How to Cut Back the Costs of Your Wedding
Like many other brides- to-be, you’re probably wondering how to reduce wedding costs. While every bride has her list of “must -haves”, there are bound to be a few areas where you can cut back.
Below is a list of the biggest wedding money traps. These are the things that are going to eat the most of your budget.
1. Wedding Date. The date you choose for your wedding has a big impact on how much it will cost. Spring and summer months are more popular and come with higher price tags. Many venues even have a minimum charge for weddings during these months. By planning your wedding during the off-season, you can receive the same quality of services at greatly reduced rates.
2. Time of Day. Day time weddings can be significantly less expensive than evening or night time weddings. People are more likely to drink more in the evening. Additionally, a dinner meal is more expensive than a lunch meal.
3. Catering. The foods that you choose to serve your guests will probably be your biggest expense. If a twelve course sit-down meal is going to break the bank, try something like a buffet or a dessert-only reception.
4. Alcohol. While most people do serve alcohol at their weddings, the choice to do so is up to you. You do not need to offer a full open bar. You are free to limit the amount of alcohol that your guests are served or only serve less expensive types. Additionally, you can offer a cash bar, where guests pay for their own drinks.
5. Wedding Venue. The actual venue of your wedding can vary greatly in cost as well. Holding your ceremony in a local park is going to cost you less than holding it in a luxury hotel. Keep in mind, though, when choosing an inexpensive location, you may need to pay additional costs to decorate it the way you would like.
6. Flowers. Flowers are also a large expense for a lot of weddings. Save money by using flowers that are in-season and limiting the amount of flowers that you use. There’s no reason to blanket the location with flowers.
7. Photographer. Choosing a well-known wedding photographer could cost you your first-born. To save money, hire a photographer who’s just starting out.
8. Cake. Wedding cakes can also be a ridiculously huge expense. Save money by ordering a large sheet cake that gets cut up in the kitchen before serving. That way you only have to spend money on a small display cake.
Alternatively, cupcakes or several small cakes make good options.
9. The “W” Word. Simply say the word ‘wedding’ to a vendor and prices suddenly double! Vendors know that brides are desperate buyers who are willing to spend anything to get the ‘right’ thing for their wedding. When shopping around, try to avoid using the word ‘wedding’ when asking for price quotes.
By knowing ahead of time where your money is likely to be spent, you can plan more easily. You don’t need the most expensive of everything. A few small sacrifices can help significantly reduce the cost of your wedding.
You may also enjoy:
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
