Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life. However, as with any special event or milestone in your life, planning your wedding can come at a cost. It comes with a lot of stress and financial responsibilities. Even if you have saved up for months or even years, most people find that their wedding budget often exceeds their expectations.
While most people would agree that a wedding is worth every penny spent, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to throw the wedding of your dreams. Instead, there are plenty of ways that you can save money on your wedding without having to compromise on the final result.
Fortunately, there are a lot of creative ways you can save money on your wedding without having to skimp on your special day. From DIY projects to affordable venues and more cost-effective catering options, you’ll be surprised at how much you can save by thinking outside of the box.
The key is being resourceful and willing to put in some time and effort upfront to save money in the long run. If you’re worried about finding ways to cut costs on your upcoming special event, we have put together a list of some practical tips and tricks that will help keep costs down while still making sure it’s a memorable event.
1. Plan your wedding in advance
If there is one thing you should do to save money on your wedding, it’s to plan it. The more time you have to save, the better.
You can start by putting a date on the calendar as soon as you know you want to get married. You can also create a wedding budget worksheet as soon as you start thinking about the logistics of your big day. By doing so, you will have plenty of time to save up for your big day.
In addition to giving you plenty of time to save, planning will also help you avoid the pitfalls of impulse buying and last-minute decision-making. You can avoid a lot of extra costs by planning and keeping your budget in mind at all times.
2. Set a budget & stick to it
While it’s important to save money on your wedding, you also need to remember that the wedding is supposed to be a happy occasion, so don’t be afraid to spend a little bit more to make your day extra special.
Before you start planning your wedding, make sure that you set a budget and make sure that you stick to it. This way, you’ll avoid going over budget and will be able to spend your money wisely on the aspects of your wedding that matter to you. Even though saving money on your wedding is important, don’t let it be the sole focus of your planning. Instead, focus on the key aspects of your wedding, such as your venue and entertainment, and save money on the smaller details.
3. Check out flexible catering options
The catering for your wedding is probably one of the biggest line items on your budget. However, there are a lot of ways to save money on catering.
One of the best ways is to choose a caterer that offers a buffet-style or other flexible catering options. That way, you can choose how many servings you want to serve based on your guest list.
4. Book your wedding venue and caterer at the same time
If you can, try to book your venue and caterer at the same time. Most caterers will have a list of preferred wedding venues that they work with regularly.
By booking your venue and caterer at the same time, you will increase your chance of getting discounts on both services. By combining your venue and caterer search you will be able to see what venues are available for the dates you have in mind. You can also see what caterers each venue has on its menu. This way, you can pick the venue that’s best for you and pick a caterer that fits your budget.
5. Plan a small, intimate wedding
Many people tend to get carried away when planning their wedding. While you should, of course, plan the wedding of your dreams, you shouldn’t feel pressured to invite every single person in your life, regardless of how close they may be to you. Remember that your wedding is supposed to be a celebration of your love and commitment to one another.
While it’s important to show your appreciation to your loved ones, you don’t need to throw an over-the-top party to do so. Instead, you can plan a small, intimate gathering, where you can share your love with those who are closest to you. Not only will this allow you to save on costs, but it will also allow you to enjoy your special day without the added stress of trying to please everyone.
6. Book skilled and trusted vendors
To do so, you need to know what you want ahead of time. You should have a good idea of what you want your wedding to look like and the types of vendors you want to hire.
When hiring vendors, make sure to check out their portfolios and reviews. You want to make sure that you are only hiring skilled and trusted vendors. If you don’t feel like you have enough time to research vendors and book them, consider hiring a wedding planner.
You should also have a backup plan in case a vendor does not work out. Make sure that you have a list of other vendors who can step in if one of your preferred vendors is not available.
7. Don’t skimp on the photographer or videographer
Your photographs and videos will last as long as you live. You do not want to end up with low-quality images and videos because you tried to save money on your photographer or videographer. While you want to save money on other items like your venue and caterer, you mustn’t skimp on these two items.
