Planning a wedding can be expensive business so it’s no wonder that so many brides are looking for ways to cut down on the costs. One wedding website estimated the average cost of a wedding in 2019 to be over £30,000. If you are panicking that your budget is tiny compared to that then don’t worry, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have the perfect day. We look at some tips for planning your wedding day on a budget.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
1. BUDGET – The first step for any couple planning their wedding day is to set their budget. If you don’t have a massive amount of money to spend then pick a realistic budget and try to stick to it. If you are saving for your day, set up a monthly direct debit and have a separate account so that you can’t be tempted to dip into it. Try and choose a figure you can afford every month as you are more likely to save regularly if you have chosen a sensible amount to put away.
2. WEDDING STYLE – Choose what style of wedding you want to have as this will help you visualise and pick out things that are a priority. For example, if you opt for an outdoor wedding you might need to factor in money for umbrellas or blankets for the evening as these could be important depending on the weather.
3. GUEST LIST – Keep the numbers down. The quickest and easiest way to cut costs is to slim down your guest list if you are planning your day on a budget. After all, the day is ultimately about you and your partner so opt for close friends and family rather than everyone you have ever known.
4. SAVING – Think of other ways of adding money to your savings pot. Selling unwanted items from around your home is a great way to save money. Ebay, Gumtree and Facebook selling are great ways to get rid of things you don’t use or could live without and you’ll be surprised at how much it adds up once you start de-cluttering.
LETS TALK VENUES
A huge chunk of your budget, no matter how big or small, will be spent on your wedding venue so:
5. Opt for off-peak days. It’s now much more common for weddings to occur any day of the week and it can save you a massive amount of money having your wedding day on a Sunday or a day in the week. Summer wedding dates still get booked up a long time in advance at popular venues, but with the British weather now you are as likely to have perfect weather in November as you are in June, so why not opt for an early Spring or Autumn wedding?
6. Don’t be afraid to haggle. If you have your heart set on a certain place but the bill is still too high, look at what you are actually paying for. Some venues will waive the room hire costs if you are having a sit down meal and you can ask for things to be removed like wine on the table or the champagne toast (which could be replaced with prosecco for a cheaper option).
7. Check out village halls or community centres. With a little decorating you can create an elegant room for your reception and these sort of venues are usually incredibly cheap compared to hotels or country houses.
8. Do any of your family members have a huge garden? You could hold your wedding at home either in the garden or with the ceremony indoors and the reception outside. This can be a really cheap way to get married but make sure you plan for all weathers, you don’t want the day to be a wash out so make sure there is suitable shelter. And it’s not just the rain, if it is a really hot day make sure there is shade, especially for older family members and children.
THE BRIDAL PARTY
9. GROOMSMEN – You can save money on your groomsmen by asking them to wear their own suits. Most men will have a suit already and it doesn’t matter if they don’t match perfectly, as long as they are the same colour. You could splash out on ties to in your wedding colours to make everyone match perfectly. It’s also worth looking at renting suits or even just buying them from the high street or online as stores like asos and boohoo have really affordable men’s suits.
10. BRIDESMAIDS – If you want to save money on Bridesmaid dresses it’s best to try and avoid custom made ones, the high street again have some amazing dresses and always check the sales. It’s a good excuse for a shopping trip anyway. You could ask your bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses if you pay for hair and make-up or accessories.
11. THE BRIDE – Every bride wants to find their dream dress but it doesn’t have to cost the earth. With the likes of shops like Wed2Be and high street stores, you can easily get the perfect new dress for under £400. The one shown in the picture is just £249 from Monsoon. It’s also worth checking on wedding groups (Facebook has a number of them) for people selling their dresses because it’s easy to find a bargain. The only downside is that they may have been altered but look to go up a size so you can have it altered to fit you perfectly.
THE FINER DETAILS
12. CALL IN SOME FAVOURS – Do you know someone who is creative? Maybe your Gran bakes a really great Victoria Sponge? We all know someone who has a hidden talent and could help with something on the day. You could ask for favours instead of gifts so if you have someone who is artistic, maybe ask if they could create your signage or invitations. If you have a friend with a really posh car, why not ask them to drive you to the venue.
13. DIY – There are literally millions of tutorials out there so why don’t you try your hand at something for your day? Opt for things that can be made in advance so you aren’t rushing around or worrying you will burn cookies for favours the day before your wedding. Centrepieces can be made with some ribbon tied around Jam Jars, you could make place cards for just a few pence if you have great handwriting, save a fortune on a photo booth my making your own props and selfie frame.
14. DON’T SPLASH ON GIFTS – Sharing your special day will be gift enough for your bridal party and close family so you don’t need to spend a fortune on gifts for them. If you are getting ready with your girls why not do a DIY fizz and snack bar for them for the morning and write them an individual card to say thank you? And if you really want to make personalised glasses or dressing gowns for the morning of the wedding, you can buy the vinyl for these and make your own for half the price of buying them ready made.
15. TAKE YOUR OWN BOOZE – Look for venues that either allow you to bring your own alcohol or don’t charge you for corkage. Even if this is just for the toasts it can save you a lot of money on buying bottles of prosecco or Champagne from the venue itself. If you have a venue with no bar, you can create amazing Pimp my Prosecco or Gin Bars for a fraction of the cost of hiring a mobile bar.
16. MAKE A PLAYLIST – Most venues have some sort of sound system which will be used for entrance music etc. so ask if you can bring your own music rather than hiring a DJ. Just make sure you check that you have enough songs to cover the entire length of your reception, you don’t want the music to stop an hour in. If you know some wannabe singers, why not ask them to perform for you? Even if they are bad it will still be something to remember from the day!
17. TAKE A MINIMOON – If you can’t afford to splurge on an extravagant honeymoon that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least take a few days away as newlyweds. Midweek breaks can be much cheaper, especially during term time when the kids are at school. Look for offers at hotels and even sites like Travelzoo or Groupon for mini breaks that include drinks, spa days or dinner.
The most important thing of all is to enjoy your day and not to stress. No one will miss a sweet cart or photo booth so don’t be afraid to do things your way. Things go wrong at even the most expensive weddings so just try and take everything in and laugh at the little things because the day will go so fast you’ll be sad when it’s all over.
No Comments