How to Save on a Wedding
LISTEN TO SAFE 1 TALK WITH THE MONEYWISE GUYS ON THIS TOPIC!
Simply stated, weddings are expensive! It is what it is!
That isn’t to say, however, you can’t have your dream wedding without breaking the bank! From the wedding venue to decorations to food, drink, clothes, and entertainment, there are definite ways to help you with your special day while at the same time keeping a budget in mind.
With this in mind, here are some fun and creative ways to save money for a wedding.
Pick an “Off-Peak” Date to Have Your Wedding
- June, October, and September tend to be the most popular months to have a wedding, with May and August not too far behind.
- By planning a wedding during a non-peak month, however, as opposed to those noted above, you could do much to save money on your special day.
- For instance, by having your wedding in January, March, or November, which are the least popular months for a wedding due to their being in winter, you may find venues, caterers, florists, and wedding suppliers offering discounted rates.
- You may even be surprised by how much you can save just by choosing a date that’s not in high demand.
- In addition, getting married on a weekday may also help you to take advantage of some cost benefits.
- So, if you’re willing to have your wedding on an “off-peak” date, then you could save a few dollars and perhaps put those funds to other use such as a honeymoon or home.
Do-It-Yourself Decorations
- One of the biggest expenses in putting a wedding together is the cost for decorations.
- However, one way to save a lot of money is by making your own decorations.
- Creating and making your own centerpieces, flower arrangements and wedding favors will do much to not only save you money but, perhaps more importantly, provide you with a look and feel that is special, unique, and all yours for the special day.
- Not feeling creative?
- Then don’t be ashamed to borrow decorations from family and friends or even consider renting them from a local company.
- Because, at the end of the day, does anyone even remember your wedding day decorations besides maybe you?
Choose a Non-Traditional Venue
- Simply stated, event venues grow costlier every year, especially those specific to hosting a wedding.
- Sometimes, however, based upon your budget you may have to “think outside the box” and consider some non-traditional wedding venues.
- A park, the beach, someone’s home or backyard, are all feasible sites for holding a wedding and may even provide terrific scenery to serve as a beautiful backdrop for your special day.
- In many instances, such places allow weddings even if they do not specialize in them.
- Doing this not only allows you to save money, but also provides a unique wedding experience for you and your guests which might not occur at a more traditional venue.
Limit the Guest List
- Creating a guest list is often one of the most cumbersome, controversial, problematic, and friction-building aspects to a wedding.
- Just about every couple goes through this often-contentious aspect of the wedding to make a guest list which is equitable to all families involved, balances family versus friends, and keeps the number of attendees to a manageable and budget-conscious level.
- Well, if money, of lack thereof, is an issue then trimming the guest list is a must!
- Yes, this will still have all the negative aspects previously noted but is necessary to eliminate the huge costs associated with food, drink, party favors, etc.
- As such, you may need to limit your guest list to only your closest friends and family members.
- Another possibility is to invite a large number of guests to the ceremony, but only a select few to the reception.
- Hurt feelings may result but let’s face it, that’s going to happen no matter how extensive your budget and guest list may be.
- And, if all else fails there is still one option bound to upset any number of people, especially your closest family and friends – eloping.
Buy a Pre-Owned Wedding Dress
- It is the dream of many women to have a brand, new gorgeous wedding gown that meets the expectations of the dreams they have had about their wedding since they were a little girl.
- The reality of a wedding budget, however, can quickly change this.
- So, if you are on a budget, one good thing to know about pre-owned wedding dresses is that purchasing one does not mean having to do so at some local thrift store or tacky second-hand shop.
- Instead, this has become a lucrative market with high quality dresses and accessories readily available from reputable companies that specialize in this very need.
- Companies such a Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses and Stillwhite have done much to bring class, style, and integrity to this process resulting in fine products to make your wedding attire beautiful, memorable, and at a price you can afford.
- Yes, it is true you only wear your wedding gown once, but it is still something you want to treasure.
- Working with some companies helps you do just that!
Serve a Signature Drink
- Without a doubt, having an “open bar” at a wedding can be a truly costly endeavor.
- Not only does an open bar encourage people to drink, but also invites them to drink more than they usually would as well as order something they generally wouldn’t if on their own dime.
- So, instead of an open bar consider serving a signature drink.
- Doing so adds a personal touch to your wedding and typically costs a lot less than a fully-stocked bar.
- In the very least, consider offering only beer and wine.
Get Creative with Your Food Menu
- As with other wedding aspects, providing a meal for your guests can prove to be an expensive endeavor.
- This is especially the case if you offer a sit-down meal in which guests are served food at their table.
- While a buffet line may save you some money, the cost for doing so is not cheap and may be a little more than what you are wanting to spend, especially if you are on a very constricted wedding budget.
- One dinner option you may want to consider is a pot-luck style reception.
- And, if this is not to your liking another option is to simply skip the meal altogether and offer solely a dessert option.
- After all, if the idea is to show appreciation to your guests for their attendance, then offering a dessert-only menu achieves this very goal and provides them with something refreshing.
- Guests are often pleased to eat anything, so by letting them know ahead of time that dessert and refreshments will be served following the wedding they can prepare accordingly.
- The importance of people’s attendance at your special day rests upon their love for you, not what you feed them.
Skip the DJ
- In addition to expenses associated with venue, decorations, food, drink, etc., entertainment is another aspect of your wedding that does not have to cost a fortune.
- Yes, a pricey DJ may be fun to have but there are many other ways to play the music you want on your special day.
- From pre-made playlists to sound system rental to simply having someone step in and play music, it truly can be done at a fraction of the price.
- Music, no matter how it is presented, creates priceless memories and this will definitely be the case with such alternatives which will also save you a few bucks.
As we know, the best things in life – walking, jogging, hiking, exercising, playing in the yard, hanging out with loved ones, conversation, worship, smiling, etc. – are free. And while a wedding is also one of the best things in life, unfortunately it’s not free at all. In fact, it can be extremely expensive. So, if you’re on a budget when it comes to your special day, take advantage of some of the ways to create a truly memorable wedding that doesn’t break the bank. Remember, it can be done!
Resource: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/savings/clever-ways-to-save-money/