Tag: frugal wedding

Keep Your Bridezilla In Check: How to Save Money On a Wedding

Just because your wedding only happens once doesn’t mean you should go bankrupt. That’s why you need to find out how to save money on a wedding.

The wedding industry is set up for spending money. It’s easy to drop over $100 on the bride’s bouquet, and those prices add up. The average cost of a wedding in 2016 was $32,329! That’s about the same amount of money as a new vehicle.

So is it possible to plan a wedding without breaking the bank?

Of course, it is! Check out our ideas for how to save money on a wedding.

How to Save Money on a Wedding 101: Prioritize

The key to staying on budget is to have one in the first place. When it comes to weddings, you need to talk with your fiance and family about your priorities.

Is the DJ less important than the photographer? How do you feel about your venue? Work out these details now so it doesn’t sneak up on you later.

Don’t Get Married on a Saturday

Saturday is the most popular day to get married. It’s also the most expensive. Getting married on a weeknight or a Sunday can save you as much as 15% on the venue price.

Do Your Research and Book Early

When it comes to reserving wedding services, the key is to do your research. This way you can avoid falling in love with something that has hidden expenses.

Once you’ve decided, book as early as you can to get the cheapest prices.

Get Married in the Off-Season

Getting married in the off-season (often November to March) will save you tons of money.

Rent a Vacation Home For Your Venue

If you have a smaller wedding, rent a vacation home for your wedding. It will take care of things like kitchen needs, where you’ll get ready, and where the wedding party will stay.

Ask Everyone You Know for Help

Know how to save money on a wedding? Network.

See if you have a cousin who’s a great DJ or cake maker (but still offer to pay her).

Get your girlfriends together for a DIY party to save on decorations.

Narrow Down the Guest List

Is it necessary to invite everyone and the Pope to your wedding? Probably not.

Get strict on the plus ones, and cut out kids and coworkers.

Use the Internet

While it’s still important to send physical invitations, use the internet as well. Link to your registries, allow people to RSVP, and add directions to your venue.

Shop Non-Traditional for Your Dress

Instead of going to the bridal shops, find white dresses online or during prom season. You can also ask a friend to use hers if she’s the same size. Keep in mind to budget for alterations.

Get Unconventional Wedding Favors

Everyone likes little gifts. Take a look at this list of wedding favor ideas for summer.

Watch Out for Nickel and Dime Venues

Some venues will let you use their chairs and cutlery… for a price. Find a venue where all these are in the price.

To save even more, select a venue that needs minimal decoration.

Get Out of Town

If you live in a big city, you can save thousands of dollars by moving your venue outside of the city limits. Check out prices in your hometown, or get married in your old college town.

Hire a Wedding Planner

In the age of DIY, it’s easy to think you can plan a wedding yourself. But wedding planners will know about all the hidden costs, and they’ll be able to get you the best deals. The best ones pay for themselves with all the savings you get!

Ditch the Printed Program

More couples are ditching the cost of a printed program in favor of writing the order of events on a display board.

Embrace (One) Color

Focusing on one color, like shades of green or blue, will save you money on printing and decor. It will also look chic and put together.

Shop Seasonal

When it comes to bouquets, save money by buying seasonal flowers. They’ll look fresh and the price will be even better.

Buy Accessories for Everyday

The best way to save money on accessories is to find ones you’ll wear after the wedding. This includes shoes and hair accessories.

Make Your Decor Multitask

If you want to know how to save money on a wedding, then make your decor work hard. If you have flowers on the church pews, move them to the reception site to double as table centerpieces.

Be Your Own DJ

Instead of hiring a DJ, make a playlist of your own favorite selections on your iPod. Make sure to run it by your fiance and your family to avoid any explicit disasters.

Go Family Style

Save money on food and create an intimate atmosphere by serving your food family style. It saves on centerpieces too!

Put a Limit on Alcohol

Instead of providing unlimited booze, put two bottles of wine on each table. This way you’re still offering alcohol for the guests to enjoy at their leisure. If you buy it yourself, talk to your winery about discounts on buying cases.

Cut (Out) the Cake

Instead of getting a cake to serve 150 people, buy a smaller cake for the two of you. The rest of the guests can enjoy a (cheaper) sheet cake.

When you’re ordering the cake, make sure to avoid the word “wedding.” Even bakeries at local grocery stores will tack on an extra charge if they hear the “W” word.

Order Wholesale

Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart have florists that are cheaper than the chic boutique. Order your bulk decorations from them and get the specialty bouquet at the florist.

Embrace Candles

If your venue allows open flames, cheap white candles can add a touch of elegance to any reception area.

Want More Money Saving Ideas?

If you want more ideas on how to save money on a wedding, check out our blog. We have so many articles that help you save money and take care of your family, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve got three kids.

