16 Wedding Budget Tips to Save You Lots of Money

Say No to Debts

Never go into debt! We know it’s the most important day of your life, but if you can’t afford a big wedding, then have an intimate affair with your close and loved ones.

Also, try to pay in full, try your best to avoid using credit cards; credit card interest rates and charges can add up to hundreds to your bill, which you will later be stuck paying for some time.

Hidden Costs

Ask about the price of every detail you will be using for your wedding if there are extra charges for it.

For example:

• Colored table linens or additional chairs and tables, you should know about before making the final commitment. 
• Choose plate chargers that have a unique color or look fancier than they actually cost, and pair them with simple white plates.
• Pre-Wedding Beauty Treatments: Hair and makeup trials, spa treatments, manicure, and pedicure.
• The Bridal Shower and Bachelor Party: Some of your friends may put this up for you, but just in case, you need to factor in the cost of the venue, food, giveaways... and all the details that go with it.
• Alterations: The bride’s dress and groom’s tuxedo may need alternations; unless you’re really lucky and they fit like a glove you will probably pay a reasonable amount to fix them.
• Undergarments and Accessories: Your new undergarments, your hair accessories, your shoes and any other extras you will be wearing on the day, as well as, the groom’s cufflinks, and shoes.

Shop For Big Numbers

Buying large numbers can help you save money! How? For example, make your fiancé, his friends, and close family members buy their suits from the same place. They will definitely get a huge discount, some might offer the groom his suit for free!

Choose The Right Date

Save on your venue by booking your wedding midweek and not on a weekend. You might even save on your wedding car rental fee as well. Most suppliers jump at the opportunity to work during the week as they don’t have as many clients.

Avoid holidays and stay away from Christmas (24 and 25 December) and New Year’s Eve as venue rates will be more expensive. Want to really save on your wedding venue? Book your wedding on a weekday!

Wedding Dress and Groom Suit

If you want to save on your wedding dress here are some great tips:

• Ask the shop to show you the dresses from last season, you might find your dream dress at a lower cost.
• Many stores have an end of season clearance when summer ends so make sure to hit the stored you might find your dream wedding dress for less.
• Not everyone can afford to buy expensive wedding dresses in the shops these days. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dream wedding dress! There are plenty of stores that rent out wedding dresses. And some of the dresses they rent are as good as new.
• Another option is to buy a pre-owned dress. These dresses have only been worn once or never at all. You never know when you will find a bargain.
• Keep up with technology and shop online. There are many websites that sell wedding dresses and for much less than what you can find at retail stores. The options are endless.

As for the groom, have your groom consider renting the tuxedo instead of buying one. Or, maybe he could go for a formal suit that is cheaper, and that he’ll wear on different occasions after the wedding.

Let Your Friends and Family Help Out

Wouldn’t it be great if your family and friends were to help you with saving money on your big day? It can be done! Here are 6 ways you can have a budget-friendly wedding with the help of your family and friends:

• Your wedding car: Borrow a classic car or a new model from a family member or a friend, and ask if they would drive you to the wedding.
• A beauty expert: Do you have a sister or a friend who is an expert in applying make-up? Would she be willing to create your bridal look?
• A rising star: Do you have a friend or a colleague who could sing or play music at your wedding? Would they perform for you as a wedding gift?
• Crafty friends: You must have some friends or cousins who are good at crafts and do-it-yourself tasks. Maybe they could help you out with your wedding favors, wishing tree, guest book or invitation cards.
• Budding chefs: If you have a good baker in the family, perhaps an aunt or one of your mum’s friends, why not ask them to bake and decorate your wedding cake? If you don’t want to take any risks, they can help with a dessert or two for your buffet.

Decide on Your Priorities

Start by writing a list of the things that are most important to you, which you don’t mind spending money on. And create another list of things that are not that important and you don’t want to spend money on.

What are you willing to splurge on? What do you want to save money on? And most importantly, set a fixed budget. Discuss this with your fiancé so you can both agree on what is important at your wedding.

Wedding Planner or Not?

Yes, you can always skip the wedding planner. If you start early and manage your time by being organized (and calm!) you’ll be able to plan your own wedding.

Of course your best friends and family are coming to your wedding, but how about letting them plan it? If you have a crafty friend that loves DIY, let her work on the favors, centerpieces or any other idea you have. 

Save On Your Wedding Favors

Save up on your wedding favors by having something small and that your guests will actually want to use or eat.

For example:

• Let them fill their own candy bags, or have small boxes with a piece of chocolate or cookie.
• 2 in 1 Centerpiece and Favors: If you want to have beautiful centerpieces but still want to have wedding favors, we have the perfect solution right here. Turn your centerpieces into favors for your guests to take home at the end of the wedding, by grouping the favors and arranging them in the middle of the table with a few flowers and confetti.
• 2 in 1 Place Cards and Favors: Use small favors as seating cards. For example, have small boxes filled with candy and add name tags or stickers with guests’ names on them.

