Weddings are an expensive undertaking, so it makes sense that you want to save money. However, the last thing you want is to come off as cheap or have anything less than your dream wedding. Knowing how much you can afford to spend on your big day, you are ready to start planning your frugal wedding. To make your money stretch further, consider using a personal loan for weddings, which gives you cash upfront to spend on your wedding while you pay it back over time.
Budget Wedding Tips
1. Start planning early
The earlier you start planning, the more likely you will be able to get great deals on vendors and venues. This also lets you spread out how much you are spending over time. If you only have a few hundred dollars to pay per month in your budget, you buy little bits as you go along for a couple of years.
2. Use local vendors and venues
If you have relationships with restaurants, florists, or venues, use these relationships to see if you can get discounted pricing on some of your big-ticket items. Getting married in your hometown allows friends and family to attend easily but also allows you to utilize your network. Ask friends or family if you can have the wedding on their property to save even more money. Forgoing the venue cost can save thousands, if not more.
3. DIY as much as possible
If you are crafty, you can make items for your wedding, like cake, bouquets, floral arrangements, or even decorations. Enlist the help of your friends, wedding party, and family. There are plenty of DIY wedding ideas on the internet that you can use as inspiration.
4. Keep it small
Inviting fewer people allows you to save significant amounts of money on food, drinks, and space. It also creates a more intimate environment where you can talk to your guests and have a great night with the people you care most about.
5. Timing is key
Instead of serving a full-plated dinner, you could get married earlier in the day and have a cocktail hour reception. Focus your spending on delicious appetizers and cocktails rather than catering a multi-course meal for your guests. It is generally cheaper to get married on a weekday than on the weekend, so this can be an option if it works in your schedule. Although it might seem unconventional to have a midday wedding in the middle of the week, it lets you spend money on things that are more important to you.
6. Rent or buy second hand
There is no rule that says you have to buy each of the objects that you use. Instead of purchasing all the cutlery and place settings, you can rent them from a local distributor. You can also buy second-hand things from consignment stores to use as decorations. Shopping through local antique stores is also fun for your bridal party to do together.