Everyone wants to have a stunning wedding. The flowers, the dress, and the three-tier cake with buttercream icing. Of course, when many people look at their budget, it can seem like a far-off dream.
It’s no secret that those luxurious dream weddings cost a fortune, so, without a windfall, many people feel that the sweeping white dress, the gathering of friends in a great location and the striking centerpieces will simply not be part of their wedding day.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be this way, and you can still have a stunning wedding and reception without having to remortgaging your home to pay for it. So, what are some of the best ways to do this successfully? Here’s a quick guide!
Look at Venues Off Peak
Most people want to have a spring or summer wedding but, as this is the most common time of year for weddings, there’s a premium on hiring halls and venues in that period.
So, when you’re looking for a wedding venue and a date, why not try off-peak months, like November or January? This will lower the costs of hiring the venue and will make for some interesting photos!
Smaller Guest List
Simply put, if you’re looking for a way to have a venue that’s cheaper, you can easily tick that box by making the guest list as short as possible.
Across the board, this will save you money, as there will be less food and drink consumed, less space needed, and fewer gift baskets and thank you notes. So, it may be best not to invite Great Aunt Enid from Norway!
Another benefit of having a smaller guest list includes having more time for each guest, rather than feeling like the host of an enormous event, which can reduce stress and create more quality memories on your big day, just make sure you do find the right wedding photographer to capture them all!
DIY Wedding Decorations
Do you have an artistic streak? Or is there someone in your family who does? If so, you can try your hand at DIY wedding decorations. Faux flowers are perfect for centerpieces, and double up as gifts when the reception is over. String lights, mixed with some hanging chiffon and even paper butterflies, can really bring a wedding reception to life, for very little cost.
This can also be a fun activity if you have young children in the family, or if you have young kids of your own. They’ll be able to pitch in and make keepsakes that you can treasure long after the wedding is over, and it will help them to feel involved in the process and ceremony. Always a good thing!
Pre-Owned Wedding Dress
If you want a wedding on a budget, opting for a “Say Yes To The Dress” boutique is out of the question. Few people, if any, have an excess of ten thousand dollars to spend on a dress. So, why not opt for a pre-owned wedding dress? Sites like eBay or even Gumtree can help you locate preowned wedding dresses in your area.
If they need altering, having them adjusted by a seamstress is a lot cheaper than having to buy an entire dress. You could even opt for some personalization when it is being refitted, which, again, will be cheaper than buying a new dress from a boutique.
You could even ask around in your family about pre-owned dresses. Perhaps your mother-in-law to-be has her wedding dress still sitting in her closet, and she’s eager to pass it on. What a lovely gesture! Just make sure you don’t have it altered too much, or that may destroy the entire notion of it being a bridal hand-me-down.
Food Truck or Buffet
It goes without saying that one of the most expensive parts of a wedding is the food. The cake, the guest food, gift bags … it can all mount up quickly.
Luckily, you don’t have to try and cater the event yourself! There are many catering companies that offer buffet options for weddings, as well as wedding-based food trucks.
Food trucks are, in essence, like ice cream vans that offer different types of food and typically, you’ll pay for the rental of the van, as well as the staff (usually two people) and the food. This reduces cooking costs, as well as transport costs, and can be a fun twist for a reception.
