It’s no secret that weddings are expensive affairs, but putting together a sophisticated ceremony doesn’t have to break the bank or leave you in massive debt. From making your own decorations to choosing the right location, there are plenty of ways to save money on just about every aspect of the ceremony without cheapening the look and feel of it. Read on to learn about some of the best ways to plan a fabulous wedding on a budget.
Get the Timing Right
Setting the wedding less than a year after the engagement will give you less time to obsess over little details that you may end up spending more money on. Conversely, setting it more than a year after the engagement will allow you time to take advantage of seasonal sales on everything from the dresses to the venue. If you’re boking a venue for the ceremony, planning your wedding during the off-season means that you can take advantage of lower booking prices too.
Choose the Right Venue
You can save big bucks on the wedding if you choose a free or inexpensive venue for the ceremony. Getting married on the beach or in a park is very romantic. You can even opt to have your wedding at home.
Cut Down the Guest List
If you’re trying to save money, don’t invite everyone on the planet to your wedding. Consider that each guest costs an average of $30-$100 per plate, depending on what type of food you’re serving. If you invite only close friends and family to the wedding, you’ll be saving big time.
Scale Back the Gift-Giving
While it’s nice to give gifts to your bridesmaids and guests, it’s not completely necessary. If you’re trying to have your wedding on a budget, skipping the gift-giving, or at least scaling back, is a very economical decision. If you still want to give gifts without shelling out big bucks, get creative and make something unique and personalized.
Save on the Dresses
You can find some excellent deals online for cheap flower girl dresses and cheap bridesmaid dresses, and there are plenty of ways to save on your own gown as well. Ordering dresses on sale and having them tailored is one way to save. Another is to consider dress rentals or to buy from a consignment store.
DIY
Food, décor and even dresses can all be DIY to save loads of money. If you’re a crafty or creative person, you can have lots of fun putting together centerpieces for the tables and creating other decorative elements like posters or picture slideshows. Recruiting your bridesmaids or family members to help you is a great way to let everyone feel more involved and strengthen the bonds between everyone.
Follow the money-saving tips above to have a fabulous wedding without spending loads of dough. Following these steps can save you thousands while getting your creative juices flowing and bringing your family and friends closer together for your special day.