20 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding
Planning a wedding in the best of financial climates can be a stressful experience. The idea of cutting corners or “making do” is no-body’s idea of a dream wedding.
Remember, behind every Peter and Jordan extravaganza, there’s still a carefully balanced accounts sheet, and you bet your bottom dollar, a list of ideas that for one reason or another, had to be sacrificed.
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Nobody can have everything It’s time to choose strategically the things you can’t compromise on. Make a list of the top three most important points and let them be the reasons for being prudent later on.
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Budget. Be honest about your budget, and do your research. Don’t pick numbers out of the air without looking into the actual market costs of your wedding. Once you have a realistic budget, it will be easier to stick to it.
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Vision. You already know how your wedding should look. Now refine this vision, clarify all the details. By pinning down the specifics early, you avoid the temptation to impulse-buy frivolously at the last minute.
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Subtlety. Any good designer will tell you that less is more. Paring down an idea delivers the classiest results. Try subtracting peripheral details from your plans. Can a single stem replace a gaudy bunch of flowers at the tables?
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Originality. Be bold – invest some of your personality into the proceedings. Can you make trinkets for the guests? Organise catering? Arrange flowers? Make sure your wedding is as individual as you are.
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Transport. There are many non-chauffeur car hires available without a weighty matrimonial price-tag. Just ask a reliable friend to drive you.
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Catering. Think beyond standard catering. Seasonalise to save money and make an unforgettable day: Summer barbecues, autumn hog-roasts, spring picnics and Christmas cheer are low-cost alternatives to the ordinary fayre.
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Cake. The cost of a professional wedding cake is often deceptively high. If it’s not on your essential list, why not have fun with your wedding cake. Try towers of cupcakes instead of the traditional tiers, for example.
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Guests. It’s simple; the less guests you invite, the more budget you have to spread around. Be ruthless. Think carefully about plus-ones and don’t let guilt be a factor. Remember it’s your wedding.
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Celebrate Twice! Have an Engagement or Wedding party before the big day. Choose a good quality free venue with a paid bar. This is a low cost way to avoid offending anyone you can’t accommodate on the big day.
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Flowers. Avoid paying unnecessarily high fees for your flowers by taking a course in flower arranging before-hand. It’s a skill you will never lose and will pay dividends on your wedding day.
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Corkage. Many venues offer a corkage license – this means you can source alcohol and other beverages cheaply without forking out for an open bar.
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Lighting. Good lighting can transform any space instantly and cheaply. A well placed £20 lamp can do the work of a £100 bouquet of flowers.
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Dress. Listen: You will be the centre of attention, the most beautiful person in the room, the belle of the ball, even if you aren’t wearing a bespoke dress. Look at off the rack options carefully – or end of lines.
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Make-up. Don’t transform yourself! This is not the time for a completely new look. All the makeup you need should already be familiar to you; you may already have the majority of products you need for the best possible look.
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Accessorise well. We’ve already talked about keeping things simple. All attire should be complimented by any accessories, not weighed down by them. Use wild-flowers instead of bespoke hand-ties and expensive button-holes.
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Negotiate. When you do use a professional service or supplier for your wedding, try to remember everyone has room for negotiation. Look for positive ways to drive the price down.
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Music. In general DJs are cheaper than bands – they require less space and less equipment. If you are using a friend’s band or DJ that’s great, but make sure you check their play-list first!
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Rings. High street jewellers have large overheads to contend with, which drives up the price of rings. Online jewellery has the added advantage of a much broader range at lower prices.
What do you think of our ideas? Do you have any inspired ideas of your own? Have you got any money saving tips? We'd love to hear from you, please send us an email with your ideas!