I’m getting married in the morning! Ding, dong! The bells are gonna chime! So, get me to the church on time! It’s that time of year when young lovers, starry-eyed couples, and ambitious relationships tie the knot, get hitched, exchange vows, and profess their undying love for one another. Yes, it’s wedding season.
While cynics will say that the chief cause for divorce is marriage, the poets will defend this institution to their final breath. And, in terms of money, why not go all out. It’s not every day that you get married, unless you’re someone like Mickey Rooney, whose life theme was Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Wedding March.” Of course, not every couple has the infinite resources for lavish affairs, so keeping an eye on loonies and toonies is an important.
So, how do you do this and still maintain the integrity of your special day? Here are eight ways to save money on a wedding:
1. Get Married on a Weekday
Who gets married on a Monday or a Wednesday? You will!
Indeed, everybody wants to get married on a Saturday, but this comes with a premium, since you are competing for limited space and joining in the immense demand. This is why it is essential to opt to get married on a weekday, which could also be a Friday. Getting married on a weekday is one of the best ways for how to save money on a wedding.
2. Plan Your Wedding in Advance
Similar to booking vacations, if you book your wedding event in advance, you will get a discount. Because wedding venues want to have a full schedule in the coming months, they are willing to trim around 10 to 15 percent off of your total cost. In a day and age when you’re trying to squeeze every penny, booking at least three to five months in advance is worth it.
Of course, let’s hope your engagement lasts long enough!
3. Have a Reception at a Restaurant
One of the easiest and cheapest ways to serve your guests food is by heading to a restaurant. Rather than renting a venue, hiring a catering company, and paying for plates, utensils, and other components, you can pay the restaurant for a three-course meal and two orders of alcohol. That’s it!
You have a set price, no worries about mess, and everyone can just have a great time.
4. Marry at the Courthouse
Are church weddings passe? Since more young people are not affiliated with any religion, they are taking advantage of alternative settings for marriages, such as chapels. But if you want something that is quick and cheap and comes with no fuss, then consider the courthouse.
Your friends and family may disapprove because they want you to have a lavish wedding, a courthouse marriage allows you to save on the expenses and give you the opportunity to have an incredible honeymoon in Venice or Paris or Niagara Falls.
5. Endless Alcohol? No Thank You
Do you know how you can get into trouble? By serving your guests an endless stream of alcohol, you’re blowing the budget. Whether you have an inventory or an open bar, this will cost you a lot of money in the end, especially because there is always that one person who will take advantage and get drunk.
6. Somebody Wants to Help? Let Them
So, somebody wants to photograph the wedding? You have a friend who wants to cater? You have a family member who wants to drive everybody? Simply put: let them!
Anytime someone is willing to lend a helping hand, which could save you money, then be sure to accept the offer. Not only does add a few more dollars to your pocket, it takes the stress off of trying to find someone who is able to do the job. If you want advice on how to save money on a wedding, don’t be too prideful and learn to accept generosity.
7. Pre-Owned Clothing
Not exactly a romantic endeavour, but you should think about purchasing pre-owned wedding clothing. This is especially true for wedding dresses. Or, if the groom wants to go all tails and top hats on everybody, used stores are important to visit. By doing this, you look good and you save some loonies.
8. Go Paperless for Invitations
One of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding is preparing the invitations. Unless you’re George Costanza and you want to buy the cheapest ones – they turned out to be toxic and killed his fiancée – you probably want to spend a bit more for quality.
But what is the point of these paper invitations if they end up in the trash anyway? There is a way that you can balance elegance with cost-effectiveness: go paperless.
With a little bit of research, you can come across a wide variety of elegant formats, styles, and designs that will add a touch of class to your wedding. At the same time, you’re being environmentally-friendly and you’re saving time and money, which can be better used on a luxury Uber ride.
Although single-person households are more prevalent than ever before, it feels like everyone is getting married these days. And why not? If you love someone, then you can affirm your love and do it right. The major hurdle to overcome is the cost, but, like everything else in the economy, you can come up with some innovative ways to save some dough, whether it’s on photography or on the food – typically the biggest expenses of a wedding.
