Weddings can be easy on the wallet without sacrificing the excitement of tying the knot with family and friends. It is just a matter of planning ahead and wisely by breaking down the wedding into items whose costs can be easily controlled.
Here’s where you can save money on a wedding:
Venue
Venue can also mean when and not just where. Saturdays and Sundays can jack up the venue rate with most couples jockeying for either day naturally, according to Money Crashers, which offers a number of ways to “tame” the venue. This also means saying I Dos during off-season, at least not during the usual favorites, such as the November to January holidays.
Also consider your wedding highlight. Is it the food or the cake? Maybe you wish to prioritize the documentation with professionally done photography and video coverage? The idea is to focus on one highlight and not to spend too much on all aspects of the wedding.
Choosing a place outside of a big city can also cut the cost. Big cities have big rates and conversely. The website also suggests getting up early for your wedding because morning rentals are cheaper than evening events on the average.
Moreover, paying for the full rent instead of a down payment can get you a significant discount. And here’s another secret: get an all-inclusive package—the food, cake and documentary included—and you’ll end up saving more than getting separate quotes from separate suppliers.
More saving on the venue tips are provided by Money Crashers.
Food
It is one of the most expensive items in the wedding list: how to feed a hundred souls who wish you all the luck as a couple. Thrifty Fun offers rather edgy tips on cutting the food costs, but they can give you an idea or two.
How about setting up a pasta bar instead of going for a full-course meal? Another edgy idea is to host a finger food reception and stack up on sodas and beers (the champagne is reserved for the couple). A barbecue wedding is also fun, and may give you more memorable photos than the usual ho-hum full reception simply because the guests are likely more relaxed and open.
Bands
Forget Tiffany when Wal-Mart will do. Okay, maybe Amazon. Or you can opt for online stores that cater to couples who are looking for inexpensive wedding bands to express their undying commitment, at least for now. Many of these jewelry sites offer clearance sales or run a promotion with prices that are substantially less than in retail outlets. To check these stores, just Google search “inexpensive wedding bands” and you’ll get a list of affordable jewelry stores more than your fingers in your hands.
iWeddingband.com also suggests that instead of going for precious metals, choose a tungsten carbide or cobalt chrome as an alternative.
Flowers
They add color and depth to your wedding, not to mention costs. Colin Cowie Weddings says you go for seasonal flowers because they are often less expensive. Or skip flowers altogether, the wedding site advises. Instead, you can use dramatic candelabras, silver bowls and three-tiered serving trays. They provide much oomph as the flowers when done creatively.
You can also consider a practical truth: most of your guests will not remember the kind of flowers you use; just the colors. There are always less costly flowers that exude the same lovely hues to color your wedding.
Gowns
Let’s face it. You won’t use the gown for another day, so why not limit the cost that goes into it. Real Simple provides three ways to do save on the gown, each one will depend on how much sentiment you hold for a wedding gown.
First, you can visit a retail store that offers inexpensive gowns. Many of these stores have premade gowns that you can just fit and buy much like shopping for a casual dress. Second, you can buy sample dresses. Real Simple lists these websites that offer signature dresses at big discounts over a limited time. These dresses are likely used in fashion events or as displays in their respective boutiques.
Lastly, you can try pre-owned dresses. You can really hit a bargain with this one considering that only signature dresses are likely to be sold in pre-owned dress sites. This means wearing a fashionable dress in your wedding at probably one-third of the cost.
CONCLUSION
However you bring down the costs of your wedding make sure your partner understands it, too, and you’re not exerting pressure just to meet your budget. If you’re a man, understand some money matters that are unique to women and your wedding maybe just a starting point. Hey, you’re getting married; might as well practice tackling thorny issues, which you’ll have tons of throughout the marriage, in sickness or in health.
Do You Have Other Tips To Cut Wedding Costs?
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Great tips. As I was on many wedding last years I would add one tip – do not serve too much sweets. This kind of food remains on the tables the most. Plus it not very healthly (mostly).
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