How To Save Money When Planning Your Wedding

Whether you're opting for a destination wedding or hosting a small wedding party at home, setting a clear budget is a vital part of wedding planning. This includes working out what to prioritise to stay within your overall budget and identifying areas where you might be able to cut costs.

Obviously, it would be great if money were no object for your special day, but realistically, your wedding budget needs to be closely monitored. Because let’s be honest, this will probably be one of the most expensive days of your life, if not the most expensive day! This feature gives you some handy tips on how to save money and still have an amazing wedding - after all, the more money you save on the wedding, the more money you could potentially spend on the honeymoon, right!? So here are some realistic ways to save money without sacrificing style…

The Venue

For the majority of couples, the venue will be the biggest expense in their wedding budget, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid the higher-priced venues. If you're not set on a specific date, booking during the off-peak season or midweek can significantly lower venue and vendor costs. Make sure you ask your venue manager about any hidden fees or late availability deals, or look for a venue that offers packages where you can host both the ceremony and reception in the same place, saving on travel costs and the associated headaches!

Wedding Invitations

Who doesn’t enjoy receiving beautiful hand-crafted wedding invitations through the mailbox? But did you realise that invites can, in fact, cost quite a lot of money?! A great way to save right from the start is by skipping traditional invites in favour of digital wedding invitations. A digital save-the-date postcard or wedding website can look just as stylish and will cost far less. It's quicker too - your guests can RSVP in a few seconds, and you can keep them updated easily. Plus, it reduces waste, and you can easily add details like accommodation, FAQs, and integrated maps.

If you want to delve deeper, check out our write-up on saving money on your wedding invitations.

Your Wedding Outfits

Choosing what you (and your wedding party) will wear for the wedding has to be one of the most fun bits of wedding planning, right? But when you start considering what’s involved, outfits can add up fast. Alongside the wedding dress, you might need outfits for the groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids, as well as accessories like cuff links and jewellery!

Luckily, there are so many options available to you to help you find gorgeous dresses and suits without spending a fortune. You could look to the high street and non-bridal boutiques, or look out for sample sales and outlets that sell used wedding dresses; a second-hand dress is a great way to save money, and you can even resell your outfit afterwards. Or if you’re happy to hire, you can rent stylish suits and designer dresses super easily online!

The Wedding Cake

Love cake but not the price tag? If you’ve always dreamt of cutting into a beautiful tiered wedding cake, you can still do the traditional cake-cutting moment without the expensive tiered display. You could ask a talented friend or family member to bake for you - yes it’s a big responsibility, but you never know, someone might be up for the challenge! Alternatively, a dessert table where guests contribute their favourite sweet course is a fun addition that also saves money.

Food and Drink

Feeding and watering your guests can easily eat up a chunk of your budget, so consider offering a cash bar instead of an open bar. Some venues even let you bring your own alcohol, so you could buy alcohol yourself and provide a signature cocktail during cocktail hour. If catering is your biggest spend, look at buffet-style setups or even food trucks for a more budget-friendly, crowd-pleasing alternative.

Venue Decor

Often, when you book a wedding venue, décor will not be included. Even adding a few flowers can end up being another substantial chunk of money taken from your budget. Get creative by reusing decor, buying secondhand, or sourcing from the surrounding community through places like Facebook Marketplace. Consider DIY floral installations, seasonal flowers, and lots of green foliage for visual impact without the high price tag. Pinterest boards are fantastic for ideas here, whilst different online outlets like Etsy, eBay, Amazon, or Bonanza are great for items that have already been crafted for you!

Entertainment

Live music adds atmosphere, but a live band can be costly, especially if they're a professional wedding band. Consider local musicians or bands who are just starting out - if they're not already in the wedding industry, then they might not have the wedding price tag.

Alternatively, a curated playlist through a speaker system is still memorable and much more affordable - you could even ask guests to submit their song choices when they RSVP!

Wedding Flowers

There are a whole bunch of options available when it comes to saving money but not compromising on style when it comes to flowers on your wedding day. Choosing seasonal florals can really bring the cost down as they are more readily available than the out-of-season flowers you might be swooning over on Pinterest. Another option is to buy buckets of fresh flowers from local flower farms. These will again prioritise seasonality and will provide you with oodles of inspiration for creating your own bouquets and centrepieces. Your bridal party or family could always help prepare arrangements, and a few green-thumbed ones could take the reins!

These are just a few tips that can make a big impact - there are lots more ways to cut costs, from reducing your guest list to ditching the wedding favours. The wedding planning process doesn’t have to mean losing your mind over finances! Stay open-minded, get creative, and lean on your friends and family. And most of all, enjoy the process!