25 Ways to Save on Your Wedding
Weddings are an exciting time and they are a LOT of fun, although preparing for your wedding can sometimes be a stressful and difficult process. Most couples going through wedding planning have little to know knowledge about how to best navigate the wedding industry and in that process save money.
Well, we are here to help! Hello, we are Carole & Joshua Gabrielson, a wedding photographer and filmmaker couple that covers the mid-Atlantic region, were also wedding experts within the industry with more than 22 years under our belts, educating couples and vendors alike to the wedding industry.
Today, we’re going to share with you the top 25 ways to save money on your wedding day.
#25. Wedding Photographer and Video Combo Packages
One of the best ways you save money is hiring a company that offers multiple services, in this case, wedding photography and videography. Companies that offer both services will tend to cut you a discount to some degree if you choose both with them, plus there is an added benefit, you only have to work with one vendor. That’s one contract, one payment plan and one company to deal with.
No matter what a persons budget, $10,000 or $400,000, they’re still on a budget, so hiring both under one roof is not only a great idea, but a money saver too!
#24. Pick a Charitable Wedding Favor
Don’t want to buy a favor for each wedding guest? Make a charitable donation on behalf of all your guests. That way, you can determine the amount that you’re comfortable spending, donate to a cause you care about, and maybe even write off the contribution on your taxes.
Sending a note to your guests that you’re donating a small amount to a charity of their choice is a win-win for everyone and it’s something we suggest that you do!
We recommend the Blessing Bag Program, it’s our own 501c3.
#23. Keep Things Small If Possible
The biggest expense is not the wedding venue, but rather your wedding guests. The more guests you have, the more you’re going to pay in larger venue space, food, cake, and alcohol. In fact, if you can trim your guest list by just 10-25 people, you could save $1,000 or more.
Guest List Costs
We suggest that you analyze your wedding guest list and truly determine if everyone on the list needs to be there or if they can watch on a wedding video live stream instead to celebrate the day?
In the chart above you can see the difference in price just from 75 to 100 guests, roughly $1,000, thats using a price per person of $37 a head. Now, that number is fairly low when you add in all the following:
Appetizers for Happy Hour
Dinner Service
Wedding Cake or Cupcakes
Alcohol and Beverages
#22. Limit the Plus-Ones
Speaking of the guest list, you need to make sure that you limit those plus one guests. Not everyone is going to be married and those singles will want to most likely bring another guest with them.
Well, more people means more cost to you, so we highly suggest that you nicely ask guests not to bring a plus one if they’re not on the RSVP that you send out.
We suggest that you limit the guest list to only couples only that are 18+. If someone asks why you’re sticking to just those on the RSVP, simply respond in saying that you want to celebrate with those that see on a regular basis.
#21. Choose a Less Traditional Desert
Instead of a traditional wedding cake, try something different like cupcakes, pies, cobbler and ice cream. Seeking out other alternatives to cake is a great money saving option as wedding cakes tend to be more expensive.
We’ve seen couples with pies from a grocery store that have been dressed up, couples with cupcakes in various flavors, those that had peach and berry cobbler with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and even those with just brownies and cookies.
You would be surprised how much money you save with this method.
#20. Dressing up a Store Bought Cake
If you’re set on having a wedding cake but don’t want to pay full price, you can head to your local Bj’s, Costco or Sam’s Club and buy a sheet cake that you can dress up for your wedding day.
Don’t overlook grocery store bakeries. Their cakes can be delicious, beautiful and affordable. Pick a simple design and dress it up with a few flowers — your guests won’t know the difference (nor would they care). Check out this guide from A Practical Wedding.
#19. Get a Shorter Cake
If you are dead set on getting a wedding cake, we suggest that you choose one with less tiers on it.
The shorter the wedding cake, the more money you will save in the long run. Get a small, two tier cake and have the rest as a sheet cake in the same flavor. Trust us when we say that your guests will not care that it’s a sheet cake and you’ll still have a great look on your cake exchange too.
#18. Keep Drinks Simple
We suggest when it comes to alcohol, keep things simple.
