Our big dreams sometimes get in the way of our budget when planning a wedding. There are ways to plan a wedding, save money, and still have the beautiful wedding you are hoping for. With the average wedding costing just over $30,000 these days, brides are often looking for crafty ways to cut down on their budget wherever possible.
Hosting a Friday wedding with a weekday rehearsal can save you thousands of dollars when it comes to venue rates. Another option? Hosting a Sunday wedding. By skipping Saturday receptions, you can automatically trim thousands off your venue rental. Try throwing your celebration on a holiday weekend; this way, you can host a Sunday ceremony, and people still have the next day off work!
A secondhand wedding dress isn’t for everyone, but it’s a budget-friendly option for brides willing to think outside the box. Check out bridal shops that sell pre-owned dresses and also social media, such as Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor, and local buy/sell groups, to find secondhand dresses. Another option is to buy a sample gown. A sample is a test version of a garment that is used to test the fit, construction, and overall look of a design before it goes into full production. Wearing sample gowns are very popular for brides, and the guests would never know that you didn’t pay a fortune for it!
Ask your friends for help! Explore your network of family and friends and call in some wedding favors. Whether it’s having a friend design your wedding invitations or an aunt bake your wedding cupcakes, utilize the resources you have in your network to save money. Friends love to help and will probably jump in to give you a hand and get a chance to use their skills. Using people in your circle can save you money and your friends will feel like they are really helping!
When it comes to wedding expenses, you’ll want to put a large percentage of the budget towards food and drink. However, there are ways to save money on your wedding food that doesn’t involve having hungry and thirsty guests. One of the best wedding money saving tips when it comes to drink is to hire a no corkage venue. No corkage means the venue will let you provide your own alcohol and not charge you any extra to serve it. Buying alcohol in bulk and shopping around will allow you to save a huge amount of money.
Some suppliers will negotiate on charges. You don’t want to offend anyone, but then again you also want to ensure you’re staying within budget. Instead of trying to get a huge discount on a wedding service, make sure the supplier knows that you are a huge fan and desperate to have them at your wedding day, and be honest about your budget to see if there’s any wiggle room. You’d be surprised how many suppliers will be willing to work with you.
By being a bit creative, it is possible to save big money on your wedding and still have your wedding be as special as you dreamed!
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