How to cut costs on your big day
According to a recent survey from Bride to Be magazine, the average cost of an Australian wedding is now over $65K! The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to have the day you’ve been dreaming of. Here are some top tips to help you cut costs on your big day without compromising on style or atmosphere.
Photo by Todd Ruth
Consider a midweek or winter wedding
Hiring a wedding venue is typically one of the most expensive costs associated with any wedding, so you can save a lot of money by avoiding the busiest times and instead choosing a midweek or winter wedding.
Another option is to move your ceremony forward to the morning, or opting for a late afternoon ceremony with an evening buffet. Contact your preferred wedding venue and ask about the different possible options.
Shop around for your wedding dress
Photo by Charisse Kenion
Your wedding dress is probably one of the most important purchases you’ll ever make, but it really doesn’t have to be the most expensive.
One of the best ways to save money is to consider buying a second-hand dress. Nobody will know the difference, and with a little searching around it’s often possible to find some real bargains.
If you’ve got your heart seat on a designer dress, why not hire it instead? Imagine finding your dream designer dress and only paying a tiny fraction of what it would cost to buy.
Choose shoes you can wear again and again
Your wedding shoes are an important part of your wedding outfit, but it always seems a shame to spend time choosing a beautiful pair of bridal shoes that you’ll only wear once.
With this in mind, why not choose shoes you can wear again and again after your big day? More and more brides are choosing to ditch traditional white or ivory bridal shoes and instead are going for more contemporary options that will complement a wide range of outfits.
Photographer: Stephanie Young, for Ashley and Dericks wedding.
Ditch traditional invitations
Printed wedding invitations can work out expensive, and then there’s the nightmare of tracking all those RSVPs.
To make things easier and save some money at the same time, it’s well worth considering creating a free wedding website and sending out electronic invites to your guests.
If you’d still prefer printed invites, another option is to go for wedding printables, where you create the design online and then print them yourself.
Hire a local, self-contained wedding band
Image: Photo by Mitchell Orr
Hiring an incredible band or musician for your wedding can really add that special touch to your reception and help make it an event your guests will remember forever. If you are in the UK, check out these Wedding bands that cover every genre you can imagine, from rock and pop to jazz and soul – and even classical.
One of the best ways to save money when booking a wedding band is to hire a band from the local area, which will save money on their travel and accommodation costs. In addition, you should be sure to hire a fully self-contained band who have their own PA system, microphones and instruments.
Opt for a buffet, BBQ or picnic
One of the biggest wedding trends over the last few years has been to opt for a buffet, BBQ or picnic instead of a formal sit-down meal.
As well as saving money, these alternative options help to give a more relaxed feeling to your big day. From cool food trucks serving mouth-watering street food to delicious wedding picnics that make your day a truly social occasion, there’s something out there for everyone.
Go for a single-tiered wedding cake
In keeping with the modern trend for weddings being more relaxed affairs, more and more couples are choosing to go for an understated, single-tier wedding cake.
As well as being cheaper than traditional multi-tiered options, these beautiful pared-down cakes can help you make a real statement – and of course, they’re every bit as delicious as any other cake option. Take a look at these smaller sweet treats that pack a real punch.
Set your budget – and stick to it
Our final piece of advice is to set your budget and stick to it as closely as possible. By planning carefully and using some of the tips we’ve given above, you’ll be able to plan your dream wedding day without spending a fortune.
