Before you start making any plans, the first thing couples must do is set a budget. Without a budget, plans can get carried away and your big day can result in years of debt to you or your family. Having a budget doesn’t mean you have to cut certain things out of the wedding, it just means a bit of compromise and some clever thinking. Here are 15 money saving ideas...
1 Trim your Guest List
Each time you add a name to your guest list you increase your wedding costs. Guests don’t just amount to catering costs but also extra centre pieces, tables and rentals. Don’t feel obligated to include your single friend’s date or people you don’t really know. Politely adding, ‘no children please’, to your invitations can also cut down on numbers. Remember it’s your day!
2 Rent a Wedding Dress
The wedding dress is where budgets can fly out the window. Keeping in mind you will only wear it once, think about hiring a wedding dress or even shopping around for a good sale. Purchasing a wedding dress can cost on average NZ$3,000.00. Renting a wedding dress can cost on average NZ$400.00.
3 DIY your Wedding Cake
You would be surprised how much money you can save by doing things yourself. Making your own wedding cake means you not only save money but it will be exactly the way you want it. Another alternative is to buy a standard chocolate cake (or your chosen flavour) from your local cake shop or bakery, then decorate it with fresh flowers and ribbon. No one will know!
4 Catering
Hire a caterer who supplies everything you need – tables, chairs, glassware – and make sure you are clear with your caterer that you are on a strict budget so you only get the things you need. Take a look at local restaurants and see whether booking a restaurant will be a cheaper option, or ask your friends to cater for you.
5 Flowers
Flower bouquets can be very expensive. Pick flowers which are in season and try and avoid having your wedding day close to a flower giving holiday such as Valentines Day or Mothers Day. If you would like a lot of flowers at your ceremony look to having your wedding in a rose garden or venue already decorated with flowers to save you that little bit extra.
6 Invitations
Save postage and paper by sending your invitations out by e-mail! You can personalise or animate them the way you want and it makes RSVP for your guest’s simple and straight forward.
7 Hair and Makeup
If you can’t DIY your makeup, the next best money saving alternative is to get one person to do both!
8 The Venue
Possibly one of the most expensive items in a wedding budget is the wedding venue. Take a look around your local area, your local church, backyard, beach or vineyard can work very well. Try and have a venue which is close to, or features, a reception area, this will save you having to pay for somewhere else and will cut down extra transport.
9 The Photographer
An average cost for a photographer would be from $1000.00. However that’s just for their time, many don’t include prints for that price. If you want a professional photographer make sure they are willing to give you the digital files, then you can take advantage of discounts at the shops and have them printed yourself. Having a photographer stay for the reception isn’t really worth while, possibly for the first dance and the cutting of the cake but then they can go. An alternative is getting family and friends to take pictures. This saves you money and you will have a selection of photos to choose from, free.
10 Transport
If you have always wanted to be driven to your wedding in a limo or Roles Royce, then before the ceremony, have the car pick up the bride and her bridesmaids. The groom, groomsmen and parents can take their own vehicles to the church. After the ceremony, the bride and groom can take the car and the bridesmaids can hop in the groomsmen’s cars. If you don’t mind too much about the car, try prettying up your (or a relative’s) car in ribbon or ‘Just married’ writing and getting a friend to drive you.
11 Music
Ceremony: An organist is cheaper than a string duo, which is cheaper than a trio
Reception: A DJ is cheaper than a band. If your child, niece or nephew can play an instrument use them! They will look cute and give your wedding a warm family feel to it, not to mention save you some money.
12 Jewellery
Beg and borrow from your friends. A friend once told me that her aunty was lent a diamond necklace for her wedding! If only we were all that lucky!
13 Have a girls night in
Invite your bridesmaids and maid of honour over for a girl’s night. You can do your manicures, pedicures and facials before your wedding with your friends and family, it will cost you a fraction of what a salon would charge.
14 Choose a Wedding Day wisely
Go for a weekday. These tend to be the cheapest when it comes to venues. If you give your guests enough notice they can get time off work or school. Saturday is the most expensive day you can have a wedding. Think about the season too, getting married in Spring is almost double the cost of getting married in Autumn!
15 Rings
Do something unique and significant to you. Getting plain wedding bands with a small engraving is cheaper than a band of diamonds.
