Top 20 Wedding Cost Saving Tips

The most recent statistics indicate that the average cost of weddings in the USA is now upwards of $30,000. If that figure makes you faint (!), we’ve got some creative ideas to help save hundreds (maybe even thousands) and still have the day of your dreams.

1. Get planning! The earlier you start, the more likely you are to find deals along the way. And it’ll give you time to see what’s out there. The more information you have about what’s available, the better informed your decisions can be.

2. Once you’ve seen the dress of your dreams, it can be easy to justify blowing the budget to get what you want. Identify the cut you want first and foremost – a-line, ball gown, empire, etc. then you can start looking for similar styles in more reasonable price ranges. Man-made fabrics are much less expensive than natural fibres. Substituting details like machine sewing for tailored finishing and machine work for hand beading can greatly reduce costs.

3. Have a cocktail party with enough food to make a meal. Stationary hors d’oeuvres are a great way to accommodate a range of tastes and you’ll cut back on staffing, as fewer servers will be required.

4. Buy the alcohol yourselves. Some venues mark up the alcohol costs as much as 50%, so even with a corkage fee, this can save you hundreds!

5. Instead of a live trio during dinner, make tapes of your favourite crooners. Again, you’ll save hundreds on what is essentially, background music.

6. Get married in the winter. On a Wednesday. At lunchtime. Off peak prices can help you save thousands once you add up venue, catering and transport costs.

7. Choose flowers that are grown locally and in season. If your celebration is informal and you’ve got pals with aspiring green fingers, enlist them to grow your centrepiece flowers. We also have ideas for DIY wedding centerpieces that do not require flowers at all!

8. There are lots of computer programs available to help you make classic invitations, order of service sheets, place cards, etc. Ivory card stock can be purchased in bulk from office supply stores.

9. Buy your own wedding album. The ones professional photographers do tend to be very pricey and you’ll have fun putting together a personalised diary of your day.

10. Have a friend video things informally. Spend and afternoon editing yourself and choose the music that you want to complement your movie.

11. Send out save-the-date emails and you’ll save a bundle on postage.

12. Avoid anything too showy – remember – less is more. 

13. If you’re keeping things personal, have the reception at home. You’ll be more relaxed and you can hire staff to serve food and drinks and tidy things up afterwards.

14. Serve only wine, beer and soft drinks. You’ll avoid the expense of spirits, and also have less opportunity for revellers to mix drinks.

15. Don’t purchase mother-of-bride dresses at bridal shops. The prices are usually higher than at regular dress shops and you’ll get better deals at nice department stores.

16. Unless he’s got lots of formal invitations over the next few years, renting a tux or morning suit is definitely cheaper.

17. Enlist friends with fancy cars to transport you on the big day.

18. What are the chances of you wearing your dress again? Not likely. Consider hiring your gown.

19. Not really a tip, more a caution – be sure that everyone understands who is paying for what. Starting a family feud over payment for the harpist before you’re even married is a sure fire way to a stress filled day.

20. Take out wedding insurance. This will cover you in the event of damage to your dress, theft of presents, cancellation of the reception (e.g. because of illness of a parent), double booking of the venue, and so on. The only thing they don’t offer is reimbursement in the event of cold feet!