Those gorgeous floral centerpieces you saw on Pinterest. The incredible church in your hometown you’ve imagined getting married in since you were little. That dress. From the venue and the food to the décor and the photos, it’s no secret that throwing a wedding can be an expensive endeavor.
But having the wedding of your dreams and still having a savings account to speak of don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Stick to these three key strategies, and you can conserve your cash and still pull off a beautiful day without a hitch.
Call in Favors
Ways to Save
As you begin planning, think about who you know—and how you could put their creative skills to use. Do you have an uber-organized co-worker? Ask if she’d be willing to help with day-of wedding coordination. A friend who’s a graphic designer, or a cousin who loves to take photos? Use their creative talents on your save-the-dates or engagement pictures. Anyone in your inner circle with an eye for design? Seek their advice when you’re picking linens, flowers, and other décor. By calling on the talents of those near and dear, you might be able to eliminate extra services (and charges!) from professional wedding vendors.
Don’t Fall Short
Be careful not to engage too many first-timers in your plans or your wedding may end up feeling like amateur hour. Unless you’re totally confident in their skills, use friends and family for smaller portions of the planning and leave the more important elements to the professionals. Also, while tapping the creative talents of your inner circle can help you save, remember that they’re not your free labor! Offer to pay them for their time, or at the very least cover all of their costs and buy them a very nice thank-you gift.
Do-It-Yourself
Ways to Save
There are a lot of simple things you can do to not only save money, but also, quite literally, get your hands on the biggest day of your life. Try making your own wedding favors or designing your table numbers, menus, and seating cards—you can find templates online and print them at home or at a local print shop.
You can even create your own centerpieces if they can be assembled ahead of time, or if you designate someone to set them up for you. Try floating candles in wide glass bowls, and surrounding the bowl with tea lights and votives for extra glow. Ask your florist to bring a large bloom for each bowl, like a peony or dahlia, and float it between the candles. For a more relaxed DIY centerpiece, use a potted flowering plant tied in burlap sacks or slipped into colored buckets.
Don’t Fall Short
Make sure that whatever you choose to do yourself can be done well ahead of time—the last thing you want to be doing on your wedding day is trying to figure out how to make a boutonniere! Plan ahead for what you can do before the wedding—then leave the last-minute details to the professionals.
Cut Corners
Ways to Save
If your big ideas have outgrown your smaller budget, get creative and think of ways you can accomplish a similar look at a fraction of the price. For instance, if you love a certain high-end linen but are concerned about cost, consider instead using the venue’s complimentary linens and renting table runners or napkins in the fabric you love. Instead of paying extra to have your DJ set the lighting, buy paper lanterns or luminaries and ask a friend to hang them.
If you’re up for something different, skip paying for the cake and create a candy bar—use different sized glass bowls and fill them with a colorful array of candy. For big savings, consider cutting out the dinner service and throwing a cocktail party, a high tea, or a dessert reception instead.
Don’t Fall Short
There are certain elements of a wedding that are worth their weight in gold—but they’re different for everyone. Decide which are most important to you and pad your budget heavily in those areas. Then, get creative with the rest, and you can easily cut down (or out!) many unnecessary costs. Happy planning!
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