Did you know that there are wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money?
There totally are!
When it comes to planning our weddings, the process can be daunting. Not only do tasks take time, but often they are expensive. We don’t always have the proper cash flow to check things off our list. Luckily, there are some wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money. These are important tasks that need to get done. And they will set your wedding up for success. Plus, they are free, which should add to your motivation to get them completed.
Crossing tasks off your wedding to-do list will empower you and encourage you to keep going. Additionally, some tasks build on each other. So, if you are stuck somewhere because you don’t want to spend money, look no further than this list. Get going on the zero-cost wedding planning tasks, so your progress doesn’t get stagnant.
15 Wedding Planning Tasks That Don’t Cost Money
This post is going to deep dive into fifteen wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money. Some of them are universal to every wedding. Some are specific to only some weddings. Not every task on this list is mandatory to have a wedding, but each of them is popular. When possible, I will provide links and resources to previous blog posts to help you out.
Let’s get into it!
1. CREATING YOUR GUEST LIST
Often when people get engaged, they don’t know where to start. I suggest starting with your guest list.
Your guest list will drive your big wedding planning decisions, right out the gate. It will help you see how big your budget needs to be. How big your venue needs to be. It will even help you narrow down a time frame of when to get married. It’s a critical wedding planning task to move forward.
If you need help building your guest list, this is the post for you.
2. CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING PARTY
After some thought and consideration, you should be clear on if you want to have a wedding party. Also known as bridesmaids and groomsmen.
If you do want to have a wedding party, choosing the people to be in it falls into wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money. Once you’ve decided who you want to ask, you can just ask them. There should be no pressure to do an elaborate bridesmaid proposal if you don’t have the funds.
If you want tips on choosing your wedding party, this is the post for you.
3. BUILDING YOUR BUDGET
I don’t know how people plan their weddings without a budget. Not only will it help you stay on track with your spending, but it will reduce stress, I promise.
The key with keeping a budget is to build it correctly off the bat. I like the spreadsheet method, but there are lots of apps out there. All you need to do is figure out how much money you have to spend on your wedding, and forecast the anticipated costs of wedding items.
This is a post on building your wedding budget. This is a post to help you figure out how much money you have to spend on your wedding.
4. CREATING YOUR WEDDING WEBSITE
You know who loves a good wedding website? Me! And, your guests.
There are so many free options out there for wedding websites. They are easy to use, quick to set up, and can relay a ton of information to your wedding guests. Don’t be intimidated by wedding websites, either. I promise you can take care of it, no matter your skills.
For tips on wedding websites, this is the post for you.
5. WORKING ON YOUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PLAN
There is no requirement to work on a wedding health and wellness plan, but if you want to, it can be done free of charge.
No, you don’t have to hire a personal trainer before your wedding. And, you don’t need a nutritionist. You can focus on your health, diet, sleep, and overall stress without spending a dime. I promise you can.
If you need help building your wedding health and wellness plan, this is the post for you.
6. CREATING YOUR WEDDING REGISTRY
Some people want to skip creating a wedding registry. And, while that is their prerogative, I recommend that everyone makes one.
Why? Well, because if people are going to give you a gift, it should be something that you want.
Yes, there is the argument that if you don’t have a wedding registry your guests will take the hint and just give you money. However, this is not true for all guests. Many, many guests will want to gift you something physical. You might as well tell them what that is. And, you can always register for money these days, too.
For tips to set up your wedding registry, check out this post.
7. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE
Are you the kind of person who enjoys research? The one that goes down a rabbit hole of reviews and options? Well, if so, you’re in luck. Doing research is one of those incredible wedding tasks that don’t cost money.
Look, doing research is not sexy. It’s not exciting. But it will help your wedding. Research will help you find amazing vendors. Awesome venues. Tips and tricks that will make your wedding day way better. And, it doesn’t cost anything.
8. TRYING ON WEDDING DRESSES
Trying on wedding dresses can be an incredible experience, and not to be missed. Whether you go alone, or with an entourage, it’s a really fun way to connect to your wedding. Not only will you feel beautiful in the gowns you try on, you can rest assured that the act of trying dresses is totally free.
Look, yes, I know, if you buy your wedding dress after trying it on, you will end up spending money. However, most brides will go shopping at least a few times before choosing the one. And, they didn’t spend anything those first few rounds.
