15 Clever Ways to Save $$ on your Wedding
Want to have the wedding of your dreams without going into major debt? With proper planning techniques, it's totally possible. Yes, we know many of you have been planning your most special event in your head for years. Okay, maybe even since childhood. But there are many ways to get what you want without letting the budget get the best of you.
Here's what to do: Prioritize your needs versus wants and make a plan accordingly. Make sure you stick to it, too! At the end of the day, what matters most is that you're happy and relaxed, not thinking about bills leading up to your big day. These helpful money-saving tips will help you stretch your big-day budget.
1. Cut the guest list
The most important thing for couples to keep in mind where money is concerned is the guest list. The most guests you have, the more food, invites, favors, etc., you need. If you are looking for places to save money, you can save everywhere if you cut the guest list down or keep it intimate from the start.
2. Have a daytime wedding
Many couples find that a daytime luncheon or brunch reception can be just as fun and lovely as a dinner reception and at a fraction of the cost! You don't need to serve a full bar during the daytime and the menu options are usually popular with guests, as well as being more affordable.
3. Book group hotel room blocks to get the best deals (if possible)
Utilizing group hotel reservation sites to book a handful of rooms at a discount is highly recommended and could really be beneficial. Sites like Jetaport and Hotelplanner make it super easy to save money and time when you book in bulk.
4. Opt for a limited bar
To save on your alcohol bill, stick to serving beer, wine, and one specialty cocktail. if you're set on a full open bar, then make sure you book a venue that allows you to bring your own alcohol. Buying it yourself will save tons of money!
5. Choose a DJ, instead of a band
While a live band will definitely energize the crowd, a DJ can be just as fun and keep guests on the dance floor for about a tenth of the price. Even asking the DJ to bring in a musician or two for a live sound will still cost way less than a full live band.
6. Use spray paint to customize decor
To coordinate decor items with the wedding's color palette, spray paint can be used in many ways. I would highly suggest using metallic paint for gold, copper, or tin looks, blackboard paint for writable surfaces, and spray glitter paint to coat the inside of any glass vase or jar for an instant upscale candle holder.
7. Choose a non-peak date
If possible, try to be flexible with your wedding date. Every component from the venue to the caterer to the flowers will likely cost less if you say "I do" in the off-season (like I have said many times before in my other posts!).
8. Make the most of the location's surroundings
When considering wedding-day decor, ask yourself how you can leverage your location's surroundings. Maximize the beauty of the space itself and you'll be able to divert some of your design budget toward other things.
9. Be smart with flowers
You don't need designated flowers for each individual aspect of your big day. For instance, bridesmaids' bouquets can double as modest centerpieces for the reception or cocktail area. I also suggest choosing flowers that are native to the wedding location and are in season as well.
10. Don't hire a coordinator\
Honestly, don't be fooled into thinking that you need a professional planner just because you've (likely) never planned a wedding. You can leverage the other people involved in your wedding and save a ton of money by not having a professional coordinator there. If you do feel overwhelmed, consider enlisting a day-of coordinator rather than a full-scale planner. That person will help ensure everything runs smoothly on the day for a fraction of the cost.
11. Use local vendors and products
If possible, go local with sourcing elements for your wedding - whether it be flowers, food, or rentals. This will cut down on any costs associated with importing items from afar. In general, the further things have to travel, the more expensive they will be. So if you're getting married in a landlocked state, skip the seafood tower.
12. Book your wedding and honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort
Brides and grooms may be happily surprised to learn that honeymoon savings is one of the benefits of hosting the event at an all-inclusive resort. Since they are already on-site, there is immediate airfare savings. An all-inclusive resort may also offer special honeymoon deals to couples that plan their entire day with them.
13. Don't overindulge
For couples that are working with a small budget, you may want to be aware not to overindulge in any one area. For example, don't spend 40% of your budget on decor, leaving very little for food, beverage, or entertainment. Similarly, an expensive wedding gown does nothing to enhance your guests' experience.
14. Make a donation in lieu of favors
I like the idea of this one, personally. Wedding favors may be a playful detail, but they're not a necessary one. You can save money by not giving one at all or make a small donation to a charity that's important to your in honor of your guests. You don't even have to share the amount you donate and it can be as much or as little as you can afford. Either way, your money will be much better spent than it would have been on miniature bottles of whiskey for every guest (half of which will be left behind at the tables, anyway).
15. Keep things in perspective
Stay true to your values and remember what the wedding is all about. When you lose focus, you start spending money on things you don't really need to get the job done. Wedding budgets go overboard when people lose track of what's really important: the commitment. The soon-to-be spouse. The elderly relatives who may not be with you in the near future, but are present to raise a glass to your happiness. The first dance.
