How to save money on wedding?

From your childhood, you have dreamed of the day when you would get married and now you are seeing it come true. So, you want the day to be best in terms of everything, but like there’s a budget for everything, you probably have a budget for your wedding too. So, you need to spend money with a tight hand, and save wherever you can. If you don’t know how to save money on wedding, then this article is for you!

We’ve made a list of things in which you can save lots of money and fit everything into your wedding budget. We can show you how to save money on your wedding venue, catering, invitations, flowers, cake, and dress. So, let’s get started!

How to save money on wedding?

Here are the tips to save money for your wedding: 

1) Create a Budget First

In order to stay on track with your financial goals, it is imperative that you first determine your budget. The first step is to figure out how much money you and your fiancé can afford to spend on your wedding — everything from the venue to the catering.

Ask your parents whether they’d be prepared to cover any costs associated with your trip. As a rule of thumb, don’t spend more than the total of these numbers.

2) Limit the number of guests

One of the most effective cost-cutting measures is to reduce the number of your guest list. Having a modest wedding might help you save money on every aspect of the event. 

Reducing the number of people attending your event might help you save money. If you’re planning a modest wedding, you may save money on every aspect of it. It’s all just simple math, you guys. With 50 visitors, you’ll need 50 seats, dishes to serve them, food to feed them, gifts to give them… you get the picture, right? How much more expensive would it be to have a party for 100 people?

Each additional visitor greatly raises your overall spending. As a result, you should deliberate carefully about who you place on your list. It will help you save a lot of money.

3) Get married on a weekday

Getting married on a non-Saturday is a smart way to obtain a reduction on your wedding costs. Getting married on a weekday has several additional advantages. If you want to save money, change your day of the week. Make sure to find out if your preferred wedding location has any open dates that they’d want to fill.

4) Bring in talented friends to help

Make use of the connections you’ve already built among your loved ones and ask for some wedding favors. You may save money on your wedding by enlisting the help of your friends and family members, whether it’s an invitation designer or an aunt who makes your wedding cupcakes. 

You may save money on your wedding by hiring friends and family instead of professional suppliers!

5) How to save money on wedding venue?

  • Pick an off-season wedding day: Use WeddingWire’s date calendar to see which ones are the most popular. You should expect to spend extra if a certain date is in great demand. You may be able to save money by booking in January or February, which are less popular months.
  • Pick a weekday for wedding: Even while Saturdays tend to be the most popular for weddings, they also tend to be the costliest days of the week. If you plan to get married on a Sunday or even a weekday, you may be able to get a better deal on your location.
  • Choose a naturally beautiful location: To save money, choose a wedding location that doesn’t require a lot of adornment. As long as you’re in a gorgeous area, nature will take care of the rest!
  • Choose a non-traditional venue: A dining establishment. A microbrewery. A vacation residence. All of these locations might be used as wedding settings. Choosing a location that is not often associated with weddings might help you save money — and offer your nuptials a distinct flavor.
  • Choose one with ‘’Inclusive benefits’’: In addition to the event space, all-inclusive venues offer a wide range of other services, such as on-site planning and coordination of cuisine, alcoholic beverages, staffing, rentals, cake, and guest housing.
  • Look for BYOB places:  To keep costs under control, look for places where you may bring your own booze.
  • Have your entire wedding at one place: Transportation from the ceremony to the reception will be taken care of for you, saving you time and money.

6) How to save money on wedding invitations?

  • Print your own cards: You may easily make your own wedding invites. Use a design template you may acquire from Etsy or borrow one from a friend who knows how to make it. You may then get them printed at home or at a FedEx or similar location near you. When it comes to invitations, you may save a few hundred dollars by printing your own.
  • You can skip the envelope liner: By using a colourful or otherwise nontraditional outer envelope for an inside envelope liner, you may save $1 per invitation—plus, it’s a delightful surprise for your wedding guests when they get their invitations.
  • Go for online invitations: Joy, a wedding website that also allows you to manage your guest list and monitor RSVPs, allows you to send free electronic invites. Not quite ready to go completely paperless? You may still save money on stationery and postage by emailing your save-the-date reminders.

7) How to save money on wedding catering?

  • Price out multiple options for meals: Catering for seated, plated meals is typically the most expensive choice. It’s important to inquire about other options, such as a buffet or a family-style station or a heavy Hord ‘oeuvres buffet, from each possible caterer.
  • Choose the menu wisely: You may save a lot of money on catering costs if you make the right menu choices. Pork, chicken, and turkey are more cost-effective options for couples than steak or lobster on the menu. Likewise, appetizers, sides, and desserts should be chosen in the same manner. 
  • Consider Buffet: In order to save money on the cost of your wedding catering, a buffet is an excellent alternative. As a result, you’ll save hundreds of dollars in labor expenditures by using this serving method over a plated or family-style meal.
  • Consider disposable dinnerware: To save money on wedding catering, serve appetizers or the wedding cake on disposables and just use the actual Bone China for dinner service.
  • Streamline drink options: An open bar filled with liquor, mixers, beer, and wine may cost a lot of money to run. Make sure your visitors are well-hydrated with beer and wine to save money. Reducing the number of alternatives available might also help save money.

