Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

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According to a recent survey by TheKnot.com, the average wedding costs approximately $27,800 and in urban areas, the cost can be upwards of $40,000! However, there are plenty of money-saving tips for planning a beautiful and elegant wedding without sacrificing a lot. Here are some great tips to get you started on planning your perfect wedding within a reasonable budget.

10. An Intimate Affair. Picking and choosing your guest list can be tough, especially when you’re dealing with family. But when you’re on a budget, it’s a must. Aunt Sue and Uncle Bob, who have seen you since you still had your baby teeth don’t need an invitation, and neither does your entire graduating class. Invite the people who are closest to you; it will keep costs down and make your night more enjoyable!

9. A Cake to be Served at a Wedding: If your heart is set on a traditional wedding cake, go for a smaller version. Use this cake for the cutting ceremony. Also, throw out the idea that this has to be a “wedding” cake. When ordering from a cake company or bakery, just like with anything else associated with a wedding, there will likely be a markup for wedding cakes. For your guests, go with a variety of sheet cakes. They really won’t know the difference or care when they’re served a different piece of cake than you had!

8. Young Talent: Many students will jump at the opportunity to get photography experience and add samples to their portfolio. An occasion such as a wedding is a great event for student’s to showcase their fresh skills and talent while gaining valuable experience. Contact the local universities, most often the career centers and the advisors will direct you students looking for work.

7. BYOB! Look for a venue that allows you to bring your own alcohol. Alcohol is by far one of the most marked up items at a restaurant or hotel, so you can only imagine how much its marked up for a wedding. Purchasing all of your alcohol from a warehouse store such as Costco will save you a lot of money.

6. ‘Tis the Season: Lilacs may be beautiful, but they can also be extremely expensive, depending on when you buy them. When choosing your wedding flowers, take into consideration what is in season. Flowers in bloom are easier to come by, tend to be more durable and are significantly less expensive.

5. What a Beautiful Day for a Wedding: While it is nice to book your wedding for a weekend so that you and your friends and family don’t have to take time off work, booking your wedding day for a weekday can save you a lot of money! Not only will you save money on the venue fee, but vendors will likely charge you less as well since they aren’t as busy during the week. Your friends and family will understand and will be thankful when they’re not at work and watching you get married!

4. Hey DJ! An easy way to save some money on your big day is hiring a DJ over a live band. Not only are DJ’s less expensive, but they are more appealing to a diverse audience. DJ’s have access to thousands of songs, from all different music genres and guests can even request their favorite songs!

3. Hire your own caterer. Many venues will make you use their in-house catering company. Choose a venue that allows you to bring in your own caterer, which will likely save you a lot of money that the venue would tack on bringing you the caterer. In addition, if you are bringing in a catering company to a venue, make sure that you are not paying double for services. If the catering company provides plates, glassware, tablecloths, etc., make sure the venue does not include this in their fee as well.

2. DIY! Taking matters into your own hands is probably one of the easiest ways to save money on your wedding. Avoid hiring a wedding planner to handle every aspect of your big day for you. And if you feel up for it, get creative! Make your own invitations, guest book, programs, etc. You’ll gain some extra personal satisfaction, and everything will be blessed with your own personal flare.

1. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue…and Something Gently Used: The dress is by far the most important part of a wedding for a girl, well most girls. They dream about their wedding dress from the time they are young, playing dress up. But let’s be honest, you wear your dress for how long and just once?! Even if you are planning to pass your dress on to your daughter, gently used wedding dresses can be absolutely stunning and perfect just like a brand new one. There are many dress shops that will take used wedding dress and clean them up to be just like new. This can save hundreds to even thousands of dollars depending on the designer you’re looking for.