A wedding is a special day in your life, one that you will want to remember forever. The problem is that weddings can be rather expensive, with the average wedding costs running up to tens of thousands of dollars, making it problematic for those who are on a budget. So, if you want to save money on your wedding, here are a couple of quick tips for you.
Use DIY invitations
Some couples may spend hundreds of dollars on the invitations alone. The more people you plan on inviting to the wedding, the more you are going to spend. And if you think about it, many of those people will RSVP that they can’t come. So, that money pretty much goes down the drain.
Instead of getting a classic invitation, look for some invitation templates on Etsy and print them yourself – or why not, send them by email. Everything is done through digital means nowadays anyway.
Do your own makeup
Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day, but considering how overpriced wedding hairdos and makeup are, you may want to rethink your approach. Sure, it’s okay to go for a professional if you don’t have the skills – but if you do, and you already have a full makeup closet in your home, there’s no sense in paying someone else to do that. Plus, even if you want something fancy, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials out there to teach you.
Negotiate the prices of the venue
Venues don’t always have exact prices, and you can always haggle with their prices and what they have to offer. Negotiate the table decorations, the wine corkage, and even the DJs, and never just go with the first price that they offer you. Nothing bad will come out of you asking for a better deal; worst-case scenario, they will just say no.
Get a friend to sing
Do you have any friends in a band or as solo musicians? In that case, you might want to contact them. Chances are that they will either give you a better price or may even do it for free, as a wedding gift.
Bake your own cake
Do you love to bake? In that case, there is no need to spend lots of money on a professionally made wedding cake. You can simply do it yourself. The Internet is packed with DIY recipes and guides as well, so even if it’s your first time baking a cake, you should be able to create something fitting.
Get budget wedding shoes
Many brands offer bridal shoes at a good price, so there’s no need to splurge on designer wedding shoes. Plus, if you have one of those fluffy princess-like dresses, chances are that people won’t even be able to see the shoes. You could be wearing Converse sneakers for all they know. Shop around for good deals so that you can save money on your wedding.
Choose a different day of the week
Saturday weddings are the most expensive, mainly because everyone wants to get married on that day. It’s very difficult to even get a venue on Saturdays. To save some money, you might want to consider other days of the week – such as a Friday, or even a Sunday. Many fees will be lower at that point.
Order your gown ahead of time
If you wait for too long to get your wedding gown, then you will be subjected to rush fees and more expensive last-minute alterations. To save money, you might want to get your dress at least 8-9 months ahead of time. This will also help make sure that the wedding gown is what you dreamed of.
Avoid food that is difficult to prepare
Labor-intensive food can be rather expensive to prepare. For instance, live station cooking, or sushi rolls can take extra preparation – which means that it will also be more expensive. Go for dishes that are easier to prepare and serve if you wish to save on money – choose the classic steak or appetizers that don’t take too long to obtain or create.
Rent instead of buying
The average wedding dress costs between $1,500 and $2,000 – which is a lot, considering you are probably going to wear that piece only once. If you are not sentimental about the wedding dress, then you may want to rent it instead of buying it. You’ll be able to get a much prettier dress while saving your budget and you’ll look amazing in your wedding pictures.
The bottom line
Weddings don’t have to be expensive. You simply need to make the right choices in terms of its management. DIY can usually save a lot of money, but don’t forget about negotiations either. Plus, the earlier you start preparing, the better.