Everyone dreams of having a big beautiful wedding. If you have been imagining what your big day is going to look like for a long time, you probably already have some huge ideas you want to execute. Unfortunately, a realistic budget doesn’t always allow you to live out some of your wildest wedding fantasies.
You can push back the wedding until you reach the budget you need; however, there are other ways to keep your big wedding plans while saving money. Read on to find out how.
Choose A Less Popular Date
Wedding season in America starts in mid-spring and extends all the way until the end of the fall. This period is when the weather is at its best, and your guests can gather outside for photos without the fear of being rained on. Wedding venues know that this time is popular among couples, and that is why their prices are more competitive in these seasons. You may also find that other wedding services raise their prices during this time too.
There is no need to despair, however. The time of year does not guarantee that the weather is going to be foul, and there are contingencies you can put in place if the weather turns bad. What’s more, there is nothing wrong with having an indoor reception while you only brave the cold for a few photos. If you are finding venue hire a bit steep, try looking at off-peak dates.
Use Technology
There are some wedding traditions that you simply cannot avoid. You will need to have a proper sit-down meal with all of your guests during the day and have some alcohol on hand throughout those nerve-wracking wedding toasts. However, is there any reason why we are still sending physical wedding invites in the year 2022?
Almost everyone has access to an email address or a social media account nowadays. Instead, of paying for hundreds of paper invites, why not send an Evite? You can still design these using traditional patterns; only now they will arrive in someone’s inbox rather than through their letterbox. Anyone unsure about how to send an evite should check out Greenvelope for advice. Furthermore, digital invitations are better for the environment.
Cook Your Own Food
The main meal at your wedding is going to cost you a lot of money. It is one of the most important parts of your day, and you want it to go right. However, that does not mean that you cannot save money on the next meal.
Most weddings go long into the evening, and a buffet spread is a great way to feed your guests without having to stop the celebrations. Instead of paying for a second meal, you should try to see how much buffet food you can cook yourself. You need to ask friends and family to pitch in and book a venue with plenty of storage space. Wedding buffets do not need to be posh, and you will find that many of your guests can’t tell the difference between your home-cooked food and dishes prepared by a professional.
Use Freelancers
Many existing businesses can charge a premium for their services because they have an established reputation. Most of the time, you are paying for a name and not quality. This does not mean that these businesses will do a bad job, only that someone else might be able to do just as well for a much lower price.
People that work in a freelance capacity are looking to build up a portfolio of work so that they too can have an established record of performance. That is why they charge less for their services. You can use freelance make-up artists, stylists, and wedding photographers for a much lower price. These individuals are likely to have a better job as they want to earn a good reputation. Take a look to see what you can arrange through a freelancer before splurging money on a big name brand.
Include A Paid Bar
Your guests will expect to be fed when they arrive at your wedding, but they will also be thankful if you keep the alcohol flowing. These beverages help people relax, and many social occasions are heightened with the inclusion of alcohol.
However, just because a free bar is expected it does not mean that you have to provide one. People can often forget how much they have consumed when they are merry, and this can lead to a huge bill at the end of the night. A paid bar offers the best of both worlds. Your guests still get to drink all evening if they want to, and you aren’t saddled with a huge expense. Furthermore, you may find that people are less likely to overdrink with a paid bar.
Put Off The Honeymoon
The honeymoon is the perfect end to your wedding. A relaxing break away can help you destress after planning a huge event and it also gives you time with your new spouse. This is another large expense that is often lumped in as part of the wedding budget, but there is no need to combine the two.
You do not have to attend your honeymoon directly after the wedding, in fact, you might enjoy it more if you wait a while. The first holiday you take after your wedding is still your honeymoon, so there is no rush to get away. You can have your wedding, go home, and spend a few months saving before you jet off on your dream holiday together. This allows you to extend the budget of your wedding day, and plan for a much more elaborate trip.
Conclusion
Your wedding day should be the best day of your life, so you should not hold back. Even if something seems a bit out of your price range, there will be a cheaper alternative, and you do not have to sacrifice quality. You just have to be clever instead.
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