How To Save Money On A Wedding

Are you getting married soon? Congratulations on such an important step. Do you want to know how to save money on a wedding? The problem is, this happy event can be particularly costly. However, do not panic! We have some great ideas for saving money.

Weddings can get expensive. Once all the costs are added up (wedding venue, transportation, photography, accommodations, rings, flowers, food, drinks, wedding attire, honeymoon, etc.), the bill for a typical wedding can total more than thirty thousand dollars, which often means that newlyweds are in debt from the start.

Before the Wedding Day

Most couples plan this big day for an average of a year, and there are a variety of ways you can save and manage your finances during this time (before the wedding). Below are five tips that can help you start the wedding planning in a stronger financial position.

1. Open a special bank account for your wedding

By opening a new bank account especially dedicated to your wedding, you can grow your savings in a “specific account.” The money is deposited there (and not withdrawn) until you are ready to pay the expenses for your wedding. Stay motivated as you see your balance increase.

It's easy to track your savings and set goals. If you haven't already used a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), this may be a perfect solution to saving for your wedding, since the interest you earn is not taxable.

2. Set aside some money each week

Make regular deposits to your wedding account. By setting aside small amounts each week, you won't feel like you're sacrificing your normal budget. Automated deposits are generally easier to manage and can grow your savings faster.

3. Save more by cutting expenses

If you can reduce certain expenses, for example by buying fewer dinners and lunches, you will be able to use the money saved towards your wedding expenses. Any sacrifice you can make in the short term will help reduce the pressure of spending on the wedding.

In addition, by better understanding your spending habits, including those that you can reduce, you can adopt a more disciplined approach to spending and saving, even after your wedding.

4. Agree on your wedding priorities

Talk to your partner about what matters most to the two of you on your wedding day, and determine if there are any compromises you're willing to make.

For example, you might be able to afford to have your wedding where you really want with fewer people or afford the dress of your dreams with a cheaper honeymoon.

Explore Possibilities To Save Your Money. Meet Billry.

GET MEMBER KEY

5. Set a budget for the wedding

Set a realistic budget by knowing how much you're willing to spend, and then comparing prices from vendors. Consider options that can save you money, such as when the wedding will take place; daytime or evening.

Friday and winter weddings may cost less at your preferred location. Do you want to know more about how to save money on a wedding? Let’s dive into more of the in-depth planning phase and what you should do to save on your actual wedding day.

The Wedding Ring

In most cases, the bride is more focused on how the ring looks than the groom is. Of course, this is understandable. However, if you are one of those brides-to-be who is more focused on saving money, you will understand that the ring is a symbol of your union and that later on, you can obtain a ring that you really love.

For now, it is best to consider the savings until you both are able to buy the ideal rings for each other. For that reason, visit several pawn shops to find cheaper wedding bands. You would be surprised at what you can find. You could also look on the Internet for ‘second-hand’ rings or check platforms like Ebay and Amazon for discounts and savings.

Make Your Own Flowers

If you enjoy working with your hands or know someone who is a handyman, consider making your own flower arrangements. It could save you thousands of dollars! You could even think about ordering flowers on the Internet from a wholesaler. With the flowers, you could make the bouquets, buttonholes and all the floral arrangements to adorn the tables. For the leaves, you could pick plants from your garden. You can also order the vases on the Internet. Look for those with discounted prices. Have friends and family chip in to help with the floral arrangements or hire a florist to decorate the centerpieces, possibly using potted flowers in simple jars.

You could also consider using artificial flowers because using real flowers could be overpriced. Instead of calling a florist, you could also learn how to make crêpe paper flowers. For a small fraction of the cost of real flowers, you could purchase all the materials needed to make crêpe paper flowers. In addition, the manufacturing time could be a good moment of relaxation for you while working with your hands. Of course, solicit help from people who will participate in the wedding. After the wedding, you can reuse the flowers, sell them or give them away!

Picking the Right Venue

You could also consider choosing the same location for the ceremony and the reception.

The guests would be seated at their tables during the ceremony, which would allow them to follow directly with the apéritif while the photographer takes pictures of the bride and groom. It would also allow you to save on guest transportation. No limousines, no time constraints, and no worry that guests from far away might get lost. You could also consider getting married in a hotel. The bouquets from the hotel lobby could be transported to the reception hall and no one would need transportation between the ceremony and the reception. And since most of the guests would be sleeping in the hotel, you could also ask the manager to give you a discount on the meals and accommodations.

Hold Your Reception in a Restaurant

Getting married in a fancy restaurant is by far the most profitable option. Instead of paying thousands of dollars to rent an event space and bring all the necessary things, you would only have to pay for the food and the alcohol, if you rented a restaurant for your wedding. The room, the furniture, the table linen, the lighting, the elegant decoration, the crockery, the silverware, the small boxes and posters, etc would be included in the service.

Holding a wedding reception in a restaurant would be the cheaper alternative than renting a reception area where you have to bring everything yourself (from forks to chemical toilets).

Planning the Menu

Eliminate unnecessary dishes. Wedding menus consisting of 12 different dishes are no more "classy" than the others. Limiting the number of dishes will save you money, and some stomachs will thank you for it. Do not forget that during the reception your guests will have endlessly nibbled. Plan large tables; we don't always think about it, but it can save you money on the food, decoration budget, and more particularly on floral decorations, centerpieces etc.

Alcohol

Limit alcoholic drinks, which are also very expensive. Reduce alcohol to the essentials: offer wine, beer, and a house cocktail. The more you want to diversify the alcohol offered, the more it will inflate your budget. Even a bottle of alcohol at the correct price becomes overpriced when it has to be multiplied in proportion to the number of guests.

Make Your Own Invitations

In the age of the Internet and new technologies, why not take advantage of all the various tools to save money? Send as many invitations as possible by email, and reserve a few that you print for immediate family and guests without internet access.

Design and print your invitations yourself. You can get help from a loved one who is artistic if you do not feel that your spirit is sufficiently creative or inspired. You can also find free printable models on the internet. For the printed copies, try to deliver as much as possible by hand, it will save you stamps (there are no small savings!).

Wedding Gowns/Suits

A wedding dress doesn't have to cost $5,000 to be pretty!

The wedding dress is a big part of your total wedding budget. This choice remains very personal, and it's up to you to decide how much you want to spend on it. However, there are also ways to save money. Some brands offer low price ranges. Maybe, you will find the dress of your dreams there.

Do not hesitate to look everywhere on the internet, and to go to wedding shows. For the groom, maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, and others participating in the wedding, find a thrift shop or rent the tuxedos and dresses from stores that offer this option.

The Guest List

Limit the number of guests you invite to your wedding. This is not always easy, but it will allow you to reduce your catering or catering expenses, which often represents a large part of the budget of a wedding (the second after the dress!) Be sure to get people to RSVP months before the wedding, just so you can be prepared in case someone changes their mind. Your guest list should include close family and friends first, and then you can add others if your budget allows for it.

The Photography And Music

Ask a friend or loved one who has a nice camera to take your photos. Some amateur photographers take pictures as beautiful as a professional, which on the other hand, will cost you a lot more. So if any of your friends love photography, hire them! They will be happy to take on this role.

Ditto for the music, ask some friends to play the role of DJ. If you also have musician friends, that's even better! If you take your photos yourself, you can use Photoshop-like software to retouch them to give them a professional look. If you don't know how to do it, ask a friend.

Ask For Help

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Instead of asking your guests for a wedding present, ask them to help you with the preparations. You could ask if anyone knows how to make a wedding cake for you.

By doing this, you could achieve considerable savings. Some people can take care of preparing the reception hall while others could provide transportation.