With the price of most consumer goods going up, planning a wedding on a budget is more challenging than ever. Understandably, couples want to celebrate their love with an event that everyone will remember, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. Without careful attention to how much you are spending, you can easily end up with a bill for thousands that you’ll have to carry into your marriage with you. Here are some ways to help throw a budget-friendly celebration of your wedding.
Hold The Event on a Weekday
Weekends are the most popular and expensive days to hire wedding vendors, performers, photographers, and rent event space. By having your event on a Friday, you can save on these costs, which can be the biggest line items in your budget. This can help you avoid the stress of a high-cost wedding, which is a good idea for any new couple. Statistics show that somewhere between 40 and 50% of marriages in the US end in divorce, so keeping the stress of high debt out of the marriage is worth the effort, as arguments over finances can make or break a relationship.
Cut Down on Extra Events
If you feel like the cost of weddings and wedding-related events has gotten to an all-time high, you may be right. Many couples extend the wedding celebration well beyond the actual day and end up paying for expensive bachelor and bachelorette parties, engagement events, and other kinds of celebrations. As of 2013, brides reported spending around $1100 to throw a rehearsal dinner and nearly $500 on brunch for family and friends the day after.
Consider Moving Your Wedding Outside
In 2020 the popularity of outside weddings increased by around 11%, and not just due to COVID-19 related concerns. When you rent a fancy ballroom or party space at a hotel or event venue, you’ll have to pay thousands upfront to use the space, plus the cost of decorating the space how you’d like it to look. Outdoor weddings can be much cheaper than those held inside a fancy venue, and if you choose the right time of year, you can let the beauty of nature be your décor instead of having to purchase additional flowers.
Invite Less People
If you come from a large family or a culture where it’s customary to invite the entire town to your wedding, you might feel bad excluding people from the guest list. But the number one way to save money is to cut down on the number of people who attend the wedding. With fewer people attending, you save on food and alcohol costs, and you can rent a smaller venue for the ceremony and reception. You can always have a wedding celebration party at a later date and invite everyone you couldn’t have at the wedding.
Choose a Smaller Wedding Party
Similar to keeping the guest list short, having a smaller wedding party saves money in a variety of ways. Though the bridal party generally pays for their dresses or suits, you still have to pay for their flowers, meals, hair and makeup artist, and other expenses that may come up along the way. With just a couple of close friends as your bridesmaids or groomsmen, there is no need to rent a large limousine or spend hundreds on bouquets for them to carry.
By getting creative with the planning of your wedding and using some of these hacks to save money, you can make it happen on any budget you are comfortable with and start your marriage off on the right foot.