If you’d like tips on wedding dress shopping, this is the post for you. And, check out this post if you’d like to save money on your wedding dress.
9. GOING BRIDESMAID DRESS SHOPPING
Just like with wedding dress shopping, bridesmaid dress shopping can also be a “free of charge” event. This can even be true if the dresses are bought.
For most weddings, bridesmaids buy their own dresses. And, the bride is almost always involved in the shopping, especially if the bridesmaids are matching each other. So, if you’re helping your girls choose a dress, rest assured that wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money include shopping for bridesmaid dresses.
If you’d like tips on shopping for bridesmaid dresses, check out this post.
10. PRACTICING YOUR FIRST KISS/DANCE
Okay, let’s get to the good stuff.
Why are you getting married in the first place? Hopefully it’s because you love your partner. And, what better way to cross a no-cost wedding task off the list is there than practicing your first kiss and your first dance? Look, yes, for some couples it may seem cheesy. But, it’s not. And, future you will thank yourself that you practiced and prepared for the time when it came.
11. GATHERING GUEST ADDRESSES
One would think that once you form your guest list, you should start gathering guest addresses. I suggest that you wait a little bit.
A preliminary guest list will give you a lot of information, as mentioned before. However, gathering guest addresses is a bit more involved. Not only does it mean you need to reach out to wedding guest invitees, but you are confirming to guests that they are invited. Once you go there, you can’t go back. So, be sure to gather guest addresses once you’re sure that this is the group that you want to invite. I suggest working on it a couple of weeks before you order invitations.
12. PLANNING YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY
You know what can be super fun? Planning your wedding ceremony. And, of course, it’s one of those wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money.
Not sure where to start with the ceremony planning? Well, I turned to Pinterest for this venture. Pinterest gave me tons of ideas on readings, flows, and personal wedding vows. Speaking of personal wedding vows, I have a whole free guide for them, and you can download your version here.
Planning your wedding ceremony will allow you to connect with your wedding, visualize how it will go, and feel excited. I promise it can be a fun (and free) wedding task to accomplish.
13. CREATING YOUR WEDDING DAY TIMELINE
Okay, so wedding day timelines can be stressful to create. It’s not that there isn’t information out there for your timeline. It’s that the information can be overwhelming.
To create your timeline, start with the big chunks of your wedding day. Getting ready, your ceremony, and your reception. And then narrow down what will happen in each chunk. Once you have your order of events, assign times to them. It will help to talk to your venue, photographer, or wedding planner to form the timeline, or confirm you’re on the right track.
Once the timeline is set, review it with your partner. Then, send it out to your vendors, wedding party, and close family members.
14. FOLLOWING UP WITH YOUR VENDORS
Wedding planning can be a lengthy process. Sometimes we book a vendor early on, and then we don’t talk to them until we get married. Months can go by without communication. Things can get confused, and it’s always best to confirm the plan.
One zero-cost wedding planning task would be to follow up with your vendors. Periodically reach out and confirm that you are properly scheduled with them. See if they need any further deposits, and when. Ask about changes they may have had recently that will impact your wedding. You never know what is going on with their end, so confirming along the way will reduce your stress and risk.
15. ASKING FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR HELP
You know what is totally free to do? Asking for help.
If you have a wedding planning task that you need help with, reach out to your community. Chances are that your family and friends can totally step in and help you to the best of their ability. Remember, no matter how big or small the task is, ask it with gratitude and empathy. You may surprise yourself that you’re able to delegate tasks to others and accomplish more than you would than if you did it by yourself.
THOUGHTS ON WEDDING PLANNING TASKS THAT DON’T COST MONEY
Friends, there are tons of other wedding planning tasks that don’t cost money out there. The ones in this post really stand out, though. When it comes to planning a wedding, there is a lot to do, and it’s important that you thread no-cost tasks in with the big-ticket costly items. Plus, no cost tasks are a little less stressful and easier to plan your cash flow around. Happy wedding planning!
More On Wedding Planning From Hummingbird Wedding Advice
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How To Plan A Wedding In One Month
Did you find this post helpful, inspiring? PIN it to your Wedding Budget Board on Pinterest!
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