4 places to spend and 4 places to save on your wedding
Hi everyone,
Saving money on a wedding isn’t just about being austere and tight on the wallet. It’s also about getting the most out of your wedding for what you can manage. I’m a big advocate of being responsible when planning weddings. It’s all too easy to charge it to the credit card, but you’ll have to deal with that debt when you’re newly married and very few costs from the day are something you will have after the day.
When my wife and I were planning our wedding, we had come off the back of buying our first home, and it was 2020 with the Covid pandemic in full swing.
Safe to say: money was a consideration for us.
When we ran the budget against what it costs for wedding suppliers (And yes they all earn their keep!), we had to cut somewhere. I want to explore with you from our experience what you can cut costs on without culling the glamour.
Here is what we found we could do without and how we did things:
Where to save:
1:Wedding cars can be a waste! (Sometimes)
I wanted my bride to arrive in luxury and she wasn’t much fussed on it. Anecdotally, wedding cars are one of the highest ranked regrets for couples on their budget. They’re expensive and you only enjoy them for a short while. If you really want this, do go ahead, but consider your budget and what else you might get. We used our own cars in the end and it really didn’t detract from anything!
2: Decor is an opportunity to get creative and crafty.
You’d be amazed what you can do with some jute and a hot glue gun. We wrapped basic Ikea vases and made custom labels, made our own boutonnieres, and even made a sign from a pallet and cheap wooden lettering which looked fantastic, and cost next to nothing to make. Have a think about doing these things ahead of time.
3: Wedding Favours are so passé!
We regret spending on wedding favours. It was about $300 for something that many people don’t take with them. In addition to this, we bought cheap terracotta pots and filled them with on-theme flowering plants bought cheap from the markets. Everyone took these and they ended up in people’s gardens. As avid gardeners, this both expressed something about us and gave value to our guests. Consider a creative option that says something about you as a couple. If you’re creative, you’ll be bound to find something great!
4: Floristry (If you want to put in the work)
Depending on your location, and the time of year, your choice of flowers may be blooming locally. We chose natives, and our hometown was in the bush. Take advantage of what you can, and use your creativity. – Youtube is your friend. We saved thousands by doing this. The only downside of this was that it meant a lot of work and mess the day before in arranging, and a lot of planning and collecting in the days prior. Work out what works for you, and google flower arrangement for inspiration.
4 and a half: Venues
Venues can be free, depending on where you choose. Often times this means sacrificing privacy for cost, so this may be one where you’ll decide to spend the money, but it IS an option if you’re going full DIY, and want to use public land. Generally people are quite respectful of weddings, but a venue helps to guarantee your privacy from the public.
Where to spend:
1. Celebrants are essential!
Your wedding isn’t legal or official without this. It’s also not necessarily about how much you spend, but how comfortable you are with your celebrant. They’ll help you through so much of the process and so much of it is about personality. Do they reflect who you are and the feeling you want on the day? Are they someone who makes you both comfortable? Consider this before booking your celebrant.
2. Photo/Video – Nobody regrets this!
Okay. You and I both knew this was coming. I’m biased. Sure.
All that aside, the facts are this: Your wedding will go by so fast on the day, you’ll barely remember the details you fussed over leading up to it. Nobody will remember the napkin folds or the table runners, but worse, I even found myself later on, forgetting some of the details that actually matter! Photo and video are how you will remember the biggest day of your life. Especially in shooting weddings, we all too often hear of people who looked for cheap or free alternatives for their wedding photos and these couples almost always regret it. Don’t skimp on this! Find someone who suits your style and
3. Honeymoon budget!
Your wedding is a big cost, and these days it’s more and more incumbent on the couple to be to fund their own wedding as traditions of parental funding fade. The positive side of this is that you get control of your wedding. The negative is that you can end up running your Honeymoon on a budget.
Make sure to book some special romantic outings that suit your interests well in advance. Be sure to also check on your cancellation options in the day and age of the unpredictable pandemic.
4: Cake and toppers
This one may be unexpected, but a great wedding cake is not only an iconic centrepiece of your décor, but this will be photographed as a pivotal moment at the cutting. It’s a short lived part of the day, but a great cake will be enjoyed thoroughly by your guests. (They also don’t have to be marzipan!) A great cake topper will be an amusing and heart-warming draw in your display cabinet, and aside from your rings and photography, is one of the only things you’ll always have after! I particularly like David’s Clay Figurines on Facebook. These can be a little pricey, but you’ll always have them.
I really hope these tips help you to plan your best wedding.
Happy planning,