If you’re planning to get married, you may be concerned about the cost of the ceremony and reception and whether you can afford the wedding you’ve wished for. While it’s true that planning a wedding brings many expenses to account for, there are different ways that you can save money and still have the ceremony of your dreams. From the wedding ring sets to the flowers, there are many areas in which you can cut costs to have a more budget-friendly wedding.
1. Don’t Get Married in the High Season
Many people choose to get married during the wedding high season, which usually runs from May through October. These months are popular because the weather is often nicer, but wedding venues tend to get booked faster and can be more expensive to reserve during the high season. If you want to save money on reserving a venue and have a better chance of booking your ideal location, consider getting married outside these months.
2. Cut Costs on Flowers
One of the smartest ways to save money on wedding flowers is by ordering them in bulk and arranging them yourself instead of buying ones that are already made into bouquets. Another way to save is by ordering blossoms that will be in season for your wedding, as flowers that aren’t in season tend to cost more. If you’re willing to forgo having natural flowers at your ceremony, beautiful silk faux flowers may be less expensive. You can also use the flowers for your wedding to decorate the reception hall if there’s enough time between events.
3. Choose Affordable Wedding Rings
Exchanging rings is one of the highlights of a wedding, and you can still give each other special rings without going beyond your budget. In addition to affordable engagement rings, you can find many beautiful wedding bands for women that won’t set you back a lot of money. You can also find affordable men’s wedding bands at respected online retailers. If you want to save money on a wedding ring with a stone, consider choosing a smaller stone. You can also reduce your cost by choosing a silver band instead of one that’s made of gold or platinum.
4. Find Cheaper Food Alternatives
Guests usually look forward to eating good food at the reception, and you won’t have to break the bank to supply dishes that your attendees will love. A buffet-style event will likely be cheaper than hiring wait staff to serve meals to your guests. Self-catering can be a budget-friendly alternative to hiring a professional caterer if you plan a smaller wedding. You can also search for deals from local restaurants that supply food for wedding receptions. The wedding cake can also be a major expense, and you might save a considerable amount of money by having cupcakes, donuts, or another type of dessert instead.
5. Use the Same Venue for the Wedding and Reception
You don’t have to rent separate venues for your wedding and reception, and many banquet halls, country clubs, and other suitable facilities can be used for both events. Some venues might even offer you a discount if you want to reserve the same location for your wedding and reception. Along with the savings you’ll enjoy on renting only one venue, you won’t have to worry about the expenses of traveling between two locations.
6. Consider Minimizing the Guest List
If you plan to invite a lot of guests to the wedding, expect to pay more for a larger venue as well as for food at the reception. As difficult as it might seem, you might find it easier to stay within your budget by reducing the number of people you invite to the wedding. You don’t have to invite everyone you know, and you can create a more intimate ceremony while saving money by inviting only your closest friends and family members to attend.
7. Send Digital Invitations
Invitations printed on paper could be a costly expense, and sending digital invitations instead is an excellent way to save money. You’ll eliminate the costs of printing, stationery, and mailing fees by going digital and reducing your paper usage, which can help the environment. You can also send save-the-date reminders by email instead of mailing printed cards. If you want to send paper invitations, you can print the cards at home instead of using a professional printing service.
8. Shop for Preowned Wedding Attire
If you are on a strict budget and don’t mind wearing secondhand clothing on your big day, you might find great bargains by shopping for wedding attire that was previously worn. Used bridal gowns, tuxedoes for grooms, and clothing for bridesmaids and groomsmen are often available at significantly lower prices. You may also find discount rates on used formal footwear that looks almost as good as new.
9. Find Cheaper Entertainment
Entertainment at your wedding reception can make your occasion even more memorable. If you want to keep your entertainment expenses to a minimum, consider hiring a DJ instead of a live band so that you’ll only have to pay one entertainer for their time. Student musicians may also be willing to perform at your wedding at a lower price than a professional band.
A Special Day for Less Money
You want your wedding day to be as special as possible, and you don’t want the expenses of your occasion to weigh on your mind. You can alleviate a lot of your stress and have more energy to focus on your big day if you put forth the effort to lower your wedding costs in advance.