How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

I’m currently planning a couple of weddings. Two of my good friends are getting married, and I am also getting married next June. Because of this, I have learned a lot about how to plan a wedding and also how expensive weddings can be. You really need to aim to have a wedding on a budget since the littlest things can add up quickly. Even when you think that you have everything covered, there are almost always things that you might have forgotten!

There are so many statistics about the cost of weddings, and the average wedding costs around $25,000. This is something that I definitely do not want to spend since my fiance and I will be paying for everything. We are having a Saturday wedding in the month of June, but luckily we are using his family’s property as the venue. However, this will most likely cost more than a normal outdoor venue because we have to supply the tent (which we found out will cost $4,000), tables, chairs and everything else. We still need to find ways to save and hopefully this post will help you save on your wedding.

1. Get married in the off season

June weddings seem to be the most popular, and that is because of the better weather. Getting married in the winter time is almost always cheaper, and you can maybe save thousands by getting married in the off season.

2. Pick a day besides Saturday

Saturday is the most popular day for weddings, and because of this it is the most expensive as well. You can always try Friday nights or Sundays (or any other day) if you are looking for an easy way to save money. If you do decide to pick a day besides the Saturday or Sunday, keep in mind the location of your wedding. Some people may not be able to take off multiple days in a row if your wedding is a couple of hours away.

3. Eat earlier

Instead of having dinner at your reception, you can always go for a brunch, lunch or early dinner. You can definitely save a lot of money by going this way as well.

4. Attend Bridal Shows

I’ve been to a couple of bridal shows, and there are many, many benefits of attending them. You’ll see many different options for your wedding, and you will most likely be given TONS of coupons from all of the different venues. You can get discounts on your wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses, tuxes, food, venues, and so on. And if you’re the bride, you are most likely able to get in for free!

5. Don’t shop outside of your price range

When going wedding dress shopping, make sure to only look at dresses in your price range! If you look at dresses outside of your price range, you are very likely to fall in love with something that you cannot afford. So many girls do this.

6. Do It Yourself

There are so many things that you can make yourself for your wedding. You can make your own Save the Dates, invitations, centerpieces and so on. You can even make your own wedding dress if you are talented enough.

7. See what your family has to offer

I know many people who have many family members that are involved in the wedding business. More than likely, your family would love to help you out. Maybe you have a photographer in the family, a DJ, a family member with a great backyard for the venue and so on. Look around and dig deep!

How did you save money with your wedding?