Simple ways to save money on your wedding day

 

Money matters are stressful. With the rising costs of living it’s safe to say, most couples are looking at ways to save their dollars and make smarter decisions when it comes to their wedding budget and spend.

So, before you throw in the towel on your celebration completely, or blow the budget and are riddled with wedding debt, we’ve put together some simple ways to save money on your wedding day.

From re-purposing florals, through to giving your guest list a trim, considering seasonality and just thinking outside-the-box when it comes to allocating funds – read on here for some tips and get your big day underway, sans budget blowout.

 

 

• Consider a cost saving on the printing of stationery and postage by sending your save the dates and invitations digitally – create a digital invite, many stationers can help you do this or purchase a customisable option, and send them on their way without the hassle or worry of using the post.

 

• Cull the RSVP card – if you’d prefer physical invitations, consider having your guests RSVP via email. It’s good for the environment and will save you extra printing and paper costs, not to mention the added ease of tra king replies.

 

• Rent your ‘fits – not only is rent or hire of clothing or accessories better for your hip pocket, it’s also a more sustainable choice when it comes to fashion. Be it dresses or suits for your wedding party, or even hiring a bridal gown (Rntr. can help with that), if you’re concerned about excessive spending and the impact of underutilised clothing purchases, this could be the perfect solution.

 

• Choose a wedding date during the week or off-peak – Saturday celebrations tend to be in hot demand, so occasionally venues will provide a discount for the days of the week that are not so heavily booked. It’s also worth finding out if they have an off-peak period where the venue costs less, for example the winter months are not nearly as popular as summer, therefore a discount might be provided.

 

• Get a handle on your guest list – the more guests you invite, the more your costs will go up, and this is often where couple’s blow their budget. Refine your list over and over and if you need some handy hints on how to cut your guest list, check out our top tips.

 

• Skip wedding favours – a nice to have, but absolutely not necessary. What can start off as a well meaning gesture can quickly add up (think $10 per favour for 120 guests – there goes $1200!) Do without favours and save your dollars.

 

• Don’t have a wedding party – the costs of having a wedding party can add up – think outfits, hair and makeup, shoes, bouquets and buttonholes, thank you gifts etc. There are other ways you can involve friends and family in your celebrations – ask them to share a wedding reading, give a speech or toast, witness the signing of the marriage register, that don’t cost a thing.

 

 

• Choose a venue that requires little styling – be savvy when it comes to selecting a venue. If you choose a location that has its own charm and features, don’t hide it behind OTT styling, instead let the space speak for itself and make some savings in the meantime.

 

• Stick to the schedule – one way to find yourself paying additional costs is by not sticking to your timeline. Photographers, videographers, celebrants and musicians can often charge for additional time if you run late, so don’t keep them waiting.

 

• Seating situation – if your wedding ceremony is not overly long, you could provide a limited number of seating and have majority of your guests stand and save a bundle of dollar on chair hair. When determining the number of seats, do factor in immediate family who will love to be close to the action as well as elderly or pregnant guests.

 

• Double duty your ceremony florals – work with your florist to ensure that your ceremony florals can be used in some way at your reception. It seems too much of a shame for your pretty petals to only make an appearance as you say your ‘I do’s’.

 

• Stick to beer and wine – ditch spirits and cocktails at your celebration. It’s better for your back pocket and your guests heads the next day too!

 

• Hire local wedding vendors – if you don’t want to be paying travel fees, consider wedding suppliers who are local to the area of the wedding. Your venue will be able to help with recommendations and it comes with the added bonus of knowing that they’re trusted by them to work there.

 

• Think seasonal – whether it’s flowers or food, produce that is seasonal will be less expensive. Speak to your florist about what flowers are in season when you’re getting married, and your caterer will guide you on smart food choices too.

 

 

• Contemplate if you need transport – if your ceremony is in an area where guests will not see you arrive, contemplate whether the hire of flashy transport is actually required and whether it’s worth your spend. Ditch it all together, or if you have a friend or family member who owns a nice cars, perhaps you could ask if you could borrow it.

 

• Hire a wedding planner – while this might sound counterintuitive, hear us out. A great wedding planner can help you save money, while ensuring you stick to your budget. They’re in the wedding game for a reason and are often worth their weight in gold when it comes to budget advice.

 

• Cake debate – if you’re set on having a cake, there’s a couple of ways to save some dollars. If you’re already serving a dessert as part of the meal, perhaps look at downsizing the size of your wedding cake. Alternatively, serve the cake as your dessert option, or if cake is not your thing, ditch it all together.

 

• Hire for more than one service – businesses that offer more than one service, will likely offer a package deal. If you’re keen to have a photographer and videographer, consider booking a business who offer both. Same goes when it comes to music – book entertainment who offers both DJ and band, who can offer both ceremony and reception music, not just one or the other. Many wedding stylists also come with wedding planner skills, so seek out if they can plan and style the day.

 

• BYO alcohol – costs for alcohol can be considerable, so it might be worth looking into venues who offer bring your own and supply of alcohol so you have control over the cost. Some liquor companies will also allow you to return unused alcohol, so remember this as an option should you need.

 

• Something borrowed – be it jewellery, a clutch or veil for your wedding day look, decor that a friend may have previously used at their own celebrations, or vases from a family friend, borrow where you can and save money on hire or purchase.

 

• Re-sell or re-use – when it comes to the choices you make for your celebration, consider whether you can re-sell, re-use or re-purpose it. If you’re feeling cost conscious, this is a great way to know that you are considering beyond your wedding day and that items will either be useful to you, or can be on-sold.

 

 

• Host your ceremony or reception at home – if you have a beautiful garden space, avoid ceremony venue fees by hosting your ceremony at home. Alternatively, if you have the space (and enough under cover area or the capacity to hire a marquee), a reception at home can be meaningful and beautiful. Crunch the numbers to see if you come out on top.

 

• Extras add up – while extras on your wedding day are not always avoidable, it’s good to factor them into your budget so you don’t go over. Things such as – meals for your vendors, dress alterations, postage for your invites etc are hidden expenses you may not be aware of, but should factor in.

 

• Consider what is important, axe anything that isn’t – if you’re including elements in your day just because someone else did it, rather than it being important to you, it doesn’t belong.

 

If you need a safe space to put your budget business and keep track of it along the way, take a peek at our wedding planning book ‘Wedding Plans’. Wedding Plans in an all-inclusive gender-neutral wedding guide, complete with themes and sections to keep your planning on track.  Shop it now.