Today, we’re going to talk about how to save a fortune on your wedding. You see, when I started to research this topic on how to save money on your wedding, I couldn’t believe how much they cost now!
I’m amazed that so many couples can spend thousands (and you’ll see just how much when you read on).
Can you believe that last year alone, the average wedding costs have skyrocketed? In just a year from 2017-2018 wedding costs have increased from around $27,000 to $44,000?
Maybe you already know this if you’re planning your wedding. But how can you save money on your wedding day and still make it really special and memorable?
Let’s take a look at some statistics…
Well, according to the Brides 2018 American Wedding Study, these are the latest figures.
So, I thought I’d look around for some great tips to save money on your wedding so that you can spend more on your honeymoon! Cool, eh?
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10 Super Ways to Save a Fortune on Your Wedding Day
TABLE OF CONTENTS ->>
1. Save a fortune on your wedding location
The cost of the wedding venue along with food and beverages is staggering for most couples. The average cost is almost $4000, with trendy locations often topping $8000 or more.
That’s a lot of dough, so why not look for alternatives?
There are many smaller venues that will be happy to rent out a room to accommodate your guests. A friend of mine’s daughter recently got married and had her reception in a barn.
So, consider approaching sports clubs, community centers and church halls that usually are very reasonably priced compared to hotels and official wedding venues.
You can offer to provide your own wedding decorations and create a beautiful, unforgettable atmosphere on your special day.
2. Save a fortune on your wedding photos/videos
The average cost of hiring a professional photographer or videographer is close to $2000 for each. A great way to save money is to invite your guests to take pictures and videos during your wedding ceremony.
Give them a cool little Kodak disposable camera and they can click away to their heart’s content.
You can save money on your wedding by only hiring a professional for one hour for the more official photos. Your guests can then upload their photos to a secure location online like Dropbox or Google Drive.
3. Save a fortune on your wedding dress
OK, we’d all love to have a wedding dress like celebrities, but they come at a hefty price. Even the most reasonable wedding dress can cost up to $1500!
You’ll find lots of beautiful wedding dress patterns
Based in the UK? Check out wedding dress patterns from SewEssential.
*** QUICK TIP ***
You can SAVE even more money on your wedding dress by buying floor samples.
If you’d rather buy a secondhand wedding dress then don’t forget to check out:
You can save yourself a fortune and feel fantastic on your special day.
4. Book the band early
To find a decent band for your wedding you had better book them in advance. The faster you pay deposits and the faster you lock them in, and the less expensive the price will be.
The thing is, booking agents tend to be cautious about future bookings and like to get their entertainers booked, rather than wait and potentially get very few gigs.
5. Hire students
If you live near a university or college it should be easy to find some students who’ll perform at your wedding reception inexpensively.
They usually charge less and they need the experience, so they’ll be thrilled to play for you.
6. Forget the band, hire a DJ instead
To save money on your wedding why not consider hiring a DJ instead of a band. You’ll find a DJ will charge a lot less because they are only one person. Plus, they’ll likely have a lot of songs to choose from and will help get the party going.
You may also like:
10 Really Essential Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Catering
7. Hire your church choir or band
Many people are members of large churches and this can be a great source for singers, a band, or even a choir to perform at your wedding and reception.
Often they will perform for free and look forward to entertaining your wedding guests. Offer a donation to the church funds and everyone will be happy.
8. Do-It-Yourself
Remember, if you’re really on a tight budget then why not buy, hire or borrow a decent sound system and program trendy songs to play automatically using iTunes or Amazon Music. This is by far the least expensive option (outside of having no entertainment at all).
9. Let your guests entertain YOU
Most of us know someone who knows someone who’s a great singer or can perform some tricks and magic. Ask them to entertain your wedding guests, most will agree. Consider buying or hiring a karaoke machine with popular songs to get everyone singing along.
10. Ask your friends to help
Start asking around your friends and family about potential performers, bands, and other entertainment for your wedding. You may be surprised to find out you have friends of friends who are singers or band members that can perform within your budget.
Music and singing is a great way to give your wedding guests that lovely ‘feel-good factor, right?
