It’s no secret that putting on a wedding can cost you a pretty penny. Keep it frugal but fabulous with a few budget-savvy trick.
Extend your engagement. More time to plan, more time to save and more time to find the best vendors in your price range.
Repurpose stuff: this is where your grandma’s ring and those paper lanterns from your best friend’s birthday come into play.
Work your contacts. Now is the time to call in favours – get a designer friend to do your invites, ask a handy relative to arrange flowers, and is you know someone who an bake or sew really well, enlist them too.
Shop around. Do your homework and find lesser-known (and less expensive) suppliers. Get at least three or four quotes before you decide on a vendor.
Don’t feel obliged to invite colleagues, long-lost school friends or anyone you haven’t seen in two years. And, when it comes to partners, the rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t have to meet anyone for the first time on your wedding day.
Choose the right venue. If the venue has a lot of personality and built-in atmosphere, you’ll spend a lot less on flowers and décor.
Avoid Saturday soirées – Fridays, Saturdays and weekdays are less expensive in terms of venue hire.
Ask about freebies. Some venues will throw in a cake or a honeymoon suite as part of their wedding package.
Consider an off-peak, wedding-venues usually charge higher rates from November – March. Winter weddings are becoming more and more popular – think roaring fires and family-style dishes of lamb stew.
Throw a pitch-in party for your bridesmaids: they can help assemble the favours or make decorations.
To be continued…