Most of us are always looking to cut costs somewhere. Whether we’re ditching branded goods in order to save on our weekly shop, or if we’re buying second hand clothes in thrift shops, you simply can’t beat a bargain. However, weddings are the one big occasion it’s tempting to splash out on. After all, we often spend years saving up for our wedding, and (hopefully!) you only get married once! More and more of us are also being inspired by lavish-looking weddings appearing on the likes of Instagram and Pinterest. But, with the cost of living on the rise, paying for that luxury wedding has turned into a pipe dream for a lot of people. Shockingly, the average wedding cost in the USA comes in at a massive $26, 645. When so many of us are struggling to get onto the property market, or maybe want to save for our child’s education, $26,000 is a lot of money for just one day! But, there are ways to compromise. Shabby-chic is officially on trend and DIY weddings are becoming more and more popular as couples hope to save money on their big day. Stop teasing yourself with luxury online weddings – you can create a wedding that’s perfect for you all on your own.
The venue
Your wedding venue will undoubtedly be the most costly part of your day. Weddings venues themselves that offer both ceremony and reception are the most popular but tend to be the most expensive. It can be practical having everything you need under one roof, and saves you trekking elsewhere for the reception. But consider whether you really need to have your ceremony, reception and catering provided by the same place. You are easily looking at a few thousand dollars for one of these ‘all inclusive’ packages. The best way to save money is to separate these parts of your wedding day so you have more freedom over price. For example, you could have your ceremony at the local registry office (not the most romantic, but cheap!) and then have your reception at a stately home. Or you could do it the other way home, with a lavish ceremony followed by a budget reception. If you or a family member have a huge garden, set up a marquee and decorate the place with fairy lights for a romantic outside space. Or, you might be surprised how much money you could save by hiring out a pub or restaurant.
The food
Most people hire caterers for their wedding who do all hard work for you. But still, wedding food is notorious for being dry, bland and just generally of pretty poor quality. Avoid large companies who claim to be able to do every single type of food and instead look at small independent caterers. People who run a street food business are a good bet for reasonable, innovative food that will hit the spot with your guests. Or, if you are on a really tight budget, consider doing the food yourselves. It might not sound too glamorous, but everyone loves a buffet – plus, you can cater to your guest’s needs better this way too. When it comes to alcohol, by it in bulk from a wholesaler’s as this will save you a lot of money.
Bridesmaids
Aside from your own dress, the most amount of money you’re going to spend on clothing will probably be on bridesmaid dresses. Whether you buy from the high street or from a specialist company, you will want to make sure your girls look amazing. However, once the dress is down, avoid following suit with expensive accessories. Your guests aren’t going to know that your bridesmaids aren’t wearing 32 carat necklaces. Cheap jewelry, handbags and hair accessories will help keep your bridesmaid costs down.
The flowers
Although they are often considered an afterthought, wedding flowers can be one of the most expensive parts of your big day. Considering they probably won’t even last a week, it’s quite a big waste of money when you really think about it! If you know you are going to want to keep some of your wedding flowers – for example to decorate your home with – opt for fake ones. You won’t get the sweet natural flower fragrance, but they are far more economical. If you’re not planning on keeping any flowers after the wedding, make your own bouquets on the cheap. Wedding florists charge a fortune for pre-made bundles and you can save a lot of money by doing them on your own. Cheap flowers are readily available from both your local store and garden centers. Then all you need is some tape and ribbon and you’re good to go!
The car
Having a fancy car to take you to your wedding is absolutely a nice touch to your big day. However, these rentals don’t exactly come with a cheap price tag. Save money by asking around your friends and family to see if anyone has an interesting vehicle they would be willing to chauffeur you in. You may feel as though you are being rude. but chances are your guest will be honored to be driving you to your wedding.
