There is no doubt about the fact that weddings are a hugely expensive affair. Following a study conducted by knot.com, on average, a wedding costs about 33,391, wherein the cost per guest comes to 268 USD. Is it worth putting in your financial goals at a toss only for having a wedding of your dreams? Well, each of its own. However, we believe in savings, and thus, we have come up with some practical tips that can help you save big on your wedding day. Let us get started and take a look at these things one by one.

When it comes to the wedding date, think offseason.

Why is Saturday of June the only time best time to have a wedding? Why cannot you have the wedding fun during the off-season? Typically the wedding off-season runs from November to March. If you wish to save big and make the most for your buck, you can consider hosting a wedding between this off-season time frame.

‘We had a December wedding, and it saved us hundreds of dollars,’ Comments Jessica, an educator who offers CDR writing services. 

Well, yes, a December wedding could translate into mega savings on the venue costs. However, take adequate consideration for the inclement weather during this time.

Cut short the wedding guest list.

One of the best and the most effective ways to lower your wedding costs is by reducing guests’ number. Only inviting fewer people on your wedding day can help you save on every item at your wedding.

Say no to the Saturday wedding.

Usually, Saturdays are one of the most popular days for a wedding. However, it is one of the most expensive days to get married. So, if you hold on to your wedding to another day, that is, Sunday, you can save big bucks.

‘We had a Wednesday wedding, and everything was about 25% cheaper than a Saturday wedding,’ shares Moira, who works with TrueBlueFishermen.

Go for a non-traditional venue.

A brewery, a restaurant, or even a vacation home, are not typical wedding venues and are bound to be cheaper. On the other hand, if you pick a spot that is a traditional wedding venue, it will 100% be costlier. More so, having a wedding in a non-traditional venue can give a whole new vibe to your functions.

Now, what you have to do is pick a restaurant with a brilliant décor and have your wedding there. A restaurant will never charge you for the venue, instead, they will charge you for the food and the drinks. More so, when the restaurant already has beautiful décor, you will save massively on that cost too.

However, what you pick, do ensure that the venue is well equipped to accommodate all your guests. Further, if you are getting lighting, bathrooms, extra décor, you may have to pay extra.

Buy or make your booze

On alcoholic beverages, the markup can be quite steep. It is because the venues will mandate it for you to pay retail for every drink served. So, if the venue is nice and hip, this going rate can be as high as 6-9 USD per glass of wine, 10 USD or more for a cocktail, and 4-6 USD for a beer. Do you know what? This is indeed a markup of several 100%.

We understand that you need alcohol for your wedding. So, how to save on this? See, instead of buying retail, head to a local warehouse store and shop for all the wine boxes and liquor bottles that you need. This will also make the bartender’s life easier, as you will no longer need additional extra. Simply place the bottles somewhere all the guests can easily access and serve themselves.

‘My uncle is a fermenting and a home-brewing enthusiast, and so he custom-made all the wine and beer for our wedding, and this helped us save a lot,’ comments Danny, an associate with MyPlumberschoice

Further, you can shrink your drinks menu to only a couple of options, and that alone can save you a lot of money.

For food and flowers, always think in season.

These two words can help you save massively on floral expenses and catering, that is, local and seasonal. Whenever you shop in season, you can get the flowers and food in their peak supply, and the prices are also relatively lower. More so, when something is locally grown and not shipped from around the world, it is way cheaper. Hence, this will get you a good deal and help you lower the carbon footprint. Thus, your gain is also the mother earth’s gain.

Skip the favors

Your guests will not mind if you do not spend 200-500 USD on all the attendees’ little favors. They are coming to your wedding to celebrate your big day with you, and not for some free goodies. If you think that is a mandatory gesture, you can pick something less expensive, such as personalized key chains, fridge magnets, lollipops, homemade chocolates, seed bombs, and alike. A little search on the internet will probably give you a host of options that you can consider for wedding favors.

‘We gave all our guests a printed on-the-spot picture as a wedding favor, and they all loved it. Plus, it was super pocket-friendly, shares Jenny, an associate with RazorHood. 

Always seek bids for the bigger jobs.

Instead of heading straight to the photographers, bands, and wedding service providers, and asking for their prices, explore your options. There are multiple online platforms wherein you can get bids from professionals and pick one that’s offering you the best value for money. However, since you are hiring someone you have not heard or known before, always request a portfolio and earlier samples. If required, ask for references. You can call up and ask some of their clients about their experience with them, and then make your selection.

If you shop offline, you won’t find a good photographer at less than 2000 USD. On the other hand, when you check online, you can easily find a professional who is good at their job at a price as low as 800 USD. In the same manner, you can even invite bids for DJ or musicians and save a couple of thousand dollars there too.

Negotiate on unexpected costs

During wedding planning, several unexpected expenses can crop up, such as corkage fees, selfie-point, cake cutting, etc. However, please do not accept them without any negotiation. Whenever it seems too high, always request the organizer to lower the cost.

Employ the resources already in the venue

When you get a venue budget, always ask them to write down and enlist what all is included in this cost. Some of the venues will consist of items, such as linens, chairs, tables, which can account for hundreds of dollars in savings. Further, beware of the upcharges in several premium-quality things. Also, know that if you go for a DIY wedding or a backyard wedding, you will have to rent or buy everything, and everything little think from tents to lighting, tissues, and flatware dishes will have a price. So, always take into account every little cost before making any decision.

Bottom Line

So, these are the top ten best ways to save big on your wedding. Have some experiences and tips to share? Do let us know in the comment box below.