You should be able to find a good-quality photographer or videographer for about £1,000. However, if you do not have that kind of money to spend on your photographer, you can also find photographers who are willing to work for less. By offering to pay the photographer in instalments and negotiating a lower rate, you can save a significant amount of money on your photographer.
8. Book the most affordable venue for your date
The venue is another place where you should not skimp. You want to book the most affordable venue for your date. However, you should not try to save money by booking a cheap venue for your wedding.
Cheap venues often have poor acoustics and amenities. They also might not have much character or charm. This will make your wedding photos and videos look bland and unimpressive.
You want to find a middle ground that gives you great value for your money. This means booking a mid-priced venue that has great sound and lighting and a rich ambience.
9. Rent decorations instead of buying them
Another way to save money on your wedding is to rent decorations instead of buying them. This is especially useful if you only want to use a few decorations or if you want to bring in a theme that is not normal.
Renting decorations can save you a lot of money if you are not picky about what you want. Look for wedding rental companies in your area and ask them about the types of decorations they have available for weddings. You can also buy secondhand decorations from places like Gumtree and eBay to save even more money.
10. Pick a lesser-known wedding day and timing
While you want to pick a special day for your wedding, you should also consider the less popular days.
According to one survey, Fridays and Saturdays are the most popular days to get married. This means that you may have to pay more for a weekend wedding as opposed to a weekday wedding. Wednesdays and Thursdays are less popular days to get married, which means they are usually less expensive.
Similarly, you can also try to pick a lesser-known time for your wedding. Weekdays and off-peak hours are usually less expensive than weekends and peak hours. This will help you to save money on your wedding.
11. DIY is always an option
You can also save money on your wedding by doing it yourself. You can make decorations, food, and costumes to save money. You can also save money by having an adult-only coupling ceremony instead of a full-blown wedding ceremony.
If you have enough time and resources, you can do pretty much anything you want for your wedding. You can even have a costume-themed wedding with your friends and family.
Apart from these, you can also ask your friends and family members to chip in and help you with the costs. They can help with decorations, invitations, and other things to help defray costs.
12. Have an adult-only coupling ceremony
As mentioned above, you can have an adult-only coupling ceremony instead of a traditional wedding ceremony. With an adult-only coupling ceremony, you can combine two ceremonies such as a friend’s, family and loved one’s ceremony and a religious ceremony. This is a much cheaper alternative to a full-blown wedding ceremony and can help you save a lot of money on your wedding.
13. Ask your friends & family to help out
You can also save money on your wedding by asking your family and friends to help. For example, you can ask your friends and family members to serve as attendants at your wedding ceremony. Friends and family may also be able to assist with decorations, food, and other wedding-related tasks. This will help you save money on your wedding and make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.
14. Don’t feel obligated to buy new things
Although weddings are typically thought of as a once-in-a-lifetime event, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend an exorbitant amount of money to host your wedding. Instead, you should feel comfortable buying second-hand items for your wedding, as they can typically be found at a much cheaper price.
For example, you can purchase second-hand furniture and decorations for your wedding, rather than spending thousands of dollars on new items. Similarly, you can purchase second-hand wedding outfits for yourself and your bridal party, as you’re likely to find that second-hand wedding dresses are much cheaper than new ones.
15. Don’t be shy to ask for a discount
Asking for a discount is never a bad thing, so don’t be shy to do so when trying to save money on your wedding. For example, when you’re trying to book your wedding venue, ask if they offer any deals on booking a larger space.
Similarly, when you’re trying to book a photographer or a videographer, don’t be afraid to ask them if they offer a deal for booking them for a longer period. You should also check with local businesses to see if they give discounts.
While you’re likely to find that most businesses are willing to offer you a discount, don’t be afraid to ask. After all, they want your business, so they’ll likely be willing to negotiate with you.
Final thoughts
Your wedding day is undoubtedly one of the most important days of your life, and it’s the day that you’ll want to remember forever. While planning your wedding may come at a cost, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend an exorbitant amount of money. Instead, there are plenty of ways that you can save money on your wedding without having to compromise on the final result.
From hosting your wedding at the right time of year to getting married during the off-season, there are plenty of ways that you can save money on your wedding without having to compromise on the final result.