Create a Luxurious Effect

 If you’re dreaming of a luxurious wedding, you can create the effect of a fancy wedding without spending all your money! Here are some statement ideas to make your dream wedding look expensive:

• Go to Nature: Whether its twigs, leaves, vines, or rocks,  u can use as many as you want and any way you want as well, whether you color them or leave them natural these natural elements will save you a lot of money. Use them in your centerpieces, table setting, and even your photo booth backdrop.
• Play with Heights: Make your centerpieces look more expensive by using more than one vase or votive and placing some of them on boxes or other items to elevate them, do the same with candles and you have yourself a fancy centerpiece.
• Choose Your Accessories: You can find inexpensive accessories that can add a lot to your weddings, such as ribbons, fake crystals and pearls,  fabric, and even feathers.
• Wrap Your Silverware: The most inexpensive way to do so is by using pretty ribbons.
• Unique Napkin Fold: Get creative! Learn how to fold napkins in artistic ways online, you can also ask your venue or caterer to do it for you.
• Napkin Rings: Add napkin rings to your table settings for a luxurious touch. You can also personalize them by engraving them and have them as giveaways.
• Rent Your Napkins and Linens: You can rent your linens and napkins in any color or pattern you want, so you won’t have to use the basic white linens and napkins your venue has to offer.
• Chair Garlands: Whether you use fake flowers, greenery, or ribbons, adding a few touches to the back of the chairs shouldn’t be expensive and will add a unique touch to the wedding theme.
• Lounge Furniture: Add a few pieces of lounge furniture to mix and match with your tables, they are not as expensive as you think.
• Use Mirrors and Glass: They always add a fancy touch to any event.
• Mix the Table Shapes: Not all tables have to be round or rectangular; you can have both if they are placed nicely. They will give your wedding an elegant look.

Catering

You definitely don’t have to spend a fortune on catering and serving dinner to your guests.

• The best way to save money on food is by serving hors d'oeuvres, which are mini foods or finger foods passed around throughout the evening.
• If you are willing to serve alcohol on your wedding day, then you have to keep in mind that it will cost you more. However, you don’t have to have an open bar. Ask your venue or bartender if you can have a signature drink mixed for you throughout the evening, this will cost you much less than an open bar. Also, using local beer or wines will also save you lots of money.
• Present your food in a creative way, you don’t have to serve the most expensive foods at your wedding. Your chef or caterer can create unique ways to present food to your guests, no matter how simple it is. Use shot glasses for soups, or ceramic spoons for bite-sized foods for example

Balloons vs Flowers

Flowers and floral arrangements can be very pricey. But flowers aren’t always the best way to decorate your wedding venue. Balloons are much cheaper and really fun to have as the decoration. Not only will you save money, but your wedding will look fresh, innovative and hip.

Not a big fan of balloons? You can always make your own wedding flowers with the help of a few friends or relatives. The Internet is filled with ideas and steps on DIY wedding flowers. Get creative!

Save on Your Wedding Invitations

You can save a good amount of money by simplifying your wedding invitations.

• Go for more simple and elegant invitations, the more complicated your design is, the more you will get charged.
• If you are on the creative side, then use your creativity and design your own invitations. It is not as hard as you think, you can search for easy steps on how to make them or available templates, and print them out at a local printing house.

Your Wedding Cake

Who needs a dessert buffet when you can serve a delicious wedding cake at the end of the dinner? Skip the dessert buffet; just include some seasonal fruits for your dieting guests.

Click here to see 10 helpful tips to help you save money on your wedding cake!

Save Money Before Your Wedding

Did you know that there are small details in your daily lifestyle that can really put a strain on your money? If you give up some of these things, you might save some extra money to spend on some wedding details you care about!

Giving up on those things will not only help you save money, but will also make you healthier, so you are the ultimate winner in this case!

Here are some small details you can give up on in order to save more money for your wedding:

• Bottled Water: It might not be a big amount, but multiply the change you spend on bottled water every time you buy one at a coffee shop or supermarket, and it might add up to a pretty good amount of money, so invest in a refillable water bottle and fill it at home.
• Daily Take Away Coffee: Do you stop by for coffee every morning before heading off to work? Why not make your coffee at home and take it with you?
• Smoking: Not only is smoking ruining your health, but it is also adding extra costs to your bank account.
• Eating Out: Do you eat out more than once a week? It’s time you give up eating at your favorite restaurants 3 times a week and start learning some new cooking skills at home, save some money and improve your cooking skills, it’s a win-win!

Trim Down Your Wedding Guest List

Brides and grooms can get very frustrated when it comes to writing down their wedding guest list and sending out their wedding invitations.

First of all decide on how big or small you want your wedding to be, and where it will take place. Once you have a general idea of your wedding size, you can then start trimming down your guest list accordingly.

Here are some tips to help you trim down your wedding guest list:

• Co-workers: When it comes to your colleagues, invite the ones you really like and want to have at your wedding. There is no need to invite people your only interaction with is “good morning”.
• Parent’s Friends: Your parents have the right to invite their close friends, of course, but not the ones you haven’t seen in over 5 years! So ask your parents, to give you a list of their closest and dearest friends, if they are that close, then you should recognize them all.
• Plus Ones: Set a rule based on the relationship status, whether you are inviting married couples, engaged couples, or partners, and go on accordingly.