Okay, so it's no secret that weddings are expensive, the real secret however, is that it is possible to save money in some areas. Yep, that's right, there are ways to save money during wedding planning without cutting corners! In this blog we'll breakdown the different areas of wedding planning and whether you should splurge or save in each area - let's dive right in!
1. Photography/Videography
Okay, so we chose this as our starting point because your wedding photographer and/or videographer are the ones who capture your big day, so of course they're super important! You will rely on their skills to help you relive the memories of your special day over and over again, your picture frames will be filled with pictures from this day.
We've heard through the grapevine that some people recommend hiring a student photographer in order to save money. Our advice? Don’t do it! Hire a professional and you’ll get what you pay for.
The verdict: splurge
2. Dessert
Ordering one gorgeous cake isn’t going to tip your budget over the edge. Having an interactive dessert buffet won’t do it either. What will break your budget is going overboard with all of it. If you’re looking to save, your dessert is a great way to do it. You could serve your wedding cake as dessert, or you could buy a small cake to cut and then serve dessert or have a candy buffet instead.
Whatever you choose, get an expert involved! Don’t try to save by ordering a cake from your nearest grocery store and creating your own candy buffet (think of how much you’ll spend on all the sweets, jars and cute signs).
The verdict: save
3. Champagne Toast
Don't get me wrong, we love a glass of bubbly as much as the next person, but champagne is expensive. Save yourself the money (and effort) and offer champagne as a drink choice, but don’t insist on pouring a glass for each guest right before the toasts. Ask guests to toast with whatever they’re already drinking instead of having a separate champagne pour.
The verdict: save
4. Wedding Entertainment
When you imagine your wedding celebration, we have no doubt the first thing that comes to mind is all of your guests dancing the night away! Of course that's what you imagine, it's a party, right? Trust us when we say if dancing and partying is a priority for you, then you'll want to provide entertainment to reflect this.
The verdict: splurge
Pro Tips;
- Choose a less popular day such as a weekday, or Winter wedding day as they are generally more affordable. The majority of venues and suppliers will have off-peak rates!
- Narrow down the guest list because the less guests you have, the fewer people you have to cater for, and ultimately the less you'll have to spend!