Things cost money! An apple, for example, costs around $12. Whereas something a bit bigger, such as a car, might cost something like $37. This is just one of the basic facts of the Economy. Welcome to math class, kiddos. Get out those mallets, because today we’re crunching some numbers. A wedding costs quite a bit, and you are presumably not an oil magnate or the head of a shipping empire. So you’re working with a budget. In this blog, we will help you on your path to frugality. Here are ways to save money when planning your wedding!
Guests: Who Needs ‘Em? – This is best place to start, as 60% or more of the money in your budget will be spent on the Reception + Food + Drinks.
We’re not saying to just get married at the court house on a Thursday morning. But if you don’t mind a smaller, more intimate celebration, consider limiting your guest list to essential friends and family. We don’t mean just your mom and your best friend Martha, but cutting back from 300 guests to 200 can make the single largest impact on your overall budget.
We know, we know, Henry from work has been bragging about his new dance moves he “invented.” But you might have to wait until his office birthday party to see those. You don’t know Henry that well, and if you invite him to your wedding, he’s just one more person eating expensive chicken and/or salmon. Then he’s basically just eating money right from your pocket, on his hands and knees, biting into your wallet like the greedy dog he is! The scoundrel! Whack him with a newspaper, quickly!
D.I.Y.G.A.D. (Do It Yourself Gifts and Decorations) – Banners, signs, table centerpieces, party favors, displays, etc. These are staples. But, buying a bunch of little things adds up. Consider making your own decorations and party favors. Even if they’re something as simple as a little popsicle stick bride-and-groom cake topper. You can even just go to the dollar store and put together fun little grab bags for your guests! You can find plenty of inspiration online, and the homemade aesthetic will add a feeling of uniqueness.
“But I’m no good at art!” you might say. Honey, that has never stopped anyone.
(Real talk from the Blog Writer: I once drove my newlywed friends away from their ceremony in a PT Cruiser with a plywood “Just Married” sign and a trail of empty Ski cans attached to the back of the car with yarn. The guests found it charming and funny, and then I kept those Ski cans for several years as a memento. Don’t be afraid to get unconventional!)
In all seriousness, you should only tackle the projects you feel comfortable with. On one hand, you want to stay within budget, but on the other hand, you don’t want to drive yourself to tears of frustration over glue sticks and paint. If you’re not AT ALL crafty, find a venue that doesn’t need any decorations! Historical venues and garden venues don’t need anything extra – in fact, sometimes any extras end up detracting from the space.
You can also let someone else do the work for you. Which leads us to our next suggestion…
Facebook Marketplace – Holy. Cow. Seriously. If you haven’t checked this out, open a new tab and do this RIGHT NOW. Not only does Facebook Marketplace have a million different deals, but most cities/towns/hamlets have “Wedding Swap” groups that you can join. What are these groups, you ask? It’s Brides unloading awesome, amazing, beautiful wedding day decorations, items, etc, that they only used once and now are just in storage.
Ok, it’s not like a store where you can just log in and find exactly what you need – it will take some time of checking in here and there every week to see what new stuff has popped up, but when you find something you want, we’re talking hundreds of dollars worth of savings. And seriously, most of the time the stuff is in near perfect condition. You’re welcome.
Fridays Are Your Friend – Most weddings are on Saturdays. Just like everyone else, Wedding Vendors have bills to pay. They would happily give you a discount on their packages for Friday rather than make $0 doing nothing.
“But people have to work! No one would come!” You might think… False news. It all depends on how you schedule your day! A normal wedding day goes like this – Get ready in the morning, take pictures in the afternoon, then have your ceremony in the evening that leads right into the reception. You guests can come after work, with the added benefit of not having to stand around for a few hours while you go take photos!
ALSO – if you come across a vendor who will NOT give you a discount for Friday… there are other vendors out there who will… just sayin’. (Granted, the date matters – for example, if the date is a holiday or holiday weekend, this probably won’t work.)
A Menu of Venues – One of the bigger expenses of a wedding is renting a venue. If you’re working on a tight budget, aim modest. Don’t plan a destination wedding inside Madison Square Garden (DURING a Billy Joel concert!?) A smaller venue (perhaps even outdoors) would probably be more financially advantageous. Even many churches can involve a hefty fee, so if it being in a church isn’t as important to you, maybe look elsewhere. Maybe even have the wedding in your house, if you have the room! Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed of getting married in my bathtub, but none of my ex-wives have ever wanted to do this. Maybe you’ll be luckier than me!
Turn Your Uncle Into a Licensed Priest – Officiants also cost money. And no, Billy Joel will not officiate your wedding no matter how much you offer. Quit emailing him.
Have a friend or someone close to you get ordained online and have them do it. Some of the best ceremonies we’ve experienced have been when someone close to the Bride and Groom officiates. This adds such a unique and personal touch to your ceremony. They’ve normally been around for a while and can add awesome stories about your relationship, offer advice, and keep the ceremony more entertaining than if a stranger were joining you together.
Plus it’s easy! They fill out a little form online, pay a little fee, add water, and bang! They’re an officiant now. It’s cheap, and legally valid! Those are the two big qualities to look for when planning a wedding.
If this sounds weird to you, we promise it’s fairly common. We would say about one in every 20 weddings we shoot has an officiant who is a friend that became ordained just to do their wedding.
Get Married in the Dead of Winter – There is definitely an “affordable season” for wedding venues. Usually the months of January – March are pretty slow for them. Despite the crisp beauty and melancholy romance of winter, very few people are hankering to get married during these months. But that works out well for you! The venues and vendors could most likely offer you a discounted rate. If you’re already going with a cheaper venue, then this could be an incredibly sweet deal. Awesome savings, all thanks to the earth’s position relative to the sun. What a marvelous world!
Use these tips to have an awesome wedding, without having to sell your couch to pay the DJ!
Do you hear that sound? No, not that, that’s my washing machine. The other sound. Yes, that one. That’s the sound of your wallet saying, “Thank you.”