1. Slow down. We know you are filled with excitement the second you have that shiny diamond on your finger. Your heart is racing with the need to plan, plan, plan. You start pinning thousands of glamorous ideas on Pinterest, making purchases on Etsy, even (prematurely) throwing ideas out to every one of your besties about the perfect Bachelorette Weekend and Bridal Shower ideas. Take your time and make your choices carefully. If you make decisions or purchases out of eagerness, you're likely to waste money on items that don't end up belonging on your big day.
2. DIY DETAILS. Give yourself lots of time for planning and projects that you can do your self or with your girlfriends over martini's and a movie. DIY's cost much less money & make you feel more connected to the details of your day. Another cost saving tip? Remember that details are an extra. If you don't have them in the budget don't worry, no one will think something is missing.
3. Utilize The Key Three. This will help you know where you and your fiancé deserve to splurge and where you can save for the honeymoon. Focus on areas that make your heart skip a beat, and you'll feel OK about skimping on the rest.
4. Bring in your own booze & hire a couple bartenders. While this isn't possible for every venue, buying liquor, beer, and wine in bulk and hiring a bartender will dramatically cut your costs since venues make a profit on the alcohol your guests consume. Remember to buy enough! Running out of alcohol is a definite way to upset guests and end the party early into the night. RealSimple has a very helpful Wedding Wine and Liquor Calculator to help you with your shopping list.
5. Ditch the reception hall & party in a grassy field, barnyard, or historic home. Hotels are expensive & don't always provide the ambiance that your reception is calling for. Do some shopping around and find a unique venue that will be memorable for your guests and your partner. A great idea is to get married somewhere you can go back and visit as often as you want, enjoy the afternoon & reminisce about the day you became a family.
6. Hire a Wedding Planner. If you're planning an elaborate wedding weekend, a planner may actually help you save money by negotiating costs and getting in the biz deals for that you wouldn't be qualified for on your own.
7. Be Ruthless with your Guestlist. Newly engaged couples have the constant problem of acquaintances and old friends suddenly "popping up" in their lives in an effort to be invited to their wedding. A good motto to follow for all of your wedding guests: If you won't miss them, don't invite them. After all, typical per person is at least $50. If you don't want to spend $50-$200 on them don't. This night is about you and yours.
8. Friday I'm in Love. Weddings on Friday's or Sunday's are up to 30% less than Saturday Evening weddings. That's not just in the cost of the venue either; entertainment, catering, photography, rental services may all be less expensive on nights that they don't sell out on their own. Embrace the off-season.
9. Look for an All-Inclusive Package. Choosing a venue that comes with loads of extras means significant savings. Many All-Inclusives come with Entertainment, Photography, Wedding Coordinators, Ceremony & Reception, Florals and much more. An All-Inclusive may equate to saving thousands off of your wedding budget.
10. Borrow Something. You all know the saying, "Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue." Something borrowed means something you haven't spent money on.
We hope you find these 10 tips and tricks to save big on your wedding day useful! What would you add to this list?