It is a well-known fact that ideal weddings are not cheap. Even if you’re throwing a really small, inexpensive party, you’ll still have to spend a significant portion of your hard-earned cash by the time you’ve chosen your outfits, secured a venue, made it legal, fed your guests, and planned some sort of entertainment.

The good news is there are many wedding money-saving suggestions available to help you save money. Rather, you can spend it on your ideal honeymoon or on a cool extra element like a doughnut wall, picture booth, or floral arch that you have wanted for a long time but never believed you could afford.

We’ve put together a list of wedding budget hacks to help you save money. More importantly, make sure that planning your dream wedding and starting your married life is fun and exciting. And it is not ruined by ongoing financial concerns.

Keep an eye on your finances

Sheets of paper! While some people adore them and cannot function during the day without maintaining a spreadsheet of some kind, many others get minor discomfort at their mere mention. However, they are quite helpful and could help you save a lot of money when it comes to wedding planning and keeping track of your spending.

Following establishing your budget, use this helpful guide to determine the percentages to be given to each component and then strictly adhere to it. Enter every single purchase you made towards your wedding. To ensure you spend your time, all the information, even items like DIY supplies that only cost a few pounds, must be included. You’ll see areas as you fill up your spreadsheet where you’ve saved more money than you had planned; at this point, you can put some money aside for the extras that will make your wedding day special.

Consider your event dates carefully

Think about your motivations before agreeing to the terms of a summer Saturday wedding. Is it just because that’s what people have always done? Or it’s because spring and summer are the most popular marriage seasons. If your wedding date is not particularly important to you or is required by your employer, you can save a lot of money by choosing a less busy season. Winter weddings may be wonderful, filled with sparkling lights and cozy, personal gatherings.

You can fully use nature’s charms during the incredibly beautiful autumn season. You’ll discover many venues have lower costs and can offer seasonal discounts outside the busiest spring and summer months, which may save you thousands. Additionally, since vendors are less in-demand, you’ll have a better chance of booking your first-choice caterers, entertainers, photographers, etc.

Get married on a weekday

In addition to planning your wedding during a less expensive season, booking during the week is another option to save on wedding expenses. Weekday weddings are getting more popular, and you’ll find that your friends and relatives won’t mind at all taking a day off work to celebrate with you. Saturday weddings are still prevalent because guests don’t need to reserve annual leave and may recover/travel home on Sunday. The impact a weekday wedding may have on your overall price will vary depending on the venue you select. Still, most will offer unique weekday discounts or other packages to tempt you!

Choose a single location to host the wedding and reception

By reserving a location where both your wedding and reception can take place, you can easily reduce the cost of your wedding. This might save you hundreds of dollars by eliminating the need to pay for transportation for your guests or bridal party between the ceremony location and the reception site. Find a location where you can get ready early in the morning and spend the night if you want to avoid paying for transportation.

Examine your workplace benefits

Many businesses participate in a work perks program that gives their employees discounts at various businesses. While making your plans, inquire about any savings your HR department may offer. Spending less on anything from little home décor purchases to your vacation is possible.

Use wise judgments when banking

It’s great to sit down and discuss your financial management with your partner before making any wedding-related purchases. It’s important to recover money whenever possible to put toward your big day because you likely need to use your banking system to its full potential. Since you’ll be spending more than normal on your wedding, now is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of any loyalty programs. Many people are unaware that the more money you spend, the more you can get.

Joining reputable cashback websites is one of the quickest and simplest methods to earn money as you spend it. Consider using a cashback credit card for your wedding expenses, but make sure you always pay it off in full to prevent accruing debt. Credit cards are another excellent choice for paying for your wedding because transactions up to $30,000 are insured against loss or damage.

There are frequent benefits like cash, gift cards, or free insurance to pick from when you open a new account or move to a rewards account. Look around and pick an account with a benefit you can apply to your wedding. Consider using a credit card with 0% interest if you cannot pay deposits in full as they are received. This will allow you to spread out the payments throughout your wedding planning. To prevent fees, make sure to consistently make the minimum payment on time.

Open an account with British Airways if you want to save money on your travels and are traveling on your honeymoon. If you spend enough each month, you can accumulate air miles that you can use to upgrade to business class or put toward the trip of your dreams.

Select a venue with no corkage fees

It would be best if you allocated a significant portion of your wedding budget for food and beverages. There are other ways to cut costs on your wedding catering that won’t leave your guests parched and thirsty. Hiring a no-corkage location is one of the most effective ways to save money on alcohol for weddings. If there is no corkage fee, the venue will allow you to bring your alcoholic beverages without charging you extra to serve them.

Make your wedding setting unique

Although many couples enjoy the security of choosing a wedding location that has hosted numerous successful unions and is ready for spectacular big days, takes into account other options if you’re looking for clever ways to save money. Consider renting a huge party house, or ask a relative or friend with a beautiful garden whether you can set up a marquee there instead. Observe the village halls as well. If you do your research, you’ll find some towns with newly renovated village halls or gorgeous historic structures in the center of the town that would be fantastic affordable venues.

Pick a naturally beautiful location

Setting money aside for ceremony decor is probably not going to be a priority when you’re on a limited budget. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a wedding with a wow factor. Select a visually appealing venue if you want to spend less on the decor. Be wise with your spending when it comes to decoration.

Avoid only using preferred vendors

Many venues will provide you with a selection of their preferred vendors, people they have dealt with often and have confidence in. However, you can use these vendors. Do your research, and find less expensive providers at the same location. You can consider them, only if their work satisfied you and you feel comfortable hiring them.

Obtain numerous quotations

Why would you spend thousands of dollars on your wedding without ensuring the price is reasonable? After speaking with just one vendor about the possible costs, you wouldn’t pay to have an addition built on your home. For some of the larger wedding components, be sure to obtain bids from several vendors. This will enable you to decide whether the service is pricey enough.

Hold your wedding later in the day

The later in the day you conduct your ceremony, the less food and beverages you’ll need to offer your guests, and the less amusement you’ll need to give. And of course, the less you’ll pay any vendors like photographers who charge by the hour. Additionally, don’t assume that a shorter wedding would be less enjoyable than one that lasts all day. In reality, it’s frequently the opposite, as visitors feel energized the entire time and don’t get tired.

Final Words

It may not seem like it initially, but cutting your guest list in half or more is one of the most obvious methods to save money on your wedding. You can also use the extra cash to pay for your travel. Make the most out of your destination wedding budget by taking advantage of inviting fewer guests and making reservations at once. In some circumstances, you can even be eligible for free wedding ceremonies or extra nights.