By some estimates, an average U.S. wedding now costs more than $30,000, which is a lot of money for young couples just starting their journey through life. Depending where you live and where you want to celebrate the big day, you can easily spend much more than that. Or you could save money by being frugal, without compromising on quality.
We’re all about leading a frugal lifestyle so we have prepared a list of…
9 Ways to Save Money on Wedding
Some of these tricks will work for just about any couple…
1. Get several bids and negotiate
Thinking of your wedding as a business project could help a lot. You’ll want several bids to get the general idea about the costs. Ask multiple venues, and multiple bands or DJs. Even when you pick the winner ask them for a better rate. Say something like: “We are considering getting your venue/band and are wondering can you give us a slightly better rate?” You’d be surprised how that works.
2. DJs cost less than bands
It is only obvious that a DJ would charge less than a full-blown band. If that’s an option — some people don’t like DJs — go for it and save a ton. DJs don’t have to play techno, they can play any music you like. You can even work on a playlist with them. And, as always, ask for offers from multiple DJs.
3. Prepare your guest list early
The number of guests you settle for has a direct impact on the cost of your wedding. There are many per-person costs involved, so you are best of preparing the list of guests as early as possible. At very least, pick a number of guests you’ll invite — i.e. 150 or 200 — and stick to it. This way you can start getting quotes earlier and, consequently, being able to negotiate for a better rates. It’s not just the main meals that are priced per-person — there are also invitations, reception dinners and more.
4. Factor in overlooked expenses
You know how they say it — if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. In order to save money on your wedding, you must factor in all costs, and as you may’ve heard — some get overlooked. So take some time to list all of the cost associated with your big day. Look beyond catering, venue, dress and music costs to also include smaller things like bridal accessories, invitations, RSVP cards, thank you notes, postage, and more. Create a spreadsheet and add all the things you could possible think of. Talk to friends who already got married for advice. And check the internet. You should come up with the list that is as complete as possible. Then, see if you can make some cuts.
5. Use an online RSVP service
It’s an easy way to save. Instead of sending letters to your guests, send them digital RSVPs and save on stamps and stationery costs. Also, now that we all live in a digital age, this will also get you more responses. There are many free services you could use — such as Eventbrite, freeRSVP, and RSVPify — though some of them are free only to a certain extent (i.e. up to 100 invitees). Try them out and see which one works for you best.
6. Rent the dress
The reality is that wedding attires are seldom, if ever, worn after the wedding. So don’t buy it — rent it and save a ton. This way you can wear a fancy, designer dress that looks “like a million bucks” while spending a couple of hundred of dollars, or less. Again, see what’s being offered by multiple stores to get the best deal.
7. Pick an off-season and off-peak day
If you can choose the date — and we argue to do so — make it somewhere between November and April, or August. This is an off-season for weddings, thus many of the things you will need for the big day tend to be less expensive. And the same goes for any day of the week except for Friday and Saturday, which command higher rates for everything from catering to hotel space. You can break the tradition by making an early Spring wedding on Sunday, while saving a ton along the way.
8. Consider a morning wedding
Related to the previous point of breaking traditions, if you can/want to make your wedding a truly unorthodox experience — opt for a morning wedding ceremony. Imagine it as a breakfast and brunch reception catering with pancake stations and a tropical fruit bar, with DJ playing your favorite songs to get everyone in the mood. It could be beautiful and something your guests will remember. And needless to say, morning hours are less expensive.
9. Ask your friends for help
Weddings are a great opportunity to take advantage of all the “social capital” you have gathered throughout the years. If your friend is a photographer, ask him/her for a discount. Someone offered to design your invitations? Take it. And so on and on. Just remember these favors aren’t really free and that at one point you will be invited to “repay” them. But that’s what friends are for.
Conclusion
Embracing some or all of these tips could help you prepare a wedding that is both memorable and cost-effective. You don’t have to break a bank to throw away a party everyone will enjoy — you just have to think it through.
And if you have some other advice to share, don’t hesitate to drop it in the comments form below. We appreciate every money-saving tip we can get…