How Can I Save the Most on My Wedding in 2022?
Thanks to the pandemic, you may have been waiting quite a while for your big day to finally arrive. But now the cost of living crisis has hit, your budget might not stretch to what you’d originally planned. If you are getting married in the near future and want to find some creative wedding ideas on a budget, then we have plenty of suggestions right here including how to save money on a wedding cake, how to save on a wedding dress and other small changes you can accommodate to make that budget extend a bit further. And none of these money saving tips will compromise your big day in the slightest!
How to Save Money on a Wedding Venue
First off, here are a few tips for those of you who are still in the early planning stages. When it comes to booking wedding venues, you probably can’t escape the fact that any package with the word ‘wedding’ in it will drive the price up dramatically. So you need to think a bit more creatively about what constitutes a wedding venue. With many people now moving away from spending a fortune on their wedding, a popular option is now having a small ceremony at your local registry office and then arrange a get-together and meal at your favourite local pub or restaurant. And this way, you know the food will definitely be right up your street!
Or why not make use of your local community centre? You could get so much more freedom and choice over what food, drink and entertainment you can arrange. When all these things come included with a hotel wedding package then the cost can be astronomical, but breaking them all down and sourcing them yourself can end up saving you a huge amount of money and get you a wedding day that suits you to a tee.
Another way to save a potentially huge amount on your wedding venue is to be a bit more flexible with your dates. Saturday in spring or summer is seen as the more traditional pick, but in these high cost of living times, we’re sure your guests will understand if you want to mix things up a bit. Marrying off-peak in the winter could be an option, or mid-week weddings are becoming more and more popular for those looking to save.
How to Save Money on a Wedding Cake
When researching simple wedding ideas on a budget, this is one of the most obvious changes you can make. Do you have a friend or family member who is an ace baker and cake decorator? If so, then there’s no harm in seeing if they can help out. Another option is to think outside the box a bit. Instead of a fancy cake with several tiers, many brides and grooms now opt for an equally eye-catching tower of brownies or cupcakes. And let’s face it, these are easier to scoff too.
Wedding Dress Hacks
Traditionally, this has usually been a big wedding expense. But more modern brides have moved with the times and source alternatives to the big flowing dress that you’ll only get one wear out of. If you’re not keen on the idea of wearing a traditional wedding dress, then don’t feel like you have to - you can find gorgeous designer dresses at a much lower price from sites like Secret Sales voucher codes, and you may feel a lot more comfortable and stylish in them. And looking at sale prices applies to wedding dress shopping too, because there’s no reason why you have to spend on made-to-measure when there are so many discounted off-the-rack options.
Whether you’re after designer style or the traditional wedding dress look, don’t forget about secondhand. You can browse charity shops, use eBay voucher codes, look at vintage shops online, or perhaps just check out your local secondhand social media noticeboards. Remember, some of these wedding dresses will only have been worn once, or perhaps not all, so they should be in excellent condition. Or did you have a particularly stylish mother? Or maybe those fashions at the time have now come full circle? If so, then wouldn’t it be lovely to keep the family tradition and wear her wedding dress for your ceremony.
How Do You Narrow a Wedding Guest List?
Having a smaller, more intimate wedding is an obvious way to save, but a lot of people worry about how to cut down that list and how to avoid offending anyone. If you don’t want to go as far as keeping it to just immediate family and very close friends, then start by sorting potential guests into different categories (say, university friends, co-workers, close friends). You can then choose to omit groups rather than one or two people and this could cut down on the awkwardness.
There can be so much pressure on couples to do weddings the ‘correct’ way, but remember, this is your day, not anyone else’s. Finding non-traditional wedding ideas to save money does not mean you have to compromise on your special day. In fact, if you plan without those constraints of what others think you should do and spend, then you might end up having more fun and make even more happy memories.
By Anna Scott, 20th May 2022