As we slowly climb out of engagement season and into full-on wedding planning – there may be a few of you who are recently engaged. Congratulations! It is an exciting time to be planning your wedding, for sure. However, some of you may be worried about the costs weddings may require. Never fear! Today we’re going to go over some tried and true tips that may save you money during the planning process so that your budget (and stress levels) can stay lower.
The easiest way to save money is to consider off-season OR in-season options. Let me explain.
In Season
The in-season options mainly apply to elements you’ll need to outsource for your wedding. Florals, cake, catering…most of your vendors will have background knowledge for this and can help guide you in choosing some affordable options. For example, if you are planning on a March wedding, you would not plan on chrysanthemums as these are a fall floral. Instead, choosing florals like Anemone and Peonies will prove much more cost-effective…and theme your wedding just a little more to the season!
Another example is choosing in-season catering options. For a fall wedding, you would not serve lighter menu options, but rather appetizers made cozy with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and hints of the season. The same rule applies to a summer menu – most people don’t want butternut squash soup in July!
Another option for keeping things low cost is to consider hosting a beer and wine bar versus a hard liquor option. If you do want to include spirits, theming one to two beverages as “signature” drinks can help scale back an open bar tab while still keeping things festive!
Off Season
Now, we’ve gone over the in season options for things like menus and florals, but thinking off season can also be a big help! If you have yet to choose a wedding date, consider a Sunday, Friday, or even a week day if your schedule allows! Saturdays are prime wedding days and while it’s perfectly fine to plan a wedding on a Saturday, you may save a little with your wedding professionals if you book on another day instead. This can allow for lower venue rates, booking fees, and even travel/hotel plans. (The wedding pictured was on a Wednesday in August 2021 and just as fun as a Saturday would have been!)
Another idea to consider when planning your wedding is to have your wedding be THE wedding venue. This means no relocating from a ceremony site to a reception site! By choosing a venue with natural décor (think beautiful, sweeping trees and golden hour sunlight), you can limit the need for additional décor and pipe and draped linens and instead focus on the natural surroundings that make your venue unique!
Another off-season option is the dress! While the latest and greatest from designers can be swoon-worthy, they also come with big price tags. You would be surprised at what kind of incredibly beautiful dresses you can find at secondhand shops, local boutiques, and seller’s marketplaces like Facebook or apps like Offer Up. While you may not have a brand new dress, most of these dresses were probably only worn for a number of hours, and it’s worth it to check and see if one of those dresses can be THE dress.
There are a multitude of ways to save on your upcoming big day, and lots of things to consider. More or less, you just need to determine what you want the bulk of your budget to go towards…and the rest just falls into place!
As always, if you need more inspiration or assistance, I’m here to help! Let’s set up a consultation and talk through your options!
(Images by Marck Your Memory Photography and Pearly Kate Photography)
