How to Have a Sponsored Wedding

Times are tough and money is tight. Brides are looking for ways to save money without giving up on elements of their dream wedding. A sponsored wedding may be just the thing to help cover costs and realize your dreams. Here are tips on planning the perfect sponsored wedding.

Celebrities have enjoyed sponsored wedding for years. Often they are paid for product placement and endorsement opportunities well in access of the true cost of services. It seems unfair that those who can afford extravagant weddings are often treated to free ones. But, with prior planning and a can do attitude, you can experience the same perks as the celebrities. Well, maybe not the same, but close!

Begin by decided how little or how much sponsoring you want at your wedding. Many will find sponsorship distasteful but others will praise you for your initiative. Remember though that it is still your wedding and you should be able to decide what works best for you. Planned successfully, your wedding does not have to be tacky.

A sponsored wedding is a business transaction and should be entered into with that in mind. The sponsor must see a return on his investment just as you will enjoy the services or products he provides. Consider the businesses you are approaching for sponsorship and what they will benefit from it if working with you.

What opportunities do your guests offer for the supplier? Are they a good demographic fit? Will they be in the market for the goods or services offered in the near future? Will word of mouth help send business to the vendor? Be ready to detail the pluses the sponsor will experience if they agree to a partnership.

Have your sales pitch ready before you call or begin to solicit sponsors. They will want to know what is in it for them! Have a plan of action in mind. Tell them how you will represent them at your wedding and how it will benefit them. Let them know if, for example, you will print their name in the wedding program, include signage at your reception, feature them on your wedding website, blog or back of the wedding invitations themselves. Be ready to negotiate and respond to suggestions they might have as well.

Knowing what goods and services you wish to have sponsored, prepare a list of several in each category to approach. It is best to target local companies, especially ones interested in growing their business and for which your wedding would be a good fit. The possibilities are endless so think creatively. Flowers and wedding cakes are obvious but perhaps there are companies that could sponsor something such as your wedding favors, not realizing that their products could be used as such.

You are the salesperson and your pitch along with your ability to compromise will mean the difference between a successful negotiation and failure. Once you reach an agreement be sure to make it official. Document the details and follow up regularly. Build a level of trust with your sponsors and you will avoid unhappy surprises on wedding day. It would also be a good idea to have backup plans in place for each of your sponsors such in case something unexpected should happen! Also assign someone specifically to handle the sponsors as you will be busy elsewhere getting married!

Sponsorship of your wedding when budgets are tight can be well worth the efforts required to plan them. Manage the details and prepare well for your sales pitches and you will see results. Again, think each step through logically and be ready to negotiate the fine points. With determination, motivation and vision, your wedding can be next to free!