Today, the average cost of a wedding is around $26,500, with many weddings approaching the $100,000 mark. But if you don’t feel like dishing out thousands of dollars for one day, consider these tips that will help you have a beautiful wedding on a tight budget.
1. Manage your guest list
It’s easy to feel obligated to invite everyone you know to your wedding, but at the end of the day, the more people you add to your guest list, the more the cost of your wedding goes up. A wedding is a celebration, but it is also a day where the bride and groom share one of the most intimate moments of their relationship. Consider the people you truly want to share that moment with and who you would be happy to see on your wedding day. This will not only make your wedding day special and unforgettable, but will also help you save on the overall cost of the event.
2. Be smart about decorations
Lots of flowers and fancy decorations may look nice in pictures, but overdoing decorations can be a budget nightmare. For flowers, considering buying them on the cheap yourself from a grocery store or local flower mart and recruiting friends to make the arrangements for centerpieces and other decorations. Look for inexpensive flowers such as Baby’s breath and Carnations, and use greenery to fill the empty space since it is much cheaper (and just as pretty) as flowers. Also, look for decorations such as books, vases, and lights in second-hand stores and online. There are many websites that buy decor from real weddings and sell it used at a fraction of the cost.
3. Timing is everything
The classic dinner party reception is tried and true, but it also expected and predictable. Having a brunch or lunch reception can be a fun way to change things up a bit, and can save you major cash on your reception bill. Also, think about not only the time of day but the day of the week you want to have your wedding. Typically, most venues have cheaper rates for weekday, Friday, and Sunday weddings. But the best way to save money is to have an off-season wedding. Venues will usually offer major discounts for brides who schedule their wedding in late fall or winter.
4. Save on your venue
Most ceremony and reception venues will take out a large chunk of your budget, but don’t settle for spaces that will cost you an arm and a leg. Many conventional, all-inclusive venues can give you the vision and feel you are looking for, but end up costing more than if you create the vision yourself. Consider having your ceremony outdoors and allowing nature to serve as your decor, then rent a simple space for your reception. Renting a space that is a blank slate gives you a lot of creative freedom, and with a little help from friends and family (and maybe Pinterest), a DIY wedding is easier to pull off than you think.
Hopefully these tips will give you some ideas on how to slash your wedding budget and save a few bucks on your big day. Happy planning!