In 2019, the average price of a wedding was £31,974 . Although this includes all the costs involved, such as the venue, photographer, and other suppliers, you can't deny that it’s expensive.
However, there’s nothing wrong with cheap and affordable weddings. In most cases, cheap weddings can have all of the major attractions of really expensive ones, with some small differences. But what can you do to save money?
Here's a guide on how to have an amazing wedding on a small budget.
The Guest List
When you're planning a wedding, it’s tempting to get as many people as you can onto your guest list. Be aware that this is the easiest way to bump up the cost of your wedding.
Once you write the first drafted guest list, look it over a few times to find people that you can take off. Although your family and close friends should attend, you shouldn’t feel obligated to invite anyone if you don't want to.
Help From Talented Friends
Think about your friends and family. Is there anyone that you know who has a talent and can help you out at the wedding?
Maybe you know someone skilled in photography, they can take photos as a wedding gift. You could also hire your friend who's a singer to play music instead of having to worry about finding a band.
Have the Ceremony Outdoors or at Home
Wedding venues can be expensive, and often, you can find some other beautiful locations at a more affordable price.
If you can’t have the wedding at home, consider having it at a parents house. You can also have it at a public park. It promises a picturesque setting that won’t break your budget. But make sure that you have a backup plan in place in case of bad weather.
Make Your Own Invitations
Invitations are one of the other areas that people spend crazy amounts of money on. Consider making your own instead.
There are plenty of websites that give you design templates to choose from. You can enter the necessary information, then print the invitations using a quality printer. If you do it right, no one will know the difference, and instead you can put the savings towards an amazing honeymoon.
Choose an Affordable Wedding Ring
It’s important that you like how your ring looks and feels, but that doesn’t mean that it needs to be thousands of pounds. If you’re looking to have a low-cost wedding, going with a cheaper ring can be a good way of keeping the costs down.
THE FOOD & DRINK
If you have a family member who loves baking then ask them to make your cake. nine times out of ten they will be really flattered and accept your request with no hassle.
Consider your menu choices. Opt for a BBQ or even a buffet if your venue will let you. Buffet style food doesn’t have to feel old fashioned, it can be really stylish if you put it together well.
Buy your booze in bulk during the year when it’s on offer at different supermarkets, or cash and carry and display in an old bathtub/wheelbarrow/etc.
THE FASHION
Use social media wisely, follow the Instagram accounts of the bridal boutiques you love. This is where they will announce their sample sales. Don’t be afraid of getting in the car and driving across the country for one – if you’re saving 50-60% on the cost of your dream dress ,then a tank of petrol is nothing.
Consider buying a second-hand wedding dress. In all likelihood, the dress has been worn once before (if at all!) and dry cleaners like Johnsons are very experienced at looking after such precious items.
It’s all about how you wear it, so finding your dress on the high street or in a more budget Bridal boutique is a savvy idea.
Give Bridesmaids a strict budget to buy a dress within your colour palette, if they want to spend more or contribute extra for a dress they really love and will wear again then that’s up to them.
Likewise, for the boys, ask Groomsmen to wear their own suits.
THE DECOR
Use seasonal flowers displayed in vases, jam jars and tin cans. This looks really pretty and is so easy to do yourself.
Opt for lots of foliage instead of flowers, you can just chop these down from your garden and it’s completely free!
Give single flower stems as favours – they serve as decor and girls can wear them in their hair and blokes in their buttonholes for the reception.
Ask guests to send you photos of themselves with the RSVP – interactive guest decor that is also really inexpensive.
Have a menu board instead of menu print outs, saving you money on your stationery budget.
Wooden palettes can be made into all sorts of things. Signs, somewhere to display your table plan, your cake, your flowers etc. People often give these away for free, so make sure to keep an eye out on local shops and businesses.
THE BEAUTY
Ask your bridesmaids to do each others hair/make-up (there is usually someone who is a whizz with the blush brush and hair tongs!)
TRANSPORT
Do you have a friend or family member with a fancy car that you love? Ask them to be your transportation on the day. Most people would be thrilled to have a part to play. Failing that, catch a cab! Or have a parent drive you. Just make sure that whatever your chosen transportation that it’s nice and clean before you gather yourself and your gown into it.
TIMINGS
Consider getting married later in the afternoon. This way you only have to provide one lot of food. Perhaps a hot buffet which would work out cheaper than a sit-down meal.
Consider getting married on a weekday – Thursday is the new Sunday…and November is the new May. Although this isn’t new and the wedding season does seem to run endlessly now, lots of venues still run special packages for weekday or winter weddings.
FAVOURS
Ditch the favours – no-one will notice or go down the homemade option and present people with a pretty biscuit, a mini bottle of limoncello or jar of jam.
Ask people for help!!! You’ve probably picked that one up by this point already, but most people are happy to be involved in your big day.
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