The (Price) Difference is in the Details

With all the tiny little details that go into wedding planning, it is important to keep your head on straight and try to prioritize. While you want this very special day to be as perfect as possible, you can make it great without emptying out your pockets. A great starting point to budgeting your wedding is to consider what is really important to you and what kind of atmosphere you want for your event.

Flowers:

• Use more greenery than flowers


• Embellish smaller flower arrangements with candles, lanterns, or fruit


• Stick with cheaper, in-season flowers


• Do not choose too many types of different flowers in your arrangements


• Fake flowers can cost half the price and look just as nice (and real!)


• Ask the venue that is holding your reception if they have a prop room. They may have fun and creative decor alternatives for you.

Food & Drink:

• Instead of a large meal, serve appetizers and hors d’oeuvres


• Serve comfort food instead of a gourmet meal


• Skip the champagne toast


• Don't over-do the number of stations at the cocktail hour


• Wine and beer is much cheaper than a full open bar


• For the cutting of the cake, choose an elegant but simple cake but serve from a sheet cake


• A slice of wedding cake for dessert will do for most guests, so don't stress about too many dessert options


• Cheaper cake alternatives include: decorative cupcakes, donuts, and cookies


• Ethnic meals are generally less expensive

Day, Time & Season:

• Go for an afternoon reception instead of an evening one (Plus, people tend to drink less during the day so this will most likely ultimately save you on alcohol as well)


• Rent out a vacation home for the day. It may be cheaper than a venue and if the property is nice or large enough, it could be a very creative way to accommodate your guests.


• Choose a different day of the week other than Saturday for your reception

The Guest List:
How many people do YOU really want there? One of the easiest and most effective ways to save a lot of money is to shorten the guest list. Don't fold under pressure from friends and relatives over who you should invite. Also, bigger tables mean less centerpieces and tablecloths, plus, big groups at tables encourages more mingling among your guests.

Photos & Videos:
Choosing a photographer and videographer from the same company can earn you discounts. You don't need to have the photographer or videographer there from the moment you wake up until the very last guest leaves. And while you may want to save some cash, amateur photographers may absolutely not be worth any cost. If there are entirely inexperienced and miss some huge moments, there is no way to redo. See if you can simply have the raw video for your wedding day. Work with friends and family to edit the footage yourself or have a student edit the film for you. Effects and editing can be very expensive.

Try and do-it-yourself!:
It couldn't hurt to get a little hands-on in preparing for your big day. Why spend the big bucks on name cards, invitations, favors, and decorations when you can get together with friends and family and work together to create a meaningful and personal touch to your wedding. There are so many DIY books and websites out there with very basic and brilliant DIY ideas and tips. Heading to dollar or craft stores and checking out post-holiday sales can also give you some great inspiration. If you are wary about your crafting abilities, check out some affordable decor alternatives to make your wedding look richer. Arranging colorful and modern looking vases, dishes, and platters give the higher-end illusion.

Always: Do the math:
Don't be fooled by the allure of a package deal. Do your math and figure out what deal would work best for you based on your needs and expectations. Remember that a buffet dinner may still cost a lot more than a multi-course, sit down meal. Also, just because a venue is cheap doesn't mean you'll save money. If a less expensive space is lacking necessary amenities, then rental costs could end up leaving you paying more.

Don't be afraid to negotiate prices or be honest with vendors about what you actually have to spend. While you do want to accommodate your guests, don't be hesitant about doing things the way you want to do them or sacrifice your tastes and desires to impress your guests.

-Sarah