As spring and summer arrive, so does another wedding season. These momentous and wonderful occasions are filled with great memories that last a lifetime. However, all the details that go into planning your big day can be overwhelming and quite costly.
The average wedding cost in the U.S. in 2017 was $25,764 according to www.costofwedding.com and with the billion-dollar industry showing no signs of slowing down, many wonder how they can have the wedding of their dreams on a budget.
If you haven’t already, grab our Free Wedding Budget Spreadsheet to get organized and make the best use of your money.
If eloping is not the answer for you and burning a hole in your pocket isn’t desired either, then try these ways to make the wedding of your dreams a reality while staying within your budget.
1) Use digital invites
The novelty of receiving a beautifully crafted invitation in the mail for a wedding is always a wonderful way to inform your guests of your upcoming joyous event. However, the costs for invitations can add up quickly.
Wedding invitations, save the dates, and rsvp/menu cards average $700 for 100. With beautiful, personalized digital invites that also offer a wedding website for your guests to use, this is a great and budget-friendly alternative to paper and print invites.
2) Use faux flowers
Flowers definitely add pops of color and a unique display of your personality on your big day, but real flowers can come with a hefty price.
$2,100 is noted as the average cost of wedding flowers however fake flowers last longer, can be used in other ways later and cost a lot less. Not to mention you can sell them or lend them to friends for their wedding.
Be sure to look out for clearance or sale flowers. You can also go to craft supply stores such as Michaels and work one-on-one with their dedicated florist. You will only be charged for the supplies and their fee which is half of the supply cost.
If you must have fresh flowers, go for ones that are in season or local.
3) Purchase from a wholesaler
Rather than purchasing your needed wedding decor items at traditional stores, why not look into wholesalers who can offer you a great price for bulk amounts?
Many wholesalers will work with you no matter the size of your wedding. If you pay by cash and all at once you may be able to get a deeper discount so be sure to ask.
4) Don’t have your wedding on a Saturday
Saturdays have always been the popular day of the week to have a wedding, which also means premium pricing for your venue and services.
Flexibility in what day of the week you host your wedding will open the savings floodgate for your big day. Friday, Sunday and even Monday are becoming more mainstream as they come with hefty price cuts.
5) Be open about your wedding ring selections
The wedding rings can cost a pretty penny to express your love and devotion in this traditional manner.
To help you keep this price in line with your budget, try websites such as Overstock.com, be open about the metal and/or gemstones that are being used and try making a cash offer to see if there is flexibility on the price.
6) Offer a buffet rather than sit down dinner
Sit down dinners are synonymous with weddings. To mark the formal affair and to ensure that their guests have the best food, couples spend on average $80 per plate. This can of course increase with each addition and modification you make.
To keep your budget numbers in this category as low as possible, opt for the buffet option. By having your guests serve themselves this will cut down on the cost of manpower dedicated to each table and save you lots of money.
7) Have a daytime reception
Who says night time is the only time for wedding receptions? The daytime has just as much charm and can make your day even more unique, special and just as importantly, within budget.
Many venues offer a lunch or brunch style reception where you can entertain your guests with lighter meal options that are also lighter on your budget.
8) Go for cupcakes instead of a full wedding cake
Many millennial couples are opting out of the heavy wedding cake that can eat up a portion of your budget. Instead the fun and individualized cupcake route is becoming the new standard.
Cakes are charged by the slice and the starting rate averages $7.50/slice. Cupcakes can start around $2.50 a cupcake, significantly reducing your cost. As most of your guests will not even eat the cake, individual cupcakes are a smarter budget choice.
9) Have your wedding in the off-season
In America, June to October are when weddings are in full swing and when venues can be the costliest. While most couples tend to want a specific date during the prime weather months, being open to off-season months can bring on large savings.
Decide on several dates you would like in both the on and off wedding season, compare costs, weigh your pros and cons and consult your budget to decide on the date.
