You have many options to save on your wedding costs if you are planning one. Planning a wedding that is budget-friendly can be achieved by being creative, flexible and opportunistic.
This is how it might look: Imagine that you wake up at night and have a sudden craving for ice-cream. You have a lot of options, but all the grocery stores in town are closed. Either you go to an all-night coffee shop, convenience store, or cafeteria and have to pay more for that ice cream craving. Or you can just settle for the homemade granola bars found in your cupboard. It occurs to you that you could have made a plan and gone grocery shopping early in the week so that your ice-cream was at an affordable price. You have the same options for shopping at every stage of your wedding. Are you willing to pay more? Can you think ahead? Do you do what is easiest? You can’t have all the answers. But planning ahead is almost always the best way to get the most for your money.
Flexibility is the key to saving money on your wedding. Take into consideration your wedding day. This is likely to be a warm Saturday night in the late Spring/early Fall. Although I don’t claim to be a Nostradamus, the majority of wedding couples select the same dates. It is possible to reduce the cost of your wedding by moving your date from Saturday evenings in October, May, June and September. You can have an extravagant Saturday night ceremony or a relaxed Sunday afternoon reception. These time and date adjustments might seem insignificant, but vendors are less likely to have full schedules on a Sunday afternoon or Friday night in March. If you do your research, this availability could translate to incredible deals. I have seen weddings ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 (combined vendor costs) drop down to $2,000 to $3,000. Every component of the wedding, including venue, remained the same. What is the difference? What’s the difference? An 11am wedding on Saturday June 1st versus an exact 5pm one on that same day. Your friends will get an unexpected benefit by avoiding Saturday nights. They can plan a weekend either after or before your Sunday wedding. The Saturday night wedding will cut everyone’s weekend in half. All vendors appreciate flexibility in their schedules, however specific savings are possible for every part of the big day.
Wedding venues: Although the venue will be the most expensive of all wedding investment, it also offers the greatest opportunity for savings. You might avoid country clubs or golf courses in favor of shady parks and beaches. This will allow you to spend just a fraction on expensive tables, string lighting and centerpieces lit by candles. You can rent an old theater, or an art gallery in your local area if you want to be quirky and unique. You can think outside of the box. There are many venues available that can be used to accommodate your guests, depending on how big they are. Local restaurants and private residences might be a good choice. Be sure to ask all questions about any venue that is not traditional. Some venues may need extra insurance. It is important to find a venue that allows you to have both the ceremony and reception. This option is almost always better than separate venues for convenience and costs. Consider a church for your wedding. Some churches may offer a wedding at a very low cost or free. Look around to see if you can find an amazing deal
Caterer:It is a great way to reduce food and drink costs by having your wedding take place between the traditional dinner times. You can serve smaller appetizers and sandwiches at a wedding that is either 11am or 2.30pm. If this is your budget-saving option, make sure you tell guests the type of food/refreshments that will be provided. If guests know that snacks are not available, most people will go out for a quick bite before the big day. Shop around for food if it is necessary to provide food. Some venues will require that you use their preferred caterers. It is best to know in advance. Ask each caterer for their menu suggestions and how they can save you money. A limited menu that includes more options for appetizers is often a good idea. Buffet style is usually cheaper than serving plated meals. Consider this: What was your last experience with the food? Most people don’t remember. You need to find the right balance between price, quality, and service.
Get cakeYou can find reality television shows that are dedicated to baking. There are many beautiful and amazing cakes. This is the real life-altering truth: it’s only dessert. That sounds harsh, and it’s also emotionless. It’s sugar, eggs, flour and then you are in a place where desserts can be sold for thousands of dollars. Consider your reasons for making the cake. This is a fun event and photos are needed of the cake cutting and subsequent cake smashing. This can also be accomplished with an elegant, small cake. Even though the pictures look identical, the crowd gathers. After the cake has been rearranged, the bride and groom are served cupcakes or sheets of cake to all their guests. They are then ready for them to eat immediately. You can buy a small cake to share with your partner or the bride, then ask the baker for a couple of cupcakes or sheet cakes of the same flavour. The cake is enjoyed by everyone and it can cut down on the cost of your wedding cake expenses up to 50%.