I’ve seen so many couples having roughly 10+ types of drinks at the bar to offer their guests. Instead, have two or three types of beer, a red wine and a white wine.
That’s it.
The less you have in regards to options at the bar, the less it will cost you. In fact, we suggest you get a keg, it’s cheaper than buying bottles or cans.
When it comes to wine, reach out to local wineries and find whats called a table wine. Local wineries will often give you a better discount if you buy in bulk from them direct than you buying at a big-box store.
#17. Pricing Many Meal Options
In the wedding industry, plated meals tend to be less expensive than a buffet.
Yup, it’s a myth that a buffet is cheaper and thats because a buffet has additional food built into the cost for those that want seconds and those that show up that aren’t on the guest list. When talking with a catering company, ask them about other options for protein.
For example chicken is much cheaper than steak or seafood and BBQ also tends to be a yummy option but also affordable. The cheapest, pasta (try Olive Garden wedding catering, you can get wedding catering for as low as $12 a person!)
It that the best in the world, no, it’s not, but it is an affordable option if cost is a major factor for your wedding day.
We STILL recommend that you hire a local catering company, they’re going to do a lot better job, PLUS you’re going to have some elevated foods you normally wouldn’t have to begin with.
#16. Getting the MOST out of Your Flowers
A larger flower, such as a hydrangea, naturally looks fuller and takes up more space with fewer stems.
And you can re-purpose ceremony flowers for the reception instead of buying more. For instance, use a ceremony arch to adorn your sweetheart table at the reception.
Alternatively, you can ask the florist to create potting centerpieces and you can use them as favors to those in the wedding party or guests. They way, they can plant them, keep them in a pot and enjoy them for the long haul.
#15. Stick to In Season Flowers
Sticking to flowers that are in your wedding season means that you will save a bit more money and here’s why. If you example, you are getting married in the fall but you love iris’s that grow in the spring, that means you are going to pay a lot more for those flowers because they have to come from another part of the world to get them to the florist. Those added shipping costs are going to be passed on to you, which you will pay more.
#14. Visit the Craft Store for Decorations
One thing that most couples know about is heading to your local craft store to get some of the decorations. Things like tulle, glass vases, tea candle lights, sting lights and centerpieces can all be found at these locations and are usually cheaper than a florist. Additionally, you can also head to your local dollar store, they also have some items that you can check out for wedding decoration.
#13. Borrow from other Newlyweds in Your Region
One technique is to borrow items from other couples getting married near you. Places like Facebook and Craigslist have local wedding groups that you can follow along and you can just ask if you could use or borrow any items that they might be selling. Chances are, someone that just got married is more likely to give you the item or sell it at a reduced rate than buying it new.
#12. Ask about Extra Inventory
Some floral designers have warehouses with excess inventory they’re willing to give away or lend for free. Once you’ve placed an order, ask about expanding your options.
#11. Borrow Wedding Dress Accessories
There’s more to your wedding attire than the dress (think jewelry, a veil and shoes). Save on your accessories by using family heirlooms. Not only will you save money, you’ll also cover your “something old” and “something borrowed.”
#10. Shop for Sample Gowns
Most wedding dresses are made to order, but brides can score a discount by buying a sample gown (what you try on in the store). The downside: The detailing on sample gowns can get worn from frequent handling, and the available sizes are often limited. Bridal salons typically carry samples in sizes 8 to 12, which translates to sizes 6 to 10 in street clothes. But some discount bridal shops primarily sell sample gowns and tend to have a wider size selection.
Another idea is to purchase your dress from an online second hand shop like Brides Against Brest Cancer. (You can also write off your dress)
#9. Consider a Consignment Shop Dress
A secondhand wedding dress isn’t for everyone, but it’s a budget-friendly option for brides willing to think outside the box. Look for bridal shops that specialize in pre-owned wedding gowns, or check out websites like Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed or Wore It Once, which have tens of thousands of once-worn and never-worn wedding dresses. You can also sell your dress via these sites after the wedding.
#8. Check Out Department Stores
Brides aren’t finding dresses at just the bridal shop these days. You can pick up a white dress in the prom or party dress section of any department store. The popularity of colored dresses makes formal gowns a nice substitute, too.
