When you’re planning a wedding, it’s so easy to get carried away with the little details. No matter how big or small your wedding is, you’re inevitably going to get caught up and want to spend money on something that you probably shouldn’t. That’s not say that you should scale down on the entire event, though! This is your wedding day – you should definitely be treating yourself to anything that means something to you or your spouse. There are some things, though, that aren’t going to make a big difference in your wedding (for you or the guests) so you can skip those altogether.
Designate Portions of Budget
Before you can figure out how and where you need to save money, you’ll need to know what your full budget is. Even if you’re having a very extravagant wedding and think the sky is the limit, it’s good to have a benchmark number so that you can put things into perspective. Once you have a budget, there is a super easy way to stay on track! WeddingWire has a budget tool that comes in so handy. You can enter your budget and WeddingWire will automatically designate a certain percentage to each category (i.e., food and beverage, dress, decor, music, etc.). If you have something in mind that you are absolutely not willing to skimp on, make sure there is enough money allocated to that category. If there isn’t enough allotted, make adjustments to other groups until you’re satisfied. Similarly, if you don’t plan on spending money on something that was accounted for, you can take that extra money and move it to other categories. This will give you a great price range to keep in mind when contacting vendors for quotes. WeddingWire’s budget tool also allows you to keep track of all the payments you’ve made, when the next ones are due, and how much money you have left in your budget!
Extravagant Favors
One of the biggest things that couples blow their budget on is favors for the wedding guests. I totally understand that you want to give something back to everyone that came to spend your Big Day with you but that doesn’t mean you need to spend a large sum of money on favors that the guests will likely never use again. For example, don’t spend $100’s (or even $1000’s) on customized sunglasses with your wedding hashtag on them. Even if it goes with your theme or you’re getting them for a really reasonable price, it’s going to end up being a waste of money. Your guests are not going to trade in their Ray Bans for a 50 cent pair of neon sunglasses, trust me. If you have a large favors budget and this is something you’re absolutely set on, consider high quality candles, like these! Everyone can use a candle in their home and they will think of you every time they see it. If you don’t have a ton to spend on favors but cannot imagine not gifting anything to your guests, think about supplying cute to-go bags for your dessert bar or individually wrapped treats for each guest to bring home. Everyone can get use out of a cookie, am I right?
Cake for Every Mouth
Your wedding cake is something you can definitely save on. Does this mean you should have a plain 1/4 sheet cake for your 150 guests? Heck no! Remember that not every single guest is going to have a slice of cake, though! Every time I go to a wedding, I cannot believe how many slices of cake are left on the table at the end of the night. I always have my slice, just saying! When you’re ordering your cake, only count on about 75% of your guests having a slice of cake. Especially if you plan on having additional dessert as an option (doughnuts, anyone?!), you don’t need to have enough cake for everyone. Another popular option is to have a faux wedding cake on display and sheet cakes in the back for the staff to cut and serve. This makes the construction of the cake much simpler, making the price decrease. Ask your baker if they are open to this option! But make sure that the staff removes the faux cake before serving the sheet cakes. This will be a dead giveaway to your guests!
Florals For Days
Make no mistake about it – florals are a make or break for wedding decor, in my opinion! You definitely want to find a florist that shares your aesthetic and has a portfolio that you swoon over. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune on flowers to make a lasting impact. One of the biggest ways to save on florals is to only invest where your guests will be spending the most time. If you’re having your ceremony in a church, you don’t need to spend a ton here! Since you’re likely going to be there for less than an hour, don’t waste money on adorning the interior with florals. A small arrangement on either side of the alter will suffice! Bonus points if you can multipurpose those arrangements at the reception! This is quite popular, actually! Discuss your budget with your florist and ask if they will move arrangements from your ceremony or cocktail hour to your reception. Also, if your floral budget is really tight, avoid using out of season florals. This seems like a negligent detail but if you choose florals that need to be imported, this is going to make a big difference in your final price. Plus, if the flowers aren’t in season, they likely won’t jive with the feeling of your wedding anyway!
Decor to Die For
Obviously you want the wedding to look gorgeous and the decor is key but you can also waste a ton of money in this category. There are some things that are going to make a huge impact on the overall design of the event – things like upholstered chairs or rustic farm tables will set the tone. Other small details such as flatware, napkins, or table numbers are beautiful to upgrade if you have the money but they are certainly not crucial in the overall design. Trust me, no one is going to leave your wedding wondering why you had plain flatware instead of vintage gold pieces. If you find yourself going way over budget in this category, pull back on the small details first.
Image source: Pinterest
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