With everything happening in the world right now and so many unknowns with wedding dates, guest counts and finances, one of the top questions we see is “How can I save money and cut costs for my wedding?”
Below is a list of easy and effective ways to carve away some of the extra “fat” of your wedding, to make it a little more affordable!
1. Cut out alcohol.
This may seem CRAZY, but alcohol can add on thousands to your wedding package. If cutting it altogether is a no-go for you, consider serving a “Signature Cocktail” during cocktail hour and only beer and wine for the rest of the evening. Cutting out the full bar for the full wedding can still be a huge savings!
2. Go plasticware or bambooware for your table settings.
I know it’s no one's dream to have plasticware at their wedding, but at the same time, our economy is in a decline and if you have to choose between an amazing DJ and glass plates, we vote for the amazing DJ. Plus, companies are making some beautiful plastic and bamboo options that will even fool Grandma.
3. Go REAL for flowers, but fake for greenery (Bride and Joy rents gorgeous fake greenery).
Although we love a killer greenery runner and love our florist friends who make them, fake greenery can be a huge cost saver. Ask your florist to use the extra in your budget to mix in beautiful real flowers and no one will be the wiser.
4. Rent everything!
Buying stuff adds up so quickly and then you’re stuck with it all. You might be thinking “I can just re-sell all of it”, but honestly, who wants to do that after their wedding and be responsible for meeting 175 people from Facebook marketplace, who never actually show up? Renting is typically ⅓ the price of purchasing and you don’t have to worry about any of it before or after the wedding.
5. Instead of a registry, do a honeymoon fund.
These can be done online and help make your dream honeymoon a reality! Honeyfund.com is great and with so much unknown, you can hold the money or experiences in that account and just wait until the world clears up and you can travel and enjoy your life again.
6. Don’t spend a fortune on invitations.
People just end up throwing them away or forgetting about them on their fridge. With so much rescheduling and changing of dates, the invites may end up rendering useless. Make a design on Etsy, go to a local printer (support local!) and print those babies out. You can also do E-vites and E-RSVPs for the easiest and cheapest option. Again, Grandma might scoff, but your bank account will thank you.
7. Hire all of your vendors by the hour, if possible, and shorten the length of your wedding.
Most vendors do a 6 hour or an 8 hour package. Try to stay in the 6 hour range.
8. Don’t do a wedding cake.
Do donuts or singular treats from a local bakery. If you don’t like donuts or desserts, don’t bother! People will be fine without and this can save several hundred dollars. If Grandma MUST see a cake-cutting and have cake, order a beautiful cutting cake (single tier) then get a Martins or Wegmans sheet cake for the caterers to cut up in the back. No one will be the wiser.
9. Pay cash to vendors or ask if there is a discount for paying your full balance up front.
Some vendors will give a big discount if you are able to pay cash or if you can pay everything up front. It never hurts to ask!
10. Do Martins or Wegmans trays for cocktail hour food.
Way cheaper and just as good! Or cut out cocktail hour, altogether. Nobody enjoys standing around and waiting for the reception to begin, anyways, so talk with your planner about ways to avoid it!
11. Do food trucks for dinner.
If your venue allows it, food trucks can be a fun and delicious way to spice things up and have a much lower “per guest” cost. This option can take a bit longer, so make sure you have two options, to help move guests through quickly and provide options.
12. Buy your wedding bands on Etsy instead of Kay Jewelers or the like.
You can get awesome unique bands and you’re supporting small businesses!
13. Don’t do bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts.
Often these cost a lot and no one ends up using whatever you got them (unless it’s alcohol. Everyone loves alcohol). Just write heartfelt notes to your girls and that will mean just as much! For the guys, get them a six pack each and they’ll love you until the end of time.
14. Don’t do bridesmaid bouquets.
Instead, have them carry a small lantern or a floral ring that you can make out of fake flowers. No one can tell that they are fake from far away. Bridesmaid bouquets often cost $50-$100 each and that adds up quickly!
15. Ask your friends/family for help with tasks!
If you have talented friends or family, ask them in lieu of a wedding gift to help you make signs, decorate, make cookies, whatever it may be! If one of your friends has amazing taste in music and you could care less, ask them to create the song list for the DJ. Everyone attending your wedding wants to help, but they don’t know what you need unless you ask.
16. Pick a floral focal point or statement piece.
Instead of spending a boatload on making lots of small table arrangements, have your florist make one statement piece that will instantly wow your guests. Then you are able to do a lot less in the centerpieces, because who’s even looking?
17. Candles, candles and more candles.
If your venue allows candles, go wild on them. You won’t really need many other decorations, because when the lights are dim and the drinks are flowing, nothing sets the mood quite like a candle.
18. Don’t do favors.
Again, unless it’s alcohol, most favors get left in the car and forgotten for eternity. Even worse, none get taken and you’re left with 75 canisters of jelly. If you like jelly, this is great. Otherwise, that’s a lot of jelly…
19. Stay local to your venue.
If possible, stay the night within walking distance of your venue. This cuts down on transportation costs and everybody loves a sparkler exit where you just walk off into the unknown. Just make sure you coordinate with a bridesmaid to put your things at the hotel or you’ll be walking out the next morning in your wedding dress.
20. Don’t do sparklers.
Speaking of sparklers...although beautiful, there are tons of options that are more affordable and less dangerous than these bad boys. Glow sticks, fake snow, bubbles, the dozens of candles in your reception….the list goes on and on. Get creative!