you a fun way to create something customized that doesn’t cost a ton of money. No matter what type of invitation you choose, make sure it’s standard size so you can save on postage.
Want to go even cheaper? Skip the paper invitations altogether and create an online, email-only invitation where everyone can RSVP online. This method is completely free.
- Pick Out an Officiant for Your Vow Renewal
With a standard marriage, you must pay for an officiant who is fully licensed in your state. This can set you back anywhere from $100 to upwards of $500 depending on the services they provide.
When you renew your vows, there’s no law requiring you to hire and pay for a licensed officiant. This gives you a lot more freedom when it comes to choosing someone to perform the ceremony.
Whether you have a close friend or a dear family you’d love to participate, you’re allowed to ask anyone you want. And while most people who are close to you are likely happy to do this for free, you can offer to pay them in some way.
Offer to compensate for your personal officiant with a nice dinner out or a small gift to say thanks for their help.
- Don’t Stress the Dress
Wedding dresses are big business, and many brides are willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to look their best on the big day. For your vow renewal, you have a lot more freedom in terms of what you wear.
Choose a dress you already have in your closet that you absolutely love. Or, you can find secondhand formal gowns if you want to do things a little more high end.
Shop around online to find dresses that are within your set price range, and remember that the dress doesn’t need to be over the top. Just make sure you select a dress or gown that will coordinate with your color scheme.
The key is not to stress about what you wear, but instead to find something that you feel good in. The same goes for your other half, too. No need to scrape your money together for a tuxedo when a nice suit will work just fine.
- An Event Location on the Cheap
Finding (and being able to afford) a venue for your wedding and reception can be excruciating. Luckily, you don’t need to splurge quite as much when you renew your vows.
Keep in mind that this moment is more informal than your wedding. It’s more of a way for you to profess your ongoing love for your spouse, and you want others to share the moment.
Look for public places you might be able to use such as a lovely park, public gardens, or even the beach. If you have a big enough backyard, you can even hold the ceremony and reception there.
The venue you select will depend a lot on how many guests you plan to have, so make sure you pick something that will accommodate everyone. If you can find a place that’s free or cheap, you’re on the right track.
Set up your own folding chairs or ask guests to stand since the ceremony will likely be rather short. A covered picnic area is a great option for the reception and it’s usually free or available to rent for a nominal fee.
- Affordable Food Options
You don’t need to go overboard when it comes to your vow renewal event. Keep things simple and offer yummy finger foods rather than a huge main course.
Catering is costly, so see if you can recruit the help of a few friends and family members and ask them each to bring a dish. Alternatively, you can buy some pre-packaged deli and veggie trays for a quick snack.
There’s no need to take out online loans with monthly payments just so your guests can enjoy a decent meal.
When it comes to cake, just select something simple and elegant. Have it decorated at your local bakery and voila, you’re done!
- Don’t Forget the Flowers
The bridal floral industry is a real money-maker, but you don’t need to shell out a ton of cash for your vow renewal. Buy pre-made bouquets you can mix and match to make your own.
Add some ribbon to each bouquet, and create your own boutonnieres for the men. You can even skip the flowers for the groomsmen if there are any. Just remember to keep your flowers elegant and simple and you’ll be fine.
Saying I Love You on a Budget
When you’re ready to schedule your vow renewal, try these six budget-friendly tips to keep you on track. This special moment is more about the love you share than the optics, so remember to have fun and keep it simple.
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