How much do you plan to spend on your wedding? Statistics show that the average cost of a modern-day wedding in the United States is approximately $26,000, which is an all-time high. The good news is that you can save money by following the tips listed below.
Go Easy on the Catering
According to CostofWedding, “catering, venues and rentals” are the single greatest expense when planning a wedding. You don’t have to necessarily avoid serving food and beverages, but you should consider some of the cheaper catering options. Venues, for instance, often offer on-site catering, which may cost more than hiring an outside catering company to service your wedding. Call around and get quotes from multiple catering companies to see what they offer and how much they charge.
Shrink Your Guest List
Perhaps you can shrink your guest list to save money on your wedding. The more guests you invite, the more flowers, food, beverages, tables, chairs and other items you’ll need, all of which costs money. Catering alone is estimated to cost about $50 per guest, so shrinking your list by just 20 guests will save you about $1,000 on your big day.
Pre-Owned Wedding Dress
It’s not uncommon for brides to drop several thousand dollars on a new dress, only to wear it one time before placing it in storage for eternity. You can save money, however, by choosing a used wedding dress instead of a new one. Being that most brides wear their dress only once, it shouldn’t have any damage or even visible wear. So as long you don’t mind wearing a used dress, this is a great way to stretch your budget a little further.
Cut Back on Decorative Accessories
Whether it’s flowers, centerpieces, etc., you can save money by cutting back and these and other decorative accessories. Additionally, perhaps you could give favors to couples or entire tables instead of each guest.
Same Venue for Reception and Ceremony
Another tip to stretch your wedding budget a little further is to schedule your reception and ceremony at the same venue. Conventional wisdom should tell you that it’s cheaper to book a single venue instead of two. Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about shuttling guests between the two venues if your ceremony and reception is held at a single venue. Just remember to scout the venue beforehand to ensure it’s suitable for both your ceremony and reception.
Photo credit: Elizabeth Murphy