Everyone likes to save money, that’s a given, but in some cases people don’t know how. If you’re looking for a few ways to shave the expenses without cutting the quality, check out the money saving tips below. They are targeted at bigger-picture savings, and can help reduce the costs, as well as your worries!
- Always compare for the best price!
I find that the easiest way to compare prices is to use charts and graphs. If you are moderately comfortable with the Microsoft Office software you can use programs such as Excel to help create a spreadsheet, however, if you are more of a pencil to paper person simply write down the pertinent info for each option (price, place, amount of time, what you get,) that way you can easily see which option gives you more for your money. - Push your ceremony and reception together!
Instead of booking your ceremony in one place and then your reception in another, organize them so that they can take place one after the other at the same location. This will save money, time and extra planning. - Communicate with your community!
If you’re a member of a church, the military, a college, or some other type of community-based organization, you may be able to get a huge discount (or even no price at all!) on your organizations venue if they have one. - If at all possible, avoid prime-time premiums!
A venue will often-times take advantage of popular wedding “seasons” and days. You might be thinking of having your wedding on Valentine’s Day, but the venue manager could easily take advantage of this commonplace thought, and charge you as much as double the premium to rent out the venue. This goes for most holidays and romantic seasons, and even weekends. Avoid this extra cost: schedule your event a week or two in advance instead of the actual day. This will usually cost less than the celebrated day itself, but can still provide the same romanticism that the holiday gives. And if you can, get the middle of the week instead of weekends (especially Saturday nights). This can cut a lot of cost, and eliminate a lot of stress! - Less time means less money!
Instead of having an eight-hour bash, try and cut it down to a three or four hour party. Since most pros, such as DJs and Photographers, cost more money for more time, this can easily save a good chunk of your budget. Also, try not to extend past one day for your venue rental. And if at all possible, allow yourself time to set up, play out and tear down the whole event in one day instead of two or three. - Compress the guest list!
Fewer guests can mean a lot of things: fewer tables, fewer chairs, less food… not as much overall coverage will be needed. Per-person costs can be expensive, so filter through your guest list as much as possible.
