If the big question has been popped then you may be busy thinking about how you are going to afford a wedding. Around 70% of Americans are facing the trouble of being able to afford their dream wedding. Saving for a wedding can take years so you want it to be perfect, going over budget is not something you want to face. The average cost of a wedding is thought to be over $30,000 and most households simply can’t afford that figure. Believe it or not you can actually do a great wedding for half that figure if you know what you’re doing. So, if you are busy planning your big day then take a look at this article for tips and tricks on how to save money throughout the whole process.
Weekday
Would you believe that not all wedding days and dates are equal. If you are trying to get married on a weekend, Saturday for instance, then you can expect to pay top dollar. This is one of the most popular wedding days to get married and it doesn’t require people to take extra time off work to attend. Sundays and weekdays are a great way to keep the costs down.
Winter
Similar to the day of the week you get married, the month and season you get married also matters. If you are wanting a summer wedding during the warmer months then this is going to cost you. However, if you aren’t too bothered about what the weather is like outside then you might want to choose some of the less popular months. The start of the year is very cheap, January and February are two amazing wedding months to choose from. It is always worth speaking to the venue to find which month or day is the cheapest.
Thrift Store
Let’s talk about dresses and suits, these can end up costing you thousands of dollars just for that one special day. If you don’t want to buy a brand new dress or suit then there are other options available. You could hit the thrift stores to see what they have to offer, some people get beautiful dresses and suits from second hand stores. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure as the saying goes.
Alternatively if you don’t want to get your wedding attire from the thrift store then you could think about renting from a reputable store. This will save you hundreds, if not thousands. Be aware of the terms and conditions though, one tiny spillage could lose you your money. Have a chat with your other half to see what you are happy doing, communication is key with these types of things.
DIY
Once you have sorted out the date, venue, and time of your wedding then you will need to send out the wedding invites. The wedding invites go to your guests to inform them of your special day, be sure to include an RSVP on your invites so guests can respond. Invites can work out expensive as each guest needs one, think about the costs if you are inviting hundreds of people. There is a way to ensure you keep the costs low when it comes to the invites, you can send out digital invites. Sending emails is free and won’t cost you a thing, especially if you create them using online software.
Own Catering
Food and drink on your wedding day can cost you the earth, the prices can be quite scandalous. Depending on the venue you choose, they may have a food and drink option included. Many people want to opt for a fancy three course sit down meal when they get married, this can be nice but pricey. Speak to your venue to see what they have on offer when it comes to feeding your guests. Remember, you don’t have to go with what they have. You can either choose your own caterer or even do it yourself.
There have been many weddings where the guests have helped create a wonderful food spread. This has been both full blown meals and buffet style food, whichever suits you best. Speak to your closest friends and relatives to see how they can help you, even better if you know a catering expert.
Cake
Every wedding needs a cake, how can you ensure you have a cheap wedding cake that still blows people’s minds? You could buy a cake from the store and decorate it yourself with flowers and icing, this will be much cheaper than paying a baker. However, there are ways to keep baking costs low if you did want a professional cake. If you opt for less tiers then this will shave some of the cost of, less time spent baking means less pressure on your wallet.
Limit The Photographer
Finally, everyone wants photos and videos to remember their big day forever. Memories may fade so it can be nice to go through these albums every so often and take a trip down memory lane. However, if you have done your research then you will know how expensive photographers and videographers can be. You have a couple of options here, you can hire these professionals for a shorter amount of time. Which means you will potentially miss out on awesome pictures from later on or earlier on in the day.
A brilliant alternative is to get your guests to be the photographers throughout your wedding day. People naturally want to take pictures on wedding days and everyone has a smartphone with a great camera these days. Take advantage of this and consult your wedding party to create spectacular images for you to look back on.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some peace of mind that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a wonderful day. Think about what the key parts of a wedding are and what means the most to you and go from there. You can make it special by spending the day with close friends and family.
