A wedding is your chance to stand before friends and family and declare your commitment to the person you love. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive endeavors you will encounter in your lifetime. If you’re working with a limited budget, you may be worried about how you will cover all of the costs thrust upon you. Though it can seem like an insurmountable challenge, there are many simple options you can explore to save a bit of cash. Review these tips and learn how to make sensible cuts.
Make Cuts to the Guest List
According to recent statistics, the average couple spends more than $260 per wedding guest. To save money, one of the smartest decisions you can make is to trim your guest list. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t invite anyone you have not seen in the last five years unless they are people you communicate with regularly. The fewer people you invite, the more you will save on everything from the overall costs of the venue to the amount you spend on catering services.
Pick An Inexpensive Day
The most popular day of the week for weddings is Saturday. Since booking a wedding on a Saturday costs significantly more than other options, you can save some cash by picking a different day. Tying the knot on a Thursday, for example, means you will be paying a lot less for the venue. While it might seem strange to book your wedding on a weekday, you can easily make this decision work for you. Give guests plenty of notice that the event will not fall on a weekend so they can coordinate travel and time off from work.
Offer a Limited Bar
Guests tend to appreciate attending weddings where there is an open bar. However, this is also one of the biggest expenses you will encounter. The best way to cut costs without resorting to the unpopular cash-bar model is by offering a limited bar. Serve only a selection of wine and beer, and you can avoid spending a small fortune on liquor. You can also offer a signature cocktail to add a bit of variety to the mix and give guests a fun alternative to beer or wine.
Make Your Own Decorations
Decorating your venue is a wonderful way to add a touch of your personality to the space. Since purchasing decorations can also be a hefty expense, the DIY approach could be a better fit. By making your own centerpieces and welcome signs, you can save money and have more control over what the finished product looks like. Naturally, you need to guarantee you have enough time to create your decorations. Be practical about the process and enlist help where available, as you don’t want to add unnecessary stress to the weeks leading up to your nuptials.
If the DIY option isn’t a possibility, another cost-effective solution is borrowing or renting decorations from another couple. Put your feelers out on Facebook or ask around in your circle of friends to see what options you have.
