20+ Unbelievable Tips For Saving Money On A Wedding

2. Find A Unique Wedding Venue

When people think of a wedding venue, they immediately think about a hotel, banquet hall, or country club. But there are so many other unique venues that can be just as gorgeous and cost much less. Some ideas include:

• Library
• Backyard
• Barn or Shop (You can enquire online to see if anyone locally will rent out their space to you.)
• Community Hall
• Airbnb
• City Hall
• Historical Sites

For more unique wedding venue ideas, go here.

3. DIY Your Decorations

If you have the time and skills to make some of your own decorations, go for it. There are plenty of tutorials online that can show you how to make centerpieces, bouquets, and other decorations for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them.

4. Pick A Venue That Doesn’t Need A Bunch Of Decorations

There are so many venue options where you can rely on natural beauty or existing elements as your decor. By doing this, you will be able to save significantly on your decor.

5. Skip The Favors

Another one of our favourite top tips for saving money on a wedding is to skip the favors. They are often an unnecessary expense as most of your guests will never use them. Instead, you can opt for something like a donation in their name to a charity or provide them with some type of edible treat that doesn’t need to be taken home.

6. Rent The Tuxedos

Instead of buying tuxedos for your groom and groomsmen, consider renting them. This is usually a much cheaper option than purchasing tuxedos for everyone involved.

7. Buy Your Wedding Dress On Sale

You can often find amazing wedding dresses on sale if you just keep your eyes open. Look for sample sales, second-hand stores, and websites that specialize in selling discounted wedding attire.

8. Limit The Size Of Your Guest List

Having a smaller guest list is one of the easiest and most effective ways to save money on your wedding. Make sure you take time to think about who you want to invite. And don’t feel like you have to invite every person that comes to mind! This is your day, and the more people you invite, the more costly it will be for you.

How To Save Money On Flowers For A Wedding

Flowers can be one of the most expensive items on your wedding budget, but you don’t have to break the bank here. There are plenty of ways to save money on flowers without sacrificing quality and style.

9. Choose In-Season Flowers

One thing that can dramatically increase the price of your flowers is if they need to be brought in or specially grown since they are out of season. So, if you are flexible with what type of flowers you will use, consider using in-season flowers instead. They will be significantly cheaper since they’re in abundance and you will be able to get more for your money.

10. Choose Local Blooms

Instead of ordering flowers from another country, opt for locally grown blooms. Not only will they have a natural beauty, but they will also be cheaper since they are more readily available.

11. Rent Flowers

If you want to save even more money on flowers, consider renting them. Many florists now offer rental services for brides and grooms who want to save money on their wedding flowers.

12. Combine Real & Fake Flowers

Combining real and fake flowers is a great way to create beautiful arrangements that don’t cost as much as all-real bouquets. While real flowers will bring natural beauty to the arrangements, fake flowers can be used without sacrificing too much on quality.

13. Focus On Non-Floral Decorations

If you are looking to save money on your wedding decorations, focus on non-floral items such as candles, lanterns, and other props. These will still add to the beauty of your wedding without costing a fortune.

How To Save Money On Food

Food is another aspect of your wedding where you can potentially save a lot of money without sacrificing quality and flavor.

You can do each of these tips individually, but you will be able to save a lot of money if you do more than one thing included in this list.

14. DIY All Or Some Of Your Food

Making some, if not all of the food yourself is one of our top tips for saving money on the wedding. So long as you have time to do this.

And you don’t have to do this alone. See if any of your friends or family can lend you a hand with this.

If you’re going to make any or all of the food yourselves, try to plan a menu that you can prepare in advance. That way, you won’t be spending a bunch of time in the kitchen on your big day.

You can also just focus on just making certain parts of the food yourself. For example, you might make all the appetizers and dessert yourself, but then leave the main meal to a catering company and the cake to a baker.

Related Read: 12 Food Hacks for Making Meals on the Cheap

15. Find Local Students To Cater The Event

There are so many collage aged students who are looking to earn a little extra money, so why not consider asking them to cater your event? This can be a great compromise to have help with your food while still giving your guests the gourmet experience but at a fraction of the cost.

If you want to go this route, check in with any kids you know in this age group. Perhaps some of your friends or family might know someone.

Alternatively, you can go directly to the schools and ask. If you go this route, consider finding students that are studying to become a chef or something food related.