Photographer: A lot of couples choose to hire Uncle Harry instead of a professional photographer. He always has a camera and will be there at the wedding. A niece from high school bought an expensive camera, and started taking photographs in high school. Keep in mind that the most tangible memories of your wedding are your photos. Your photographs will be there for you to look back on long after the flowers, cake, and music have passed. A wedding photographer should have experience in capturing all the angles, and ideal poses. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should spend your entire budget for photography. You can search the web for photographers that you like and then only get in touch with those who are. Talk to the photographer and request an estimate that doesn’t include print, album, or any other product. The edited photographs can be saved on flash drives or CDs with a copyright waiver that permits you to print them. The printing is the most profitable part of photography. This allows you to save your money while still being able to print at your convenience. Don’t be discouraged if the photographer isn’t offering this option. You will find many photographers that offer no-prints options.
DJ:Some people consider the DJ unnecessary while others see him as an invaluable vendor. Both can be true, depending on your wedding style and desired reception. For a calm, relaxing ceremony, and a reception that features soft music, you can find a location with a sound system. You can also plug in your iPod playlist to play soft tracks. Hire a DJ to make your reception a dance floor. There are many styles of DJ interaction, so be aware that there will be different levels. You want to entertain your guests and keep them dancing. Hire someone fun, outgoing, and energetic. Hire the local high-school tech genius with the loud sound system, and don’t be afraid to spend a lot. You want to experience weddings. Compare prices and ask for discounts. Shopping in advance is the best way to save money.
Florist:Flowers add beauty to any wedding. Flowers can also be placed in vase and soaked up water. Every couple must decide whether more flowers are needed or less. You can reduce or eliminate floral arrangements if the venue is already attractive enough. Many florists recommend that you increase the amount of greenery used in arrangements and use the actual flowers more strategically. This is a smart decision both financially and artistically. Artificial flowers are being used by some couples in place of real flowers. Artificial flowers are cheaper than real ones and can also be prepared months ahead. You can also use them for the rest of your life, so you don’t have to worry about it going bad. Independent florists are a better option than larger chains if you want to buy real flowers. They can usually work within your budget and offer more flexibility than large retail outlets.
Videographer: Are you a friend who has been forced to watch their wedding videos? It’s painful. With the advancement of editing and high-def video, wedding videos today are closer to Hollywood features than those made with handheld camcorders in the 80s. These videos can also be extremely expensive. It all comes down to what you need. Will your wedding DVD be seen after the couple has been married for a few weeks? The DVD is likely to sit on the shelves, with distant relatives or an anniversary view. The videographer is usually overlooked by budget-minded couples. But if videography is something you are really interested in, then look into companies that use multiple cameras and can create videos you love. Ask them about your style preferences and if they can work within your budget.
Other:Many other savings options exist that aren’t covered in the above categories.
While wedding favors can be cute and adorable they often get left behind in cars of the guests, where they end up being tossed. A small photo of your wedding couple or a package of chocolates are all good options. Cheap, quirky but fun ideas are available. Look online to find lots of creative ideas.
Disposable cameras should not be placed at the tables of guests attending a wedding. It’s a great idea, but it doesn’t work. These old cameras will cost you hundreds, as well as hundreds to create photos of children’s feet and plates. This is not something you should consider for your wedding.
Limousines are elegant and beautiful, but they’re only used when transportation is required. You won’t be able to relax and save money by hiring a limo driver to transport you for three blocks. You can spend more if you are travelling around town. Find a company that allows you to spend as little as you want. If you need only three hours, don’t be tied down to a minimum of six hours.
Honeymoon: A travel agent is a better choice than a retail store if you are looking for a great honeymoon. It’s possible that your guests will gift you with a vacation, instead of cuttinglery. A destination wedding is a great option for a smaller wedding. You can combine the reception and wedding to save money. This is a more affordable option than many couples realize and offers a romantic, less-expensive wedding.
Craigslist is OK. This is not a part of a wedding. Craigslist is your friend. It’s easy to search for vendors, locations and even wedding dresses all on one site. You can trade your skills, services, and items for wedding services by using the barter section of this site. Trade your timeshare to a photographer, or trade your vehicle repair business for catering. This can make your life easier and save you money. This section will help you to save money.
We hope these ideas will give you an idea of how to stretch your budget for your wedding. It is a beautiful and unforgettable event that should not be taken for granted. Let the fun begin and enjoy your special day. Let your friends and family enjoy the journey.