8 Frugal Wedding Tips You Won’t Want to Miss

Getting married and planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times in a couple’s life. If you’ve recently become engaged, congratulations! And even if you haven’t yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about your future wedding.

Weddings are certainly not cheap. In fact, the average wedding costs around $25,700. But that’s not to say that a wedding can’t cost less, either.

Budget weddings are not uncommon, and more couples opt to have a frugal wedding compared to those who go all out.

Are you aiming to fulfill your dream wedding on a budget? Looking for unique and innovative wedding ideas that’ll help you save more money?

We’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll tell you about 8 unique wedding ideas on a budget that you can use for your big day. Let’s get started!

1. Plan Together

Before planning, you and your partner need to discuss the vision you both have in mind for your wedding.

Is there a dream venue you’ve always had in mind? Do you want to host a lavish dinner or would you rather have a bustling cocktail party?

How many guests do you want to invite? Where do you and your partner want to honeymoon?

Most importantly, how much are you willing to spend in total?

These types of questions will help you distinguish which amenities are most important. That way, you can budget appropriately, save money where you can, and splurge in other areas.

2. The Venue

Couples will often spend the most money on their reception venue. By the same token, the venue is where you can also save the most money.

Venues that provide the catering and wait staff are going to be the most expensive. You may be able to find inexpensive wedding venues. But, if you’re looking to have your dream wedding on a budget, it’s time to get creative.

Do you know someone with a large backyard and a beautiful view? If so, consider asking them if you can host your wedding there. You can also rent a large cabin for the day.

Do you know people who work in the food industry? You could hire your own wait staff and get a good deal on catering. This way, you can spend the money on a cheaper venue and provide your own food and staff.

3. The Photographer

If you’re not careful, you could wind up spending lots of money on just the photographer alone. Luckily, we live in the day and age of smartphones and iPhones. So, you can definitely count on your friends and family to snap gorgeous shots of your big day.

There are lots of talented wedding photographers who are willing to be a part of your big day at a reasonable cost. You may even know one! Feel free to barter with them in exchange for their services.

4. The Rings

When it comes to wedding rings, the costs vary significantly. People can spend as little as a couple hundred dollars to tens of thousands!

Of course, some metals and materials are much more expensive than others. Gold and diamonds, for example, are often the most desired – and the most expensive.

You don’t necessarily have to shell out tons of money on quality, beautiful rings. For a frugal wedding, focus on durability. You’ll want to spend the money where it counts, which is in the quality of the rings.

Take moissanite, for example. This mineral comes from meteorite and occurs naturally in diamonds. It’s also one of the more affordable materials on the market. You can view here for more of an idea on moissanite wedding ring designs.

5. The Dress

Every bride dreams of finding the perfect gown for her wedding. But often times, brides will spend an unnecessary amount on a dress they’ll only wear once. So, how do you find your dream dress on a budget?

First, think about a close friend or relative who recently got married. Chances are their wedding gown is somewhere tucked away. If you loved their dress, why not ask them to borrow it for your big day? That way, all you would have to worry about are the alterations.

Still, you may want your own wedding gown – and that’s okay! Try searching Etsy for custom-made dresses at budget-friendly prices. Then, expand your online search (you never know what you may be able to find).

6. The Entertainment

Do you want to know a little secret?

You don’t need to hire an expensive DJ or band to have a rocking wedding!

You may know some musicians who are willing to entertain your guests all night long. And if you don’t, start compiling your own wedding playlist. All you’ll need are decent speakers and an auxiliary cord.

On your wedding invitations, ask your guests to jot down their song requests ahead of time!

7. The Invitations

Speaking of invitations. This is an area where you can save a couple hundred dollars and spend that money on catering or your flowers.

Send out digital invitations instead of paper invitations and “Save the Dates”. Facebook makes it easy to plan events and have guests RSVP to them. You can also send out emails to those who are not on social media.

And when in doubt, call up the guests who are harder to reach online than others.

8. The Honeymoon

After budgeting for your frugal wedding, look at the amount of money leftover. You can very well use this money towards booking your flight tickets or the hotel.

You can also register at Honeymoon Wishes. Your guests can fund your honeymoon instead of giving money or gifts. This is the best way to go about traveling far for your honeymoon if you’re on a budget.

You don’t have to necessarily go far or spend a lot of money on the honeymoon, either. Plan a staycation or only travel a couple hours away!

As long as you and your soon-to-be husband or wife are happy, it doesn’t matter where you honeymoon!

Fulfill & Enjoy Your Dream Frugal Wedding

Weddings don’t have to be as expensive as people make them out to be. With detailed budgeting and creativity, you can have your dream wedding on a budget and remember your big day for years to come.

Looking for more tips and ideas on how to save money and have a frugal wedding? Check out our Frugal Living blog for the whole scoop!