16. Choose A Buffet Style Meal

One of the most budget-friendly ways to feed your guests is with a buffet-style meal. Not only does this give your guests plenty of options to choose from, but it also allows you to buy in bulk which will save you money.

Plus, this style of food service is quite easy to set up and manage which makes it great for those that are working on a budget or have limited help.

17. Stick To Appetizers

If you are looking for a more elegant and budget-friendly experience, consider having a cocktail reception. This type of event usually only consists of appetizers and drinks, so it will be significantly cheaper than having a full dinner.

18. Offer A Brunch Instead Of Dinner

Having the main course can be extremely expensive, especially if you are serving different types of meat or several courses. One way to avoid this cost is to host a brunch instead of a dinner. This option is great if you are also willing to do a wedding earlier in the day.

Brunch can still provide a great experience for your guests and the menu can be quite versatile. You could offer things like omelets, french toast, fresh fruit, and pastries.

19. Backyard BBQ

If you are hosting a backyard wedding, or a wedding in another unique venue, consider having a backyard BBQ. Not only will this fit your budget much easier than a gourmet, 4-course meal, but it is also a great way to create memories while serving your guests food that tastes great!

How To Save Money On A Wedding Cake

Wedding cakes can be a huge expense in your budget, but there are several ways you can save money. And don’t worry, you won’t have to sacrifice style or taste either!

20. Find A Small, Home-Based Baker

One of the best tips for saving money on a wedding cake is to find a small, home-based baker instead of going to a fancy cake shop. They will often charge significantly less and can still make truly stunning cakes for your special day, but at a fraction of the cost.

Plus, by going this route, you are supporting a local small business owner, hobbyist, and so on which can make the experience even better.

If you decide to go this route, make sure you do some research. Check their reviews and look at their portfolio.

21. Make Your Own Cake

If you have a knack for baking, why not consider making your cake? This option can save you hundreds of dollars on a wedding cake, and if done correctly, it can taste just as good as any professional baker’s cake.

Plus, this is a great way to add a personal touch to your special day.

When making your cake, make sure you have all the supplies you need and that you give yourself plenty of time to practice. If you are not confident in decorating the cake, consider hiring a professional for just this part.

22. Order A Smaller Cake

Many brides make the mistake of ordering these massive wedding cakes, spending a fortune, only to end up with a bunch of cake left over. To avoid this costly mistake, consider ordering a smaller cake.

Then, you can supplement your cake with other desserts and treats such as cupcakes, donuts, cookies, and so on. These dessert options are significantly cheaper which is great for you.

This option is also great if you have guests that have dietary restrictions as you can make special cakes or treats for them easily with this approach.

23. Keep It Simple

What makes a cake cost so much money is the time put into decorating it. After all, someone can spend hours on just one cake. To save money, consider keeping it simple with a minimalist design or even opting for something like a naked cake. These options are usually cheaper and still look stunning when done correctly.

How To Save Money On A Photographer

Wedding photographers can be pretty expensive, so if you are looking for ways to save money on a photographer, consider the tips below.

24. Hire An Amateur or Student Photographer

If budget is a major concern, consider hiring an amateur photographer rather than a professional wedding photographer. They may not have as much experience but they will usually charge significantly less.

If you do decide to go this route, see if they have any portfolio images you can look at before you hire them. Even most amateur photographers will have some sample images.

25. Get Your Guests To Take Pictures

Almost everyone has smartphones these days, and a lot of your guests will be taking pictures anyways. So, why not encourage them to take pictures? That way, you will have plenty of amazing photos from your special day and it won’t cost you a dime.

If you want to give your guests an easy way to send you all the photos they take, consider using a smartphone-based photo-sharing app. That way, you can collect all the photos in one place and store them for years to come.

26. Ask A Friend Or Family Member To Do It

If you want a dedicated photographer for your special day and happen to know someone with good camera or photography skills, consider asking them to be your photographer for the day.

You can either pay them or provide some other form of compensation such as helping them with a project, giving them a gift card, and so on.

How To Save Money For A Wedding Fast

It can be tough to save up for a wedding quickly. However, there are so many things you can do to save up the money you need for your special day!

To learn how to save $5000 in 3 months, read this blog post!

As you can see, there are so many different ways you can save money on your wedding without sacrificing too much on your dreams. And, with the tips shared above, you should be able to have the wedding of your dreams no matter what time of year it is.

I hope you have enjoyed these tips for saving money for a wedding and that you can use some of them in your own wedding planning.

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