6 Wedding Reception Cost-Cutting Tactics You Need To Know
The thing about weddings is that they are inherently expensive. Even if you opt for a simple ceremony and have just ten close family members and friends present, there’s still a lot to pay out for. And then, of course, you have to pay for all the costs associated with the reception or “wedding after-party”!
It’s likely you are reading this today because you are going to get married soon and want to keep your costs down as much as possible. Let’s face it; nobody wants to spend more than they need to on their weddings, given the amount of money they cost! With that in mind, here are some brilliant cost-cutting tactics to have a fabulous wedding reception without the high price tag!
- Book your venue on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon
You may not realize it, but some wedding reception venues charge a lot of money for “prime” times such as Saturday nights. One sure-fire way to keep your costs down regardless of your venue is to book your reception for a Friday night or Sunday afternoon! Obviously, you will need to make sure your wedding gets held on the same day before your reception!
- Be wise with your flower arrangements
Some folks go all out when it comes to floral decorations for their wedding receptions. The truth is, you should only focus your efforts on wedding flowers that are most likely to get appreciated by your guests. With that in mind, consider a mixture of roses, carnations, and other flowers that look great and won’t blow your budget.
- Forget about formal sit-down dinners
These days, it’s more fun (and cheaper) to have buffet-style food available at your reception. It makes the occasion less formal and more relaxed. Plus, people get to pick and choose the meal combinations that they enjoy. Don’t make your guests feel like they have to group themselves in a particular menu option; let them decide how and what they want to eat!
- Stock your bar with the right kinds of drinks
Hard liquor is rarely drunk at wedding receptions. With that fact in mind, you should allocate your bar budget to wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. You can easily save up to 30% of your budget by not stocking the harder stuff.
- Your cake doesn’t need to feed an army
There will be some well-wishers that won’t want to eat cake for dietary or medical reasons. Consider providing enough cake for around 70% of the people attending your wedding reception. With other food available, nobody is going to get hungry!
- Get a photographer friend to take care of your photos
Everybody wants photos of their wedding and reception when they get married. Some couples spend thousands on hiring teams of professional photographers when such demands are hardly necessary. Instead, get a photographer friend with a decent DSLR camera to be your official photographer. You can pay them with beer for their troubles, and they’ll be happy to oblige!