How to Save Money on Your Wedding Day
Determining your wedding budget is one of the most important, and often stressful, first steps of planning your wedding day. Looking through inspirational photos on Instagram and Pinterest might set you up for disappointment especially when you realize the price tag of all these things. However, the good news is that there are so many ways that you can cut costs when planning your wedding day while still achieving your overall vision. The best part is, these tips won’t hinder your overall style for the day but rather give you a wider range of affordable options that you’ll end up loving just as much. Here are a few tips on how to save money on your wedding day:
Consider a week day event
Okay hear me out, initially you may be thinking “that’s not the vibe”. But we’re seeing it happen more and more in the industry! Venues are typically priced lower for weekday events than they are on weekends, for obvious reasons being everyone wants a weekend event so the venu can charge exponentially more due to the high demand. If you’re looking around at places to host your big day, inquire about both weekend and weekday rates to see where you could potentially save. Most Venues and Vendors will offer a weekday discount which is always a bonus!
Make and print your own stationary
This is one of the simpler ways to save you some cash. Say hello to your new best friend for all things wedding stationary - Canva! Instead of investing in a designer, although beautiful and desirable, save some room in your budget by using free templates that you can source from Canva. Once you’ve found a style you like and have your invites, menus and everything else designed, you can also have them printed through a local business which will result in further savings.
Create a wedding website
If you don’t want to skip wedding invitations completely, an easy way to cut additional costs is by sending out virtual “save the dates”. The easiest way to do this would be creating a wedding website with a link directly to your invitation, this way your guests will be able to easily access any information they will need leading up to the event. Make sure you include anything your guests might need to know, such as: location, dress code, accommodations, travel, event times, etc.
No wedding party
This may be an unpopular opinion for some, and is definitely a long-time tradition for many, however we are seeing more and more wedding couples planning to opt out of including a wedding party for their big day. This will save money on things like bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts, larger accommodations for getting ready the day of, as well as florals, boutonniere’s and elaborate head tables. So if you feel like you want to do something a little different while saving, this is a great way to accomplish that.
Re-purpose your florals
Planning to repurpose your wedding bouquet and florals from the ceremony to use at the reception is a sweet way to not only reduce cost but waste as well! You can use your bouquets as florals on your head table or other areas of your venue to add cohesiveness to your decor. This is also true for chairs, your arch, decor, etc. Just make sure you have a few people to task with helping switch things over in between events.
Use your own transportation
Jazzing up a family vehicle or borrowing something from a friend is a great option for transportation as an alternative to renting a limo or a party bus. What’s even better is if you are able to find a venue that offers a ceremony and reception space all in one location, meaning you don’t have to plan for transportation in between ceremony, photos and reception.
Skip wedding favours
Your goal is to plan an unforgettable day for your guests, and you may think that putting tons of effort into your wedding favors will add to the experience. In truth, most wedding favours often get forgotten behind or wasted. There are other ways you can make your day feel important and show your appreciation to your guests through a thank you speech or hand written love notes!
Have a smaller guest count
More people equals more money for you, more mouths to feed, chairs to rent, bigger venues required etc. There’s a few things you can do to reduce your guest count, one is opting for no kids. Another is choosing to invite only people who you are in touch with and are currently present in your life.
Minimal Decor
Right now, minimal decor is trending which is perfect! Rather than really elaborate floral centerpieces, consider single or minimalist florals in bud vases or greenery. Candles are also an inexpensive way to add style and beauty to your decor.
Choose your venue wisely
Hidden costs with weddings that you may not have considered. Oftentimes venues will offer in house catering, and a bar setup, with staffing. Which is great, however it will often cost much more than outsourcing your own.
Before you dive too deep into planning and hiring vendors, sit down with your partner and determine what the most important parts of the day are for you. Think carefully about where you want to allocate your wedding budget, that will make the best lasting memories for you. Try not to get lost in the noise and chaos of what everyone else is doing!
At the end of the day, you likely won’t remember your decor, whether you had fancy chairs or plastic, or if you gave the best wedding favours. You’ll remember how it felt to be there, surrounded by all of the people who love.
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