When it comes to planning a wedding, it’s safe to say that the process is certainly not a cheap one. By the time you have worked out the cost of booking the venues for your wedding ceremony and reception, arranging catering for your guests, selecting a delicious wedding cake, purchasing the perfect wedding dress and suit for the groom, paying for your wedding car hire and a professional photographer, and shelling out a small fortune for wedding bands, it’s no surprise if you’re left wondering whether or not the only type of honeymoon you’re going to be able to afford is a staycation.
Thankfully, the good news is that there are many different methods of getting married on a budget without the need to compromise on your big day. Many couples today are coming up with savvy tricks and tips that they use to keep their wedding costs down as low as possible, whilst still having the perfect day to remember themselves along with all their family and closest friends.
From booking your wedding ceremony on an unconventional day of the week to doing as much as you can yourself, there are plenty of ways to tighten your purse strings when it comes to getting wed, leaving you with more money in the bank for starting off your married life together. We’ve listed some of our best tips and tricks here.
Tip #1. Choose an Engagement Ring Together:
When it comes to picking an engagement ring, society’s main rule of thumb is that the guy himself should aim to spend about three months’ worth of wages. But, when you have bills and rent to pay and maybe even little mouths to feed, three months of your earnings is a lot of money to shell out on one ring alone, especially when you have a wedding to plan. But, there’s no reason to stick with traditions when it comes to choosing the perfect engagement ring; today more and more couples are not only picking the ring out together, but they’re also splitting the bill.
After all, the tradition of the man buying the engagement ring for his wife was designed when women stayed at home and didn’t earn their own money, therefore, their husband-to-be needed to show that they could provide for them financially. However, today, this is no longer the case – many women are very independent and are earning salaries equal to or even more than that of their partners! So, there’s no need to splash the cash on an engagement ring – there are many ways to cut the cost of this special piece of jewelry, from being savvy with your choice of diamond ring settings to opting for a vintage ring instead. And, picking the ring together means that you can both look out for the best deals and bargains.
Tip #2. Get Married in the Week:
Whilst most weddings take place at the weekend to make it easier for guests to attend, the problem with this is that demand goes up significantly when you choose to tie the knot on a Saturday or Sunday. If you book well in advance, then this should give you plenty of time to let your guests know that you’re going to be getting married during the week, so that they can take leave from work and make plans accordingly to ensure that they can attend.
Simply by getting married on a weekday rather than a weekend, you could save anything up to 50% on the cost of your venues. In many cases, venues may even be happy to provide you with a special price, since the demand for those days is low so you won’t be competing with other potential bookings. In addition, getting married in the week won’t just enable you to save money on your venue; many wedding services such as catering, wedding cars, and photographers will also be rather quiet during the week and as a result, may put their prices down in a bid to attract more bookings.
Tip #3. Get Married Outdoors:
Outdoor weddings are becoming more and more popular these days, especially beach weddings! There are many great benefits to getting married outdoors – you can get some stunning photographs, and it’s also a much more environmentally friendly option than getting married in a traditional venue. Another great reason to consider tying the knot outside is of course the cost!
Many outdoor venues are not venues at all; in fact, they are natural settings that may well be free for you to use. For example, if you choose to tie the knot in a grassy area close to your home or near a river, the most you may need to do is get permission from your local authorities to use the space. Sometimes this may incur a small fee, but this is very likely to be less than the cost of booking a large wedding venue such as a hall. Of course, there are still proper outdoor venues in Salt Lake, and across the country, that you could consider, all of which offer a beautiful backdrop for your special day without the hefty price tag of an indoor venue.
Tip #4. Opt for a Church Wedding:
If you are religious or have a religious family background, then it’s a lovely idea to tie the knot in your local church, rather than hiring a venue for your ceremony. However, bear in mind that many religious buildings have some restrictions on who can get married there, for example, they may require you to have attended the church a number of times before your wedding before they will allow it.
So, if a religious church wedding sounds like something you would like, it’s a good idea to check beforehand that you meet the criteria. If you do, then this is a great way to save money, too – most churches are happy to host weddings at no extra cost, especially for members of the congregation.
Tip #5. Keep Your Guest List Small:
Today, more and more couples are having small, intimate weddings, rather than inviting everybody they’ve ever met. Whilst a large wedding can be lovely, there’s also a lot to be said about smaller ceremonies where you are surrounded by people who you are close to and who really mean something to you both, such as your families and best friends. If you want to have a crowd, then a good way to save money is to have an after-party once your reception is over; you can invite more people to come and celebrate with you afterward, whilst keeping numbers smaller at your ceremony and reception in order to keep the price down.
Tip #6. Do-It-Yourself:
Before you start planning your wedding, ask yourself – what can I do myself? Chances are, there are plenty of ways in which you can turn to DIY to cut the cost of your wedding day in two. For example, wedding invitations can be very pricey to have made by a professional, especially if you are planning to invite a lot of guests. On the other hand, they’re also quite easy to make by yourself, even if you’re not that crafty.
You can find hundreds of ideas for handmade wedding invitations online, along with tutorials, tips and ideas for putting together your own designs. To make your own wedding invitations, you’ll need some basic materials, such as cards, ribbons, stencils and stamps, and perhaps even glitter or confetti! If you have children together, this is a perfect way to get them involved with your wedding planning. Wedding favors are also an excellent choice when it comes to what you’re going to make yourself, rather than hand over to the professionals, saving yourself a lot of money in the process.
Tip #7. Choose Alternative Catering Ideas:
When it comes to providing food and refreshments for your guests, the cost of catering can soon add up, especially if you are planning to sit everybody down for a three-course meal. So, what can you do to keep the cost of feeding your guests to a minimum, without letting anybody go hungry?
There are many great ideas that you might want to choose from, such as having food stations and canapes, or even putting on a buffet, so that your guests can fill their plates with the food that they like, helping to eliminate waste. Buffets are usually a lot cheaper than a multi-course meal, since they require less work and preparation, for example there’s no need for waiting staff.
Tip #8. Consider Hiring the Dress and Suit:
Every woman wants to own the perfect wedding dress, but when you think about it in terms of money, buying one isn’t a very practical decision. Because of this, more and more brides are seriously considering wedding dress rental instead; paying for the one day of use rather than buying the dress outright can be substantially cheaper. When it comes to the groom’s suit, he may even have one that’s suitable – if not, suit hire is a very popular option amongst couples who’re looking to cut the cost of getting wed. If you really can’t stand the idea of giving your wedding dress or suit back, then why not consider a second-hand option – after all, most have only been worn once before.
Did these tips help? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