10) Create your own centerpieces
The floral and decorative centerpiece option can be a stunning addition to any table however it can also take a large chunk of your budget.
Making your own centerpieces allows you to show your true creativity. Utilizing the supplies from craft stores, online discount websites, wholesalers and even your local dollar store, you can make centerpieces that are true to your love story.
11) Modify your guest list
This can be one of the most difficult things to do during your entire wedding planning process however if you are on a tight budget, being mindful of who you truly need to have join in on your big day will also help your budget.
Create an ideal number for your guest list and try to stick to it as best as possible. Remember that this day is about sharing it with those most important to you.
12) Make your own favors
Turning on your creative skills and gathering the bridal party troop to help with assembly of D-I-Y wedding favors is a great money-saving alternative.
As the average amount spent on wedding favors ranges from $2-$3, the factors that should affect how much you spend on favors are your budget and your guest list size.
Some easy, cost-effective and great make it yourself options for favours are S’mores kit, hot cocoa in mason jars kits and bath salt sachets.
13) Be your own DJ
If you plan to have dancing going all night long, musical entertainment will be a priority in your budget.
To avoid this added cost, use services such as Spotify and download your own playlist. By using your laptop and rented speakers you will save a lot of money on a DJ. However, if you do go the route of having professional music entertainment a DJ will cost you 60% less than a live band.
14) Purchase your wedding dress online
The wedding dress is a top priority for most brides and with incredibly expensive dresses constantly being showcased in the media, it can certainly seem like a substantial portion of your budget must be dedicated to dress of your dreams.
Online websites such as Alibaba offer custom dressmaking for your needs at a fraction of the cost. Although the average wedding dress costs around $1,500 you can find a gorgeous gown for even less.
If you still feel that purchasing the dress after the big day is not an effective way to spend your budget, renting your entire wedding party’s clothing is a great option that is certainly cost-effective.
15) Use Fiverr to find your photographer and videographer
The freelance economy is at its height and certainly provides a competitive market for wedding day services. When looking for a photographer and videographer checking out sites such as Craigslist, Fiverr and Upwork are great options.
Be sure to ask for references and compare the different packages you enquire about to make your best decision.
16) Use students for your entertainment
Hiring professional entertainment for your wedding day festivities is a fantastic way to keep the fun going all day and all-night long. Adding this to your lineup however can be a strain that pushes your budget beyond its limit.
Try contacting local schools for the type of entertainment you are seeking to see if they have students who could lend their services for free or a fraction of the price.
17) Take a look at alternative wedding venue options
Banquet halls and golf country clubs are commonly used for weddings and generally you pay the price for these places as they offer décor, ambiance and services that you would be looking for on your big day.
If you are open to seeing what else could work for you and your budget, be sure to check out wonderful alternative venues such as museums, art galleries and planetariums.
18) Look for alternative catering options
The food selections at weddings are one of the biggest and most important expenses for couples. When you select your venue, seeing if they offer outside catering would be a terrific way to help your budget.
If you can use an outside source you can negotiate the cost especially if you selected the buffet option.
Remember that your special day is about the memories created and no matter your budget, your money should be allocated to the areas that are most important to you and your significant other.
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What do you think is the best way to save money on a wedding? If you are already married, what were your biggest costs?
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wedding can be really expensive, this are good tips thanks for sharing!
Hi Giulia! You are so right about weddings potentially being really expensive. I’m glad these tips provided value for you. Thank you for commenting!
We saved a lot by not having a wedding with a princess dress and all the jazz. We had a civil union and got some of our best friends at a restaurant for a meal. Total wedding cost 800 bucks. Some of them actually gave us small money presents, so we actually paid about 200 bucks for the entire thing.
Hi Ramona! Thank you for your comment and we did the exact same thing! It certainly helped us save money that we could use towards other important areas such as paying off student loans and other debts. Who says an expensive wedding is best!