Handy tips and advice to cut down on costs when planning your big day…from a wedding videographer!
The wedding budget can be the most stressful thing when it comes to wedding planning. But what should be a romantic, and fun time, need not to be ruined by budgets with our handy tips and advice on ways to save. After being in the wedding industry since 2009, we have seen a wide range of celebrations and weddings, so we felt it was only right to give our future couples some money-saving wedding budget tips!
Prioritise your ‘couple style’
What’s most important to you both as a couple? What style and theme did you have in mind for your big day? Are you foodies, romantics, party-goers or more about the style? Once you’ve pinpointed these things then you can work out what costs you’re happy to cut back on.
Ways to save on your wedding stationary
- Search on Pinterest and make your own DIY invitations – this can be much cheaper and reflect your wedding theme better
- Buy the template on Etsy or Canva and either print yourself or get them printed at a local printers
- E-mail the invitations and ask people to RSVP by email or text
Ways to save on your wedding venue
Choose a venue that reflects your style as a couple and the vibe you’re looking for on the day. Things to consider:
- Some venues offer midweek or out of season discounts
- The less you have to decorate a venue, the more money you can save
- Choose a smaller venue, this way its easy to cut down on the guest list
Ways to save on wedding styling
- Find a dress from an online or high street shop such as ASOS and Coast
- Hire a wedding dress or search in charity bridal shops – even better if you’re going for a vintage theme
- Accessorise with family heirlooms – to give that individual personalised feel
- Hire suits rather than buy
- Ask your bridesmaids to choose their own dresses to fit their style and shape but all within the same colour range – this can save alot of money and look great next to each other in photos!
Ways to save on decorations
If you’re a creative person then this is right up your street. But if you’re not that way inclined just keep it simple.
- Be crafty about your DIY projects, as costs can spiral easily. Shop around on Ebay and use any recycled bits.
- Ask friends and family to collect jam jars or bunting for you (if thats your style)
- Visit car boot sales and charity shops
- Hire or borrow from friends or family
- Choose a flower from your florist that’s in season. A beautiful budget-friendly flower is Gypsophilia.
Ways to save on wedding catering
- Choose seasonal food
- Consider street food vans, a BBQ, buffet style or an afternoon-tea style option which doesn’t involve a formal sit-down.
- If you’re able to provide your own drinks, consider Cava or Cremant instead of Prosecco or Champagne. Much cheaper and can still be as tasty!
- Have a single tiered wedding cake and ask a keen baker family member or friend to do this as your wedding gift
- Consider a doughnut cake on a tiered stand, or another sweet treat that can be bought from a shop.
Ways to save on entertainment
- We always recommend a good band or DJ as this can impact on the whole evening but if you’re going for a more relaxed get-together you can save cash by putting together your own playlist, or nominate a friend to do this for you!
- DIY on the photobooth. Find a glitzy or quirky backdrop and pick up some masks and signs, set up a phone stand and ask your gets to snap away not forgetting to hashtag the photos. Tip: Polaroids can look great but the film costs can mount up!
Other ways to save
- Choose a flower from your florist that’s in season. A beautiful budget-friendly flower is Gypsophilia.
- Ask a family member or friend with a fancy car to help you out with transport on the day – unless having this isn’t important to you.
- Ask people for a contribution to your honeymoon rather than a wedding gift
- Honeymoon in the UK or have a mini-moon. Or go travel somewhere that isn’t as popular with tourists such as Montenegro.
‘Do we REALLY need….?’
- a photobooth?
- favours?
- a sweet table?
- as many flowers?
- chocolate fountain/ dessert table/ a big wedding cake?
What NOT to compromise on…
The best advice we have ever heard is to invest in the things that last more than the one day. I think this is totally true and these are a few trades that should never be compromised on or you could regret it later on…
- Wedding Videography – statistics show that it’s couples BIGGEST regret after the wedding not having a professional wedding film. Make sure that this is top of your list!
- Photographer – I often hear from couples that they have a keen friend who loves taking photos, but its often underestimated the skills and requirements that a professional photographer has. I would advise any couple to ‘be kind’ to their friend and thank them for their offer but that you’d prefer that they enjoyed the day and then go and hire a pro!
- Wedding rings – you’ll have these for the rest of your lives so make sure they’ll stand the test of time
For more wedding tips check out our blog.
