6 Ways to Cut Your Wedding Budget in Half
Your wedding day should be special, but it shouldn’t have to break the bank.
Weddings are naturally pricey, with an average wedding costing $30,000+. But, most of the high prices are coming from unnecessary elements or hidden costs. You can slash your wedding budget in half without sacrificing your must-haves, it all starts with putting your money where it matters. Decide what are non-negotiables, then make adjustments to the rest of your plans to find a balance between your budget and your dream wedding. If you’re looking for ideas on how to cut significant amounts of money off of your wedding budget, here are six ways to do just that without sacrificing your vision!
Embrace All-Inclusive Plans
Venues with catering packages, such as hotels, banquet rooms, or a country club, can save you as much as $25 per head. If you plan on serving a sit-down meal for your wedding reception, this is the best way to shave hundreds of dollars off of your food budget. You should also consider finding a venue with an all-inclusive package that will work for your ceremony and reception. This way, you will cut the cost of both your venue and your catering.
Photography by Courtney Chau Photography
Forego A Saturday Wedding
Photography by Fabiana Skubic Photography
Saturday is the most popular day to get married, which means not only will every couple be vying for venues on this day, but the price will be inflated. If you book your wedding on a weekday, many venues will offer a discounted price, in some cases, it could be half the price. But, if a weekday wedding doesn’t work for you or your guests, opt for a Friday or Sunday wedding. Prices won’t be as discounted, but it will still be significantly cheaper than a Saturday wedding.
Repurpose Ceremony Flowers
Wedding flowers can cost on average $2,000, assuming that you’ll require arrangements for your ceremony and reception. Cut your flower budget in half by choosing arrangements that will work for both your ceremony and reception. That way, you can repurpose them, using them as centerpieces or as decor for another table throughout the reception. You may have to pay a small fee to have them moved, but it will be worth the hundreds you save on the arrangements.
Photography by Courtney Chau Photography
Go Paperless
Photography by Emma King Photography
Why pay for paper invitations when you can just go digital? Creating a wedding website or sending out digital wedding invitations will cost you very little or nothing at all versus an average of $560 that is spent on invitations alone. Going digital for invitations still gives you the ability to personalize your invites and an easier way for guests to RSVP. You can also save by creating one menu you display at your reception instead of printing a menu card for each guest.
Cut Back On Appetizers & Desserts
Stick to the foods that you know will go over well with every guest. Don’t waste money by paying for 10 different appetizers and three different dessert options for your cocktail hour and reception, trying to cover all guests’ tastes. Decide on two or three appetizers that are simple and easy to serve. For dessert, your cake can be your dessert course, but you may want to opt for cupcakes over a 3-tier cake, paying by the slice will end up costing you more. You can also opt for an alternative dessert like doughnuts or ice cream.
Photography by Jessie Wyman & Christina Anne
Buy Your Wedding Dress Online
Photography by All The Little Stories Photography
As a bride, your wedding gown is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your big day. But, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours in a bridal boutique to find your dream gown. Buying your wedding gown online will save you time and money, giving you a more direct way of purchasing your gown, cutting out hidden costs, and giving you a stress-free environment to search for your dream gown. At LVB you can find a quality, modern gown for $1,000 or less, giving you the room to spend the rest of your gown budget on other aspects of your wedding.
Share this with a bride who is putting together her wedding budget and check out our lookbooks for some more wedding inspo!
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