10 Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding
You’re getting married! Congratulations! Now comes the stresses of planning a wedding. Venues, decorations, the costs! Theres so much to think about but don’t worry, here are 10 ways to save money on your wedding.
Trim Down Your Guest List
I know a big wedding seems like fun, but it can be expensive. You have to pay per head and you know deep down some of these people you don’t even really know, so why are they at your wedding? Trimming down your guest list might be tough but you’ll be thankful for the money you saved and that your weird third cousin, twice removed isn’t there.
Make Your Wedding Adult Only
Remember when I said you have to pay per head? Yeah, well that goes for children as well. If you don’t care for the presence of children at your wedding then that is your choice. They’re an extra cost and they also run around. However, you should expect questions from some family members who think their children should come anyways. Be firm and don’t change your decision, this is your day and if you want your wedding adults only to save money on your wedding or you just don’t want children around, it is your choice.
Make Your Own Centerpieces
My cousin did this. She took a bunch of old wine bottles and painted them glitter gold and purple. They turned out beautifully and it saved her a fortune on decorations.
Host the Ceremony and Reception In One Place
The same cousin I just mentioned did this as well. It was actually a nice surprise. As soon as they were pronounced husband and wife the guests turned around, a curtain was lifted and there was the reception hall ready for us.
Do Not Have the Wedding On a Saturday
Saturday is the most common and convenient day to have a wedding. This is the exact reason why venues charge you so much money for that day.
Recruit Family Members to Help You Make the Food
It is very common in West Indian culture to make the food for events. If you have family members willing to help you make the food for all your guests consider yourself lucky. Have them bring the food in and keep the food hot with cooking fuel canisters. This way if you make your own food, you won’t have to pay the high venue costs for their food that might not actually be good.
Have the Reception Buffet Style
This sounds strange to have buffet and wedding in the same sentence but if you want to save money on your wedding hear me out: it cuts down on costs for venue servers and people like making their own plate anyways.
Buy Your Own Liquor
While open bar is fun and your guests will love that option, it isn’t cheap. Instead, buy the alcohol yourself, have a list of what the bartender has to offer and what the guests can choose from. I mean really, will your cousin Jake be upset if he can’t have a manhattan when there’s perfectly good beer right there?
Instead of Hiring a Band or DJ, Set Up a Playlist
Hiring a band or a DJ can be really expensive so one way to save money on your wedding is to hook your phone or laptop to a speaker and let it play for the night.
Hire a Wedding Planner
When I get married I’m going to hire a wedding planner, not only to cut down on costs but because I’m indecisive. According to marthastewartweddings.com, “Save money by spending it on a planner? It sounds counterintuitive, but wedding planners 1) aren’t shy when it comes to haggling, 2) can draw from years of experience working with brides on budgets, and 3) have working relationships with vendors—all of which can amount to big bucks shaved off your final bill.”
