You have dreamed about your wedding day for your entire life. Thus, it is understandable that you want it to be perfect. Unfortunately, you may be finding out that you are limited in pulling off the wedding of your dreams because of funding issues. The good news is that there are ways that you can save money while planning the wedding that you desire. Here are a few tips to help get you started.
Trim the Guest List
The best way to instantly save money on your wedding is to trim the guest list. How many people you invite to celebrate your day has a direct effect on how much the total bill will be. For example, every additional guest translates to more money needed for food, drink, party favors, and more.
You may also save money on the venue if you can trim your guest list down enough so that you do not need as big of a space to accommodate everyone. While it can be difficult to cut people out from your day, doing so will lower nearly every aspect of your budget. Consider who it is most important to invite.
Choose Your Date and Time Wisely
Choosing your date and time wisely is another great way to keep your wedding budget in check. You can save thousands of dollars by choosing a shoulder season date for your nuptials. It is no surprise that a wedding in March will cost less than a Saturday in the middle of June. Weddings that are booked on a weekend will always cost more than those that are in the middle of the week.
The time of the wedding is also important. You will save money choosing a mid-morning affair with a light lunch as compared to an evening wedding where you may feel obligated to serve a full dinner. If you choose an evening wedding you may also have to pay extra fees for cleanup. Most caterers and decorators will provide clean-up services to take the stress off your day, but if they have to do this after midnight you will pay extra.
Consider Online Wedding Attire
Although it may be fun to head to the fancy boutique shops to find the perfect wedding dress, you will also pay for this type of service and attention. If you are looking for little ways to cut costs for your wedding, consider shopping online for all of your wedding attire. May sure that you are buying from a site that specializes in wedding dresses, to ensure you will receive a quality dress.
In addition to the wedding gown, you can help the members of your bridal party save money by choosing an infinity dress. This type of versatile dress can be worn again for a different occasion, making it a good investment.
Take it Outdoors
One of the easiest ways to cut down on expenses without sacrificing the vision that you have for your big day is to lean on the natural scenery around you to supply the decorations. Rather than dropping thousands of dollars on flowers that will be dead in a few days anyway, consider moving your wedding ceremony and reception outdoors to an area that features a natural backdrop.
For instance, who needs fancy floral arrangements for the altar when you have the beach as the backdrop for your vows? By taking your proceedings outside to a scenic location, you will not need to spend as much money to make it look beautiful. In addition to beach and mountain locations, consider gardens, desert landscapes, or other areas that already have beauty built into the surroundings.
Stay Clear of Rustic Barn Weddings
While it is a very popular and highly desired wedding theme, having a rustic barn wedding is by far the most expensive wedding theme you could choose. Some wedding venues have the added benefit of including other services like catering, but with barns, every service will need to be provided from an external source.
On top of that, there will be a lot of extra fees, most of which will be for the cost of transportation. Since most barns will be far out from the city, your services (ie. photographers, caterers, decorators, etc) will have to travel farther out to get to your venue racking up the mileage expenses.
Rent, Rent, Rent!
When it comes to having a wedding renting is most often a cheaper option than buying outright. This can be the case when choosing a tuxedo for the groom and groomsmen and for party decoration rentals. Renting a tuxedo is often cheaper than buying and you may receive a discount when renting for multiple people (ie. groom and groomsmen).
For wedding decorations, renting from a party rental is always cheaper and they can set them up for you. Keep in mind that decorating a wedding venue is nothing like decorating for any other party. There is a lot of work that goes into it so it is worth paying any setup and takedown fees.
Funnel Money to the Things That Matter
At the end of the day, your wedding should be a reflection of what you and your partner find important. While some couples may want to drop a significant amount of their wedding budget on an open bar for their guests, other couples may choose to use that money for another area of the festivities.
If you are a foodie, you may want to set aside a larger proportion of your budget to fund a premium eating experience for your guests. If you are a fan of live music, there is a good chance that you will want to spend more on a band. By funneling the bulk of your budget into the things that are the most important to you on this special day, you will be able to save money elsewhere. This will increase your overall satisfaction with how your wedding turns out.
Final Thoughts
You can still have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank. These five tips will help to ensure that your day is just as you have always envisioned it to be without the hefty price tag that you do not need. You do not have to sacrifice your dreams if you learn how you can cut costs along the way.
