Weddings are an expensive affair. Even if you opt for budget nuptials or over-the-top flashiness, there’s one fact you can’t avoid —you have to save your cash for your big day! However, if you’re smart and savvy and follow these tips, you’ll know exactly where to maximise your wedding budget breakdown and where to cut costs.
Here’s our guide on when to splurge and where to save on your big day!
Where to Splurge
Venue
The venue sets the tone for your wedding, and it’s a testament to your long-forging union with your soon-to-be husband. The venue matters a lot, so it’s worth spending some extra funds to ensure you have the perfect backdrop for your happy-ever-after. You can choose a church, a garden, a beach wedding or a location with picture-perfect views. You also need a space that accommodates all your nearest and dearest and can hold a fabulous reception. Unless you want to get married in Vegas in a drive-through chapel, we strongly recommend putting your wedding venue at the top of your splurge list.
Catering
Food and drinks are to toast your nuptials, so you don’t want to scrimp and save on those. After all, who wants to go to a wedding where you need to buy your drinks and the food feels like it came straight from the heavily discounted items from the deli bar? Buffets and food stations are a great idea as they allow guests to choose what they like with a host of options catering to everyone’s needs. A plated dinner is also a fantastic option as it provides a more formal dining experience, with guests served at their tables with a set menu with specific courses. It’s time to celebrate, so make it feel like a celebration for your guests.
Drinks
A great wedding should start with a cocktail reception with passed hors d’oeuvres and finger foods, as it’s the perfect way for guests to greet each other and relax for the much-anticipated night ahead. An open bar is also ideal as it allows guests to indulge in a variety of drink options, including cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. You want your guests to have just as much fun as you do on your special day. If an open bar is too costly for your budget, then opt for a limited bar that offers a selection of specific drinks, such as wine, beer, and a few signature cocktails. It’s a more budget-friendly option. Don’t forget the all-important champagne toast — no wedding is complete without it!
Entertainment
It’s a party and that is a cause to let your hair down and enjoy some great entertainment. Entertainment plays a key role in creating a memorable wedding experience and there are so many options available that ensure everyone will have a fantastic, memorable time. Live music is a great option and allows you to pick a band that suits your taste, and it adds a special element to the reception, knowing that is truly a unique moment. If you want to dance all night long, hire a DJ to spin the hottest and latest tunes, ensuring everyone is busting out their best move all night long.
Photography & Videography
We don’t say this lightly, but photos and videos of your big day are not only crucial —they are paramount as they capture the emotions and moments of your wedding. While everyone has a smartphone device these days and can take photos and videos, it’s not quite the same as hiring a professional. Investing in a professional ensures you have beautiful memories to look back on, with your photos being framed around your home, reminding you of your nuptials for years to come. Smartphone photos and videos are great for social media, but in the long term, you want beautiful images that capture the moment you said, “I do”.
Where to Save
Flowers
Flowers are a huge part of your wedding day, but you needn’t go to extremes. This is a great area to curb the costs of your wedding budget. Saving on flowers and decorations for your wedding doesn’t mean compromising on style. Choose flowers that are in season. They are usually more affordable and easier to find. Working with florists who can source flowers from nearby growers.is also another great cost-cutter, as incorporating more greenery into your arrangements—the fewer blooms, the lower the cost. DIY projects can also add a personal touch without breaking the bank. And why not choose a simple bouquet—bigger isn’t always better, and something simpler can actually be more elegant.
Decorations
Wedding decorations can be a costly affair, but there are ways to minimise your expenses. A great way to do this is with DIY decorations. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest have a wealth of ideas for handmade décor that can add a personal touch to your wedding. Also, you don’t need to go over the top. Sometimes, a few well-chosen pieces can make a bigger impact than elaborate decorations. One of the biggest ways to save money is to rent, not buy, your decorations such as vases, lanterns, and other décor elements. You’re only going to use them once, so why invest a ton of money when you don’t need to?
Invitations
In our digital age, you can save a lot of money by sending out digital wedding invitations. The designs are equally as beautiful and meaningful and come at a fraction of the cost. The great thing about digital invitations is that they save on printing, postage, and paper costs, are eco-friendly and customisable, and can include interactive elements with links to your wedding website and maps. And the invitations are sent instantly, making it easy to reach guests quickly instead of them getting lost in the mail. You can also have a built-in RSVP tracker, making it easy to manage responses. It’s a far more seamless process.
Attire
For those who want to splurge on a gorgeous wedding gown, that’s great. But not everyone is in the same financial situation. There are ways, however, to still look fabulous without breaking the bank. You can rent tuxedos and suits instead of buying them to save money, or consider buying a pre-loved wedding dress from online marketplaces or consignment shops. Off-the-shelf dresses are also a great idea, as you can find beautiful dresses that are ready to wear, often at a fraction of the cost of custom gowns. Looking for sales, sample sales, or trunk shows to find discounted wedding attire is another wedding-saving cost-cutting idea.
Other areas you can curb your wedding budget include opting for a weekday wedding instead of a weekend and one that accommodates both your ceremony and reception, thus saving you costs on transport and decorations. Venues often charge less for weekday events.
Choosing a wedding date during the off-peak season, when venues may offer lower rates, is also a great cost-cutting idea. But perhaps the best advice is to keep your guest list small and intimate to reduce costs for catering, and invitations. And keep a spreadsheet of all your outgoing costs so your budget stays on track.