15 Wedding Budget Saving Tips and Tricks

Planning a wedding on a budget requires an open mind and good decision making. Every little thing adds up. For those couples looking for ideas to save $ when it comes to planning your wedding, consider these tips and tricks!

1. Ask your venue if they have rentals or decorations you can use. A large part of your rental budget is for delivery, set up and pick up fees. Why pay for those fees if your venue already has items you need? Examples of these items are tables, chairs, kitchen space, plates, glassware, flatware and decorations/signs.

2. Reuse your florals. Use florals from your ceremony at your reception. Use the bridal party bouquets to style your dessert, gift and guest book tables or as the toss bouquet.

3. Hire a friend to be your officiant. Or an uncle, aunt or cousin. Just make sure this person is comfortable talking in front of crowds and knows what is expected of them.

4. Choose catering options that don’t require servers. When you have a plated meal, you need servers to bring the meal from the kitchen to your guests. And when you have passed appetizers, you will need servers to walk around with the appetizers. Consider alternate options like a buffet style dinner.

5. Use digital Invitations and Save the Dates. Some people love the process and creative thinking that goes into designing and making the Invitations and Save the Dates.  When you do this you are paying to create, print and send them. With the exception of a few people – most will end up throwing them away anyway…

6. Save the trees! Instead of printing a program or menu for each individual guest, just have one large sign. Once again, most guests will end up throwing these away…

7. Get married on a day other than Saturday. Typically, venues are less expensive to book Monday – Thursday.

8. Skip the champagne. When it comes to the toasting part of the night, have your guests toast with whatever drink is in their hand. Champagne can end up going to waste if your guests don’t like it. You are also paying for servers to pour and hand out the champagne.  

9. Use the same photographer for your engagement photoshoot and your wedding day. Some photographers offer packages with the engagement photoshoot included. Also, this is a great way to get to know your photographer’s style before the big day.

10. Use an alternative to cake. Doughnuts? Cupcakes? Or just a dessert table with many different dessert options? When you get a multi-tiered cake from a professional baker you are paying for the labor and time that goes into preparing, transporting and setting up the cake. Lots of cake will go to waste if you have guests that aren’t “cake people”.

11. Use alternative attire options. If the dress is not a high priority for you – buy a used dress. You will pay significantly less and no one will be able to tell its used unless you decide to tell everyone.

12. For the brides - don’t get expensive shoes! When you think about it, one of the only times you will see your shoes is for the detailed shots. And you might end up switching your shoes for the dancing part of your night anyways.

13. Skip wedding favors. Once again, most guests will forget them and this is $ that can go elsewhere! No one has ever left a wedding thinking “I’m so mad they didn’t have party favors!”

14. Don’t hire a limo or party bus. Most professional driving services like these have a time minimum of anywhere from 4 to 6 hours! Use Uber XL or have a friend drive you to the venue!

15. Limit beverage options. Generally speaking, when you have endless options it can be overwhelming to guests. There might also be a ton left over which is a waste of money. Stick to beer, wine and a specialty cocktail instead of having an open bar. Also, have only 3-4 non-alcoholic beverage options. These add up too!

Happy Planning!