Planning your wedding? Save your sanity (and your money) with these budget friendly tips.
5 Tips for Saving $ While Saying I Do
1. Timing is Everything
Did you know you could save a quarter of your reception hall and catering fees simply by having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday? If you are looking to have your reception at the ballroom of your favorite hotel or special event center, they will cut a big chunk right of the fee off the top-- just for occupying the hall on a day other than Saturday.
Want to knock that reception sticker price down even farther? Plan you special day for the off season (November through January); the father of the bride will thank you.
2. Trade About Is Fair Play
Do you know someone who's gotten married in the past year or two? They might have some left over centerpieces or an aisle runner you can re-purpose and make your own. Put an ad out on Craig's List, troll eBay, and even check out Bravo Bride where you can purchase wedding items from recently married brides at great discounts.
3. Green is Chic
Why spend money on things that you’re going to toss… like the bouquet. Opting for eco-friendly paper flowers is one way to cut your decor budget by more than 75%. Opting to up-cycle wine corks into place card holders can save you around $172.50 vs. buying them. Instead of buying brand new vases, hit your local second hand stores where you can find glass pieces to mix and match-- giving your budget a break and adding to your tables’ visual interest.
4. Budgets Are Meant To Be Broken
If you've hired a wedding planner, or if your planning it yourself, give your budget some room to grow. If you have $10,000 to spend shave $3,000 off the top immediately and make your wedding budget $7,000. Odds are if you plan on spending $10,000 you will spend at least $12,000, which is more than you have. But if you go over your $7,000 budget you'll still have $3,000 to cushion your budget fall. So what if you don't go over budget? Use your extra funds for your honeymoon or tuck it away for a rainy day.
5. DIY and Save
Custom printed invitations can run you hundreds of dollars. Instead opt for print at home designs. Stores like Michael's and Target have a great selection in a variety of color schemes and styles that come with easy to use templates so you can create professional looking invites at home. Do me a favor and don't buy pre-made favors. No wedding guest should have to chip a tooth on a Jordan Almond again.
The key is to think of things you are known for as a couple. Are you coffee addicts? Bulk coffee beans in pretty bags and spoons dipped in chocolate for mixing into coffee inside a to-go coffee cup with your thank you message on the lid will cost you less than a $1 per person. Are you two into hiking? A map of your favorite trail and a satchel of homemade trail mix (great recipes for gourmet trail mixes can be found online) will cost you pennies per guest. Favors can really tell a story about who you are as a couple and add a truly personal touch in a very inexpensive way.
Now Take a Vow of Frugality
Frugal planning shouldn't start and end with your wedding. Now that you've tied the knot for less it's time to merge your finances and see where you can trim some fat. Make a “His & Hers” list of all your bills and expenses to see which you can combine, which you can do away with all together, and which you can find discounts for now that your married. Car insurance companies offer multi-car discounts and cell phone family plans are much more affordable than separate plans, so take advantage of these savings.
More from GalTime:
- Brides are Falling in Love with Secondhand Gowns
- 8 Tips for Writing Wonderful Wedding Thank You's
- 10 Tips for Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Teri Storelli is the founder of DiscountDame.com and has devoted herself to sharing the art of frugal living with her ever expanding audience through her site and seminars as well as creating and distributing her own unique coupon binder and organizational system. A pioneer of the "Smart" Couponing movement, Teri is making extreme savings through coupons easy and accessible to all. Her frugal living and DIY expertise has been featured on GalTime, Yahoo Shine and CNN.com. Visit DiscountDame.com for more information or contact Teri at DiscountDame@gmail.com.