Here's what to do: Prioritize your needs versus wants and make a plan accordingly. Make sure you stick to it, too! At the end of the day, what matters most is that you're happy and relaxed, not thinking about bills leading up to your big day. These helpful money-saving tips will help you stretch your big-day budget.
1. Cut the guest list
The most important thing for couples to keep in mind where money is concerned is the guest list. The most guests you have, the more food, invites, favors, etc., you need. If you are looking for places to save money, you can save everywhere if you cut the guest list down or keep it intimate from the start.
2. Have a daytime wedding
Many couples find that a daytime luncheon or brunch reception can be just as fun and lovely as a dinner reception and at a fraction of the cost! You don't need to serve a full bar during the daytime and the menu options are usually popular with guests, as well as being more affordable.
3. Book group hotel room blocks to get the best deals (if possible)
Utilizing group hotel reservation sites to book a handful of rooms at a discount is highly recommended and could really be beneficial. Sites like Jetaport and Hotelplanner make it super easy to save money and time when you book in bulk.
4. Opt for a limited bar
To save on your alcohol bill, stick to serving beer, wine, and one specialty cocktail. if you're set on a full open bar, then make sure you book a venue that allows you to bring your own alcohol. Buying it yourself will save tons of money!
5. Choose a DJ, instead of a band
While a live band will definitely energize the crowd, a DJ can be just as fun and keep guests on the dance floor for about a tenth of the price. Even asking the DJ to bring in a musician or two for a live sound will still cost way less than a full live band.
6. Use spray paint to customize decor
To coordinate decor items with the wedding's color palette, spray paint can be used in many ways. I would highly suggest using metallic paint for gold, copper, or tin looks, blackboard paint for writable surfaces, and spray glitter paint to coat the inside of any glass vase or jar for an instant upscale candle holder.
7. Choose a non-peak date
If possible, try to be flexible with your wedding date. Every component from the venue to the caterer to the flowers will likely cost less if you say "I do" in the off-season (like I have said many times before in my other posts!).
8. Make the most of the location's surroundings
When considering wedding-day decor, ask yourself how you can leverage your location's surroundings. Maximize the beauty of the space itself and you'll be able to divert some of your design budget toward other things.
9. Be smart with flowers
You don't need designated flowers for each individual aspect of your big day. For instance, bridesmaids' bouquets can double as modest centerpieces for the reception or cocktail area. I also suggest choosing flowers that are native to the wedding location and are in season as well.
10. Don't hire a coordinator\
Honestly, don't be fooled into thinking that you need a professional planner just because you've (likely) never planned a wedding. You can leverage the other people involved in your wedding and save a ton of money by not having a professional coordinator there. If you do feel overwhelmed, consider enlisting a day-of coordinator rather than a full-scale planner. That person will help ensure everything runs smoothly on the day for a fraction of the cost.
11. Use local vendors and products
If possible, go local with sourcing elements for your wedding - whether it be flowers, food, or rentals. This will cut down on any costs associated with importing items from afar. In general, the further things have to travel, the more expensive they will be. So if you're getting married in a landlocked state, skip the seafood tower.
12. Book your wedding and honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort
Brides and grooms may be happily surprised to learn that honeymoon savings is one of the benefits of hosting the event at an all-inclusive resort. Since they are already on-site, there is immediate airfare savings. An all-inclusive resort may also offer special honeymoon deals to couples that plan their entire day with them.
13. Don't overindulge
For couples that are working with a small budget, you may want to be aware not to overindulge in any one area. For example, don't spend 40% of your budget on decor, leaving very little for food, beverage, or entertainment. Similarly, an expensive wedding gown does nothing to enhance your guests' experience.
14. Make a donation in lieu of favors
I like the idea of this one, personally. Wedding favors may be a playful detail, but they're not a necessary one. You can save money by not giving one at all or make a small donation to a charity that's important to your in honor of your guests. You don't even have to share the amount you donate and it can be as much or as little as you can afford. Either way, your money will be much better spent than it would have been on miniature bottles of whiskey for every guest (half of which will be left behind at the tables, anyway).
15. Keep things in perspective
Stay true to your values and remember what the wedding is all about. When you lose focus, you start spending money on things you don't really need to get the job done. Wedding budgets go overboard when people lose track of what's really important: the commitment. The soon-to-be spouse. The elderly relatives who may not be with you in the near future, but are present to raise a glass to your happiness. The first dance.
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