One of the many questions I receive from couples, families and friends planning weddings is “How can I have a Wedding Planner when I can’t afford one?”

My answer: “By compromise”.

Yep, that’s exactly the look I get from them too. So I’ll go ahead and explain myself.

Even if you have planned your big day and employed the help of family and friends, you want to be able to enjoy the fruit of your labor. That’s where Day Of Coordination comes into play. Just about every Wedding Planner offers this option (or its “sister” option: Month Of Coordination). This is also the best compromise. You do all the work (because you absolutely love it…ha!), then you get to sit back on your Wedding Day (or the month leading up to it) while your Planner makes sure every little detail goes off without a hitch. Believe me…this is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Oh and another awesome yet innovative and out the box Planner option is to enjoy services via online means. Many Planners (myself included) are now offering Consultations and Planning packages through a combination of webcam, telephone and email. Don’t worry, you aren’t losing out when it comes to needing to put your hands on something tangible either, thanks to shipping companies like FEDEX & UPS. Not to mention the USPS Flat Rate box! YAY!

See, compromise really lets you have your wedding cake and eat it too!

Cheers!

I also think it’s a good idea to have a Destination Wedding when you’re on a somewhat limited budget because quite a few destinations offer FREE Wedding Ceremonies (however that’s not to take the place of your planner)! You can’t beat that!

There are many beautiful places you can go, depending on what you are looking for. If you want to stay stateside, Vermont, Las Vegas and Hawaii are tops. If you’re looking to head to the Caribbean–Jamaica is the number 1 destination there. If you want to experience the Caribbean but don’t have a passport, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are “no passport” friendly. Wherever you decide to go, you are sure to have a great time.

Cheers!