Planning a wedding can be expensive. Not only are the big items like the venue, the clothes, and the food expensive, but the smaller costs can really add up as well. If you’re not careful, before you know it, you’ve blown your entire budget.
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can have a great wedding without spending more than you can afford. Here are a few tips for saving money when planning your wedding.
Consider Changing the Date
Having a wedding on a Saturday, especially a Saturday during peak wedding season, is the most expensive time to get married. By switching to a Friday (or just about any other day) you can save quite a lot on your venue, your vendors, and much more. This is because a lot of venues and vendors aren’t as busy on the other days of the week, so they’ll give you a discount.
It’s also a good idea to consider getting married outside of the traditional “wedding season.” Depending where you live, wedding season can be anywhere between April and October. Usually winter months are less popular and less expensive. That doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have to have your wedding in the winter in order to save. Getting married right at the end or the beginning of the “slow” season (such as early April or late October) can result in good savings as well. Of course, if you want to get married in the winter, go for it!
Choose a Venue That Doesn’t Require Much Décor
Decorating your venue will likely eat up a decent portion of your budget. From flowers to lights to chair covers and everything in between, decorations can be expensive. However, if you get married or hold your reception in a venue that has its own natural décor (beautiful architectural details, stunning gardens, or picturesque views, etc) then you might be able to skip decorations entirely!
Shop Sales and Online
Whenever you’re buying wedding items, you’ll want to make sure that you check to see if any stores are offering sales. Depending on when you get married, you might be able to take advantage of seasonal sales such as Black Friday or Boxing Day sales for items like clothing, décor, etc.
It's also a good idea to shop online. This doesn’t just give you an opportunity to save money, but it’s also a great way to comparison shop. You can easily compare products and prices from the comfort of your own home without rushing from store to store. Looking for ways to save on wedding jewelry by shopping online? Check out our guide to the biggest online diamond stores in Canada.
You might also want to shop at “non-wedding” stores for many items. With a little creativity, you can turn just about anything into a "wedding item" and save some money!
Set Priorities
One of the most important parts about planning a wedding is setting priorities. No matter what your budget may be, the simple reality is that you likely won’t be able to get absolutely everything you want.
Think about what aspects of a wedding are important to you. These will be different for each couple. For example, you may be more interested in having a stunning dress and wonderful jewelry, and be less concerned with the flowers, for example. Or you might focus on the meal you’re serving, but not care as much about the cake.
Sit and write down what is important to you, and then create your wedding budget based on this list. This will allow you to spend more on the aspects of your wedding that really matter to you, and save on those parts that you aren’t as concerned about.
Buy Items that Last
There’s no rule that says you have to buy things that are just for your wedding. You can always reuse items that you’ve bought. For example, the jewelry that you purchase for your wedding can always be worn later on, on special occasions or even for every day wear, depending on the style.
You may even be able to reuse some of the decorations for décor in your home. Be creative and you can find some great items that will last you for years.