#7. Print Your Own Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations are easy to do-it-yourself. Tap a design-savvy friend or buy a downloadable template on a site such as Etsy.
Then print them at home or at your neighborhood FedEx or another store.
Either way, you’ll save a couple of hundred dollars over going with a professionally printed invitation suite.
#6. Choose a Paperless Option
A popular option these days is to just send an evite. An Evite is an electronic wedding invitation that you can send to your guests for free and they also have a paid version, but either way, it’s cheaper than buying printed ones and the stamps that you need to purchase too.
You can save roughly $300-$600 depending on what paper product you purchase.
#5. Use the Venues Props
Many time venues will have their own rental or props that you can use for free or at a VERY steep discount. The idea is to rent or use their centerpieces, linens and decor so you don’t have to return the items or worse, having to resell them on places like Craigslist which can take a lot of time and effort for just pennies on the dollar.
We suggest that you ask if the venue has anything that you can use for your wedding day, it can be a huge money saver!
#4. The power of Negotiating Costs
One of the top things that we tell couples is that the price you see is ALWAYS negotiable.
Vendors HATE it when I tell couples that you have the power to negotiate price, packages and services that wedding vendors offer.
Now some, will not even bother to negotiate with you and thats Okay, it just means that YOU were NOT for THEM. Roughly only 22% of couples will try to negotiate price or products and services, only 22%, can you believe that?
What I find interesting is that most of those 22% tend to be couples that are well educated in the wedding industry to some level or another.
Negotiate Costs at Wedding Vendors
Vendors on the other hand will want you to spend as much money as they can with them, I mean after-all, it’s a business and vendors need to make a living.
I will tell you that when it comes to trying to get more for less, asking for an added service is typically better than asking for money off a package. As an example, you might be able to leverage something small to get value-added services.
“We really love your work and your price is Okay, although were looking at someone else that offers live streaming and they are in the same price point. Can you match what they have, because we’d love to work with you but thats the only thing that’s stopping us from booking with you…”
TRUST us, tossing in a service thats small is much more likely to happen if you ask for it. Don’t expect them to give you the entire kitchen sink, but sometimes asking nicely will be a huge winner in you’re department!
#3. Try a less Traditional Venue
One thing you can do is find a less traditional spot for a wedding venue. Parks, old homes, farms are all great places to get married if they appeal to you and you may be able to use them as a venue at a great cost.
Kristen and Dustin married in a local Apple Orchard April 2020 in Virginia.
It’s something worth looking into, although the downfall is that it may not have all the amenities needed for a wedding. Restrooms, couple of places to prep and dress, places for catering to setup, prep and serve are all a few examples of things you NEED for your wedding.
#2. Skip Saturdays, they’re the MOST Expensive
Should you want a wedding at a venue, skip Saturday’s if possible. While its the most popular day of the week for getting married, it’s also the most expensive.
Many venues will offer a discount for getting married on a Friday or Sunday and even better, a Monday-Thursday discount which is even better!
You’ll find a bulk of your savings by having it on a off-peak day and well as off-season.
#1. Choose an Off-Peak Season and Day
And the number one way to save on your wedding is get married on an the off-season.
Wedding seasons depend on where you live. Here in Virginia, our wedding season is usually Late March through October. That means venues that stay open from November through Mid-March are going to be the best money saving options.
In Orlando, Florida, they have couples that get married year round, so there isn’t much of a discount in that region. But you see my point here.
Here is a venue in Kentucky that offers various pricing on their property.
You can see that the venue has a range of pricing from $5,000 to $3,750 depending on the season and day. For them, it’s much cheaper to get married at the same venue November through April, on a Sunday through Thursday than it is May-October Friday and Saturday.
That’s a cost difference of $1,250 which you can use towards something else, catering, photography, video and the like.
Your Thoughts?
What are your thoughts?
Have you used any of these tips to save money for your upcoming wedding?
If so, how did it fair out for your budget?
Drop a comment in the box below and let us know, Carole and I would love to hear from you!
Cheers~