5 Ways to Save on your Wedding Budget!
Wedding Ceremony at Severance Hall in Cleveland, Ohio
Photo by EM's Event Photography
Everyone's
on a tight budget these days, but skimping in the wrong places could
lead to bigger problems in the long run! Take our advice and use these tips to save on 5 areas of your wedding:
1. Choose and use flowers wisely
- Peonies may be your absolute favorite, but they're not available all
year and very expensive to get at certain times. Consult with your
florist on making less costly replacements for flowers that may not be
in season. Another great idea to stretch your flower budget that we
often suggest to our floral clients is re-using ceremony flowers at the
reception. Your pew bows can decorate the buffet table, your alter
arrangements can decorate the entrance to the reception or highlight
your head table, and your bouquets can double as head table centerpieces
or cake table decor. Your florist should even be able to move these for
you (there may be a small added expense for the move, but it will still
be less than ordering all those extra flowers!)
2. Choose a venue where you can have your ceremony and reception
- By having all of your festivities for the day in one location, you
can cut down drastically on the cost of transportation for you and your
wedding party. No shuttles, no round trips, no waiting in the parking
lot....this will add quite a handful back into your budget!
3. Choose a favor that doubles as entertainment or decor
- I'm a big fan of killing two birds with one stone, and this is the
perfect opportunity. A photo booth with a take home photo for the
guests, or a caricature artist to draw the guests are both great
options. A candy station (or cookie station, or mini dessert station)
with take-home bags for your guests acts as an interactive entertainment
feature, plus it gives them a sweet treat they can take home!
4. Choose DIY projects wisely
- If you're a crafty type of bride, there are a few things you may be
able to DIY to save yourself some money. If you're not, don't try! It
can end up costing more and causing more headaches than it's worth! Hand
made invitations always add a sweet touch of your own personality, and
when done correctly they can cost much less that professionally printed
invites with all the required inclusions. Favors are another thing you
can DIY. Your guests will love a personal gift from you, like home baked
cookies wrapped in pretty fabric and tied with a bow, or
5. Cut down on the guest list
- This may be the hardest to do, but it will save you the most money in
the long run. For every name you cross of the list you're saving a
meal, a seat, a favor, a place card. Remove 8-10 names and you cut out
an entire table of meals and beverages, a centerpiece, a linen, 8-10
favors, 8-10 escort and/or place cards, plus other items associated with
each guest. In short, trimming some names from the guest list will save
you in ALL areas of your wedding at once. It may be the most painful
cut to make, but it will be the biggest budget saver of all!
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