How to Cut Wedding Costs Without Compromising
Are you looking for ways to cut wedding costs? Planning a wedding on a budget is totally doable. You just need to know how to cut wedding costs without compromising your vision. With over five years in the wedding planning industry, we are pros when it comes to cutting wedding costs and are here with five tips to help you get more for less.
How to Cut Wedding Costs: Tip #1 Set a Wedding Budget
You know the saying… “Fail to plan, plan to fail.” Well, in the world of wedding planning, the saying goes something like this: “Fail to budget, fail to cut wedding costs.” Okay, so maybe that isn’t an actual saying, but it is true!
Without a wedding budget, it is all too easy to spend more money than you need or realize. That is why the first step in wedding planning is to determine your budget. This includes deciding who is contributing what amount to what aspect of the wedding––is your family paying for the ceremony and reception, and your partner’s family paying for the rehearsal dinner and wedding party accommodations? First things first, figure it out.
How to Cut Wedding Costs: Tip #2 Have a Micro Wedding or Elopement
The bigger your guest list, the bigger your wedding budget needs to be. Buying dinner for 200 people is more expensive than buying dinner for 75 people. So, when it comes to how to cut costs on your wedding, simply shorten your guest list or have a micro wedding or elopement.
A micro wedding is a perfect way to cut wedding costs while still having a beautiful wedding with your closest friends and family. The smaller guest list means less money spent on food and drinks. Plus, you can choose a free or low-cost wedding venue, such as your parent’s backyard or an Airbnb home that doubles as your sleeping accommodations as well.
An elopement saves you even more money than a micro wedding. However, it is less inclusive when it comes to inviting friends and family. A traditional elopement involves the couple, an officiant, a wedding planner, and a wedding photographer. However, what elopements lack in numbers, they make up for in stunning views and intimate experiences.
At Mountainside Events, we have small wedding packages available for couples dedicated to cutting costs for their wedding by having an intimate celebration with up to 30 guests.
How to Cut Wedding Costs: Tip #3 Consider Your Date, Your Venue, and What Your Guests Eat
Late summer and early fall are the most popular times to get married. So, to cut wedding costs, don’t get married then. Similarly, most weddings happen on the weekends. Because of this, one of the best ways to cut wedding costs is to get married on a weekday. Doing so can save you money on your wedding venue and vendors.
Speaking of which, to save even more money, go with an all-inclusive wedding venue. Renting tables and chairs, hiring caterers and bartenders, and paying for additional rentals add up quickly. However, full-service wedding venues typically have all of this available for a reasonable package price.
And if your wedding venue doesn’t offer catering services, find a caterer that is willing to work within your budget and find creative ways to serve food for less. For example, a plated entrée is one of the most expensive options for your wedding. Instead, ask your caterer about a buffet-style dinner or DIY food stations that are fun and creative––like a pizza bar, charcuterie station, and pie bar. Or, nix the caterer altogether and hire a food truck (or two––one for dinner and one for dessert) to serve your guests their food of choice.
How to Cut Wedding Costs: Tip #4 Determine Your Priorities (and Stick to Them)
When it comes to planning your dream wedding on a budget, it is important to prioritize your wants and needs and those of your partner. (Remember, this is their wedding, too!) Write a list of your must-haves and your hope-to-haves, and stick to it. For example, while a wedding photographer is a must-have, a wedding videographer is a hope-to-have. If there is money left over after your must-haves are met, consider saving the additional money or getting some of your hope-to-haves.
How to Cut Wedding Costs: Tip #5 Hire a Wedding Planner
It is a common misconception that hiring a wedding planner is a hope-to-have rather than a must-have. However, while an initial investment, wedding planners actually help you cut wedding costs. As wedding experts, they know the most important aspects of a wedding, have industry relationships that can save you money, and, as a bonus, will elevate a lot of your wedding planning stress.
We Make Cutting Wedding Costs Painless at Mountainside Events
So, now you know how to cut costs for a wedding. And at Mountainside Events, we truly want you to have the wedding of your dreams. Your wedding day is the most special and important day of your life, so it must be perfect for you. Because of this, we work with each of our couples to provide personalized wedding budgeting and planning advice. We also offer multiple different wedding planning services because we want to help you regardless of your budget. If you are looking for ways to cut wedding costs, let us know! We would be happy to review your budget and help you allocate your funds in the best way possible. Contact us today!