8) How to save money on wedding dress?

  •  Choose a simple dress: Choosing a simple, unadorned gown can drastically reduce the cost, as lace and beading are more expensive. If you really must have that highly decorated fantasy gown, ask the designer to confine the beading (which adds to the cost) to the bodice only and to exclude it totally from the skirt or train.
  • Shop at right time: Winter and summer are the two seasons when bridal designers and certain stores hold mega-sales to clear out inventory for the next season. If you’re determined on a high-end designer gown, you may be able to nab it for up to 80% less.
  • You can choose a sample gown: While the majority of bridal gowns are custom-made, brides can save money by purchasing a sample gown. Certain budget wedding shops specialize in sample dresses and typically have a larger size range.
  • Rent or borrow jewelry: Your wedding clothing encompasses more than the gown (think jewelry, a veil and shoes). Utilize family heirlooms to save money on accessories. You will not only save money, but you will also cover your “something old” and “something borrowed.”

9) How to save money on wedding flowers?

  • Choose Local and Seasonal Flowers: Flowers that are in season and locally grown are the best option. This will ensure that the flowers are in peak condition and that the stems are also less expensive. Choosing from a broad variety of year-round flowers, such as roses, calla lilies, and orchids, is your second-best alternative.
  • Go for big blooms: While cymbidium orchids are more expensive than spray roses, they make a far more grandiose impact as centerpieces. Often, these blooms are more potent, which means you will need less of them. As a result, you may be able to have the luxurious flowers while staying within your budget.
  • Select lookalike flowers: Learn to identify similar-looking flowers so that you may change out pricey blooms for more economical ones, such as peonies for roses. Choose a florist you can rely on, and then allow her artistic vision to guide your choice of flowers.
  • Consider repurposing your flowers: Leave no plans for the ceremony at the altar! Aisle arrangements may be used to border the buffet, bridesmaid bouquets can be used to brighten up a cake table, and an archway can provide a memorable departure. Consult your florist about reusing your ceremony flowers to maximise your investment.
  • Go Green: Whenever possible, incorporate greenery into your designs. Lush leaves will contribute to the filling of arrangements without compromising their elegance. Choose green garlands, herbaceous bridesmaid bouquets, and ferns that resemble woodland creatures.

10) How to save money on wedding cake?

  • Go for small cake: If you want a multi-tiered cake, expect to pay a higher price. Keep it simple with two layers and sheet cakes for dessert. You don’t have to feed the entire party with the cake you cut for photos.
  • Choose cake from local shop: Do not miss the bakeries located in grocery stores. Their cakes can be delectable, gorgeous, and reasonably priced. Choose a straightforward style and embellish it with a few flowers – your visitors will never know the difference.
  • Select buttercream frosting: While fondant icing on a wedding cake creates a clean and precise appearance, it also adds to the cake’s expense. While buttercream frosting is not as smooth as whipped cream, when done properly, it may still seem professional. Additionally, buttercream icing tastes far better than fondant, which your visitors will love.
  • Serve smaller slices: Cutting the wedding cake into smaller pieces might also help you save money. High-end weddings often offer thin slices of cake that are around 1″ thick, whereas more informal weddings typically serve 2″ thick portions. 
  • Consider an alternative: If you don’t want to offer cake at your wedding, there’s no need to do so. If you’re not a fan of cake, serve a pie or a scoop of ice cream instead. Or, if you like, cookies from your preferred bakery. 

11) How to save money on wedding photography?

  • Book Early: If you can, hire your photographer as soon as you know the date of your wedding so that you may take advantage of any discounts that may be available. Even if you don’t receive a cash discount, you may still be saving money in the long run.
  • Choose digital package: Asking about a digital bundle might help you save money on picture prints. Although it appears to be more expensive, purchasing digital rights to your images is really cheaper in the long run. Wedding images can be stored on a CD or DVD and printed whenever you desire.
  • Put a limit on the photographer’s hours: Cut down on the time your photographers and videographers spend at your event to save money. This might not be necessary for the end-of-reception dance at the wedding reception.
  • Ask for referral discount: Referral discounts are common among photographers, even if you’ve already signed a contract with them. Indeed, some photographers may offer you a discount on your final price if you suggest them based on your wedding photographs.

Bottom Line

These were the ways of how to save money on wedding. You can save a lot of wedding money through these tips and then spend that amount on your honey moon holiday or save it for the future. 

Before starting your wedding work, make sure to plan first and make budget. It will help you to ascertain how much and where to spend the money. Then kick off the wedding work. 

We hope this article was helpful & informative. Please leave your valuable thoughts & suggestions in the comments. 

Thank you for reading!