Wedding Money Saving Tips From Real Brides

We all want to have a dream wedding, but the reality is that we need to stick to a budget. Yet you can still have a great wedding if you know when and how to save money.

The national average cost of the wedding is now $35,329 as per the Knot, in 2016, a more than $2k increase over 2015. In this article, we will talk about some great money-saving tricks that we learned from real brides!

Choose a public destination like sea beach

The average cost for the wedding venue in America is $16,000+ So, you can host the ceremony and reception at a non-traditional location that’s inexpensive.

Generally, we think of a wedding as one of a lifetime event so we tend to create lasting memories. We want to add a wow factor and select an expensive wedding venue.

But, if you are struggling to pay off your student loan or paying back your credit card dues, it’s not prudent at all. There are plenty of free venues at scenic locations to choose from.

Talk to your partner, take enough time to choose the venue which is less costly and equally appealing to the guests. if you can bring that $16k to say, $10k then that’s almost a month’s salary. So, spend enough time to pick the best low cast alternate venue.

Marry outside the regular wedding season

The wedding season is April-November. The best thing you can do is to marry outside that time because it will be easier to find a venue and entertainment. In addition, prices will be cheaper too.

It’s important to take advantage of the holidays too because most churches and other locations are already pre-decorated, and that can lower the costs as well.

Alternatively, you can host the ceremony and reception at a non-traditional location that’s inexpensive.

Save money while purchasing jewelry

You can opt for low-cost gold or diamond jewelry if possible. This way you get to spend less, and the difference won’t even get noticed. At some point, the differences between jewelry just come in numbers, and you can’t see that in real life.

Also, shopping online can be a great way to get a better deal as there are lesser overheads and business expenses. Shopping for your engagement ring online typically saves you more than 50% compared to shopping in a brick and mortar store.

So yes, shopping smart is the right thing to do here.

Marry during the day

Night time weddings can be 30% more expensive than day-time weddings.

But the best part is that people will still enjoy the ceremony, and you can put some money back in your pocket too.

If possible, try to have your reception and ceremony at the same venue, just further increase your savings. It’s also easier for your guests too, so everyone wins this way!

Saving on products and services

If you pay for your dress upfront, some companies will give you discounts, so try to keep that in mind. Buying the dress off the rack will help you slash the price even more, rather than customizing it.

In regards to services and products, try to go the DIY route as much as you can. It may not be possible all the time, but it’s certainly something doable especially if you are a creative person.

Also, don’t be afraid to skip on stuff. Just because it looks great, that doesn’t mean it will fit your wedding. Plus, you don’t want to expand too much.

However, try to keep a close eye on what’s important, so you can get the best experience.

We also recommend you to buy stuff in bulk. Yes, bulk purchases are always going to help you save lots of money, which is why you take advantage of things like this as much as you can. You can also try to use the centerpieces as wedding favors too if you are creative.

Aside from that, don’t hesitate to talk with former brides and see if they have any items that you can recycle and use for your own wedding.

Lastly, using discount sites and entering competitions and sweepstakes can be a very good idea as well.

There are plenty of ways you can start saving money while preparing for your wedding. Be creative, go the DIY route as often as possible and keep in mind that there are lots of discounts online.

You just have to find the right items/services that suit your wedding and keep an eye on your budget to get the best outcome!