More brides and grooms are paying for or contributing to the cost of their wedding than any time before. This has helped fuel the shabby chic, vintage and DIY wedding trends as couples look to create their dream wedding in the most affordable manner possible. So how can you have the wedding you want while sticking to a wedding budget? These 15 tips can help you get started.
Be selective with invitations. It’s a difficult task to decide who makes the guest list “cut”. With the average wedding reception cost per person of $100, this can be a wedding reception budget saver though. When considering a wedding reception venue, it’s a good idea to ask the guaranteed minimum. The minimum number is the amount of guests you will pay for, even if your wedding guest list is fewer than this number. The minimum number may be negotiable if your wedding reception will be during non-peak dates.
Reduce the number of attendants. Each person standing up in your bridal party is a dear friend – and an expense. While you may not be paying for their attire, you will purchase their flowers, attendant gift, transportation and more. Consider limiting your bridal party to siblings and closest friends.
Bundle services. It can be a huge savings to bundle multiple services with a single company. Centerpieces, attendant’s flowers and ceremony decorations with one florist. Invitations, wedding programs, and personalized stationary with one printer. (Click here to learn about bundling DJ, Photography and Videography with Mike Staff Productions.)
It’s all about appearances. It is common to have a display cake for the cake cutting ceremony, with one layer for cutting, and a sheet cake in the kitchen for dessert service. You can also display a fine bottle of champagne at the head table, but have a less expensive sparkling wine for the toast. No one will be the wiser.
In season means in budget. Choosing flowers that are in season can result in major savings. Instead of telling your florist what bouquet you want, ask for recommendations using less costly blooms for your time of year. If you want something out of season, ask to use them as accent flowers rather than the primary.
Choose one location. There are multiple benefits of combining your ceremony and reception location. In addition to the convenience, you can reduce the cost of multiple venues, transportation and decor.
Make it twinkle. Candles create a sense of romance. Whether you use exquisite candelabras for an elegant feeling or simple hurricanes for a rustic reception, candles can be a beautiful and inexpensive way to make a statement.
Personalize the venue. Using photographs from your engagement session or courtship as wedding reception decor accents allows you to tell your story as a couple (and you’ve already paid for them). Select images of your lives separately and together for your welcome table, cake table or centerpieces. You can also share a photo montage with your guests during the cocktail hour or during your first dance.
Downsize centerpieces. Selecting smaller centerpieces allows your guests to converse easily and pass food items around the table; 14 to 20 inches high is ideal. A smaller arrangement will allow you to save on your floral budget, or add more of an expensive bloom due to the smaller scale.
Be a DIY bride. Before taking on any DIY projects, you should calculate the cost of materials and time versus hiring a professional to handle the project. You should also consider how close to your wedding you would have to complete the task. Many brides elect to make and print paper products such as programs and table cards, but leave centerpiece creation to the pros due to timing.
Hire Professionals. It is sometimes tempting to use a “Friendor” for your wedding. A “Friendor” is a friends who you use for wedding services. They may or may not perform this service as a career. Sometimes a “Friendor” works perfectly; you get exactly what you wanted for a price you can afford. But other times working with a friendor can cause more stress than it’s worth and put a strain on your friendship. A “Friendor” can also cost you more in the end if they aren’t in tune with wedding trends, cost savings opportunities such as in season flowers and lost chances to bundle services for savings. Additionally, if you want professional results, it may be best to use aprofessional service.
Double duty decorations. Repurpose the flowers from your ceremony for your wedding reception. Altar arrangements are perfect to flank the head table. Bridesmaids bouquets double as centerpieces for the bridal table when placed in a simple glass vase.
Kids at receptions. If you choose to invite children to your wedding reception, consider asking for budget friendly children’s dinner options such as chicken fingers or sliders. For more tips on kids at your reception, click here.
Guest favors. Small tokens of appreciation for attending your wedding can add up to big budget busters. Consider making a charitable donation in their honor or a simple favor, such as chocolates.
Shorten the cocktail hour. If your timeline allows you to shorten the cocktail hour without negatively affecting your guests, you may be able to negotiate a lower price due to the decreased volume. You can also limit the cocktail offerings to a signature drink, requiring fewer liquors.
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