How to Barter Your Way to Your Dream Wedding
May 4, 2009 by Wedding Ideas
Filed under Wedding Ideas
by Bridget Mora
Money is tight these days, and yet every bride still has a vision of the perfect wedding day. Before you resign yourself to doing without or going into debt, consider a third option. The old fashioned idea of bartering has become increasingly popular lately, and it can be a great way to have the wedding of your dreams on a tight budget.
When we think of bartering, most of us probably imagine that it is something that happened in olden times. One farmer exchanges 20 chickens for 2 goats at the local market, that sort of thing. The truth is, though, that the barter system is alive and well in modern times, and its resurgence has been fueled in part by the internet. As couples look for ways to trim their wedding expenses or to afford something special that they otherwise would not be able to, bartering starts to look like a very smart idea.
The basic concept of bartering for your wedding is that you find vendors who are willing to offer their services in exchange for a service or item of equal value that you provide. In order for the barter to work, the bride and groom will have something of real value to offer in trade. It could be almost anything, from house painting to maid services to graphic design work to yoga instruction to dentistry.
This type of barter stands the best chance of success if the bride or groom is a professional in the field. In other words, if your husband owns a carpentry business, you might be able to find a florist who would be happy to barter her services in exchange for a custom built cabinet. On the other hand, just as you only want to hire someone qualified to provide your wedding services, vendors are only going to be interested in bartering with someone equally qualified. It is all well and good if you are a creative and crafty person, but that does not mean that a professional is going to be willing to exchange services with an amateur.
Goods can also be exchanged as part of a barter, or it could be a mixture of goods and services. For instance, a graphic designer could make new business cards in exchange for jewelry for her wedding. Or maybe the artist who makes the wedding jewelry would prefer a swap for the groom’s guitar. These types of swaps can be a little more difficult than the exchange of professional services, as it is harder to put a price on goods that you already own. However, it can work, and is an option when you do not have any services to offer prospective vendors.
There are a few key points to keep in mind when setting up a barter for your wedding services. The most important is that you should treat the barter just as you would any other vendor that you hire. In other words, only book a photographer or florist that you would if you were paying cash for their services. Also, the terms of the barter should be formalized in a written contract, including firm deadlines for the delivery of the goods and services on both sides of the barter. Of course, the terms of the deal need to be fair and equal. A good way to ensure this is to go through one of the online barter services. Last but not least, if you are exchanging your professional services for those of a vendor, you may owe income taxes, so check with your accountant.
Bartering is definitely a system on the rise, making it easier than ever to find partners. It can be a terrific way to afford a wedding that would otherwise be out of reach. The barter system may just be the ticket to your dream wedding.
Ask Bridget for advice in areas of jewelry or weddings. She writes numerous articles providing information for the customers of Silverland Jewelry.com. Wedding jewelry is the perfect finishing touch for the bride and her bridesmaids. It also makes a wonderful gift.
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