So, you’re a bride with a limited budget. Most of us are! Does this mean you have to give up on things you really want for your wedding? Absolutely not. It’s not about cutting out – it’s about making clever decisions. Here are 10 wedding budget tricks that really save you money. Some you may already know… but some you’ll probably find surprising. Take a look.
Mind the day and date
If you’re still in the early stages and haven’t booked a venue yet, here’s a tip. The wedding season runs from May to September, with peak prices in the middle of summer and on weekends. Consider booking a date just at the start or at the end of the wedding season. That could be end of April/early May, and midway to end of September. You’ll still get the lovely seasonal weather with all the trimmings, but at a lower price. It’s one of the most effective wedding budget tricks ever.
As for the day, if you’re willing to consider a mid-week wedding, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Not only are the prices lower and venue availabilty excellent in general, you’ll be able to book that supplier you really want much more easily. As long as you give your guests enough notice (hello, save the date fun!), a midweek wedding will be no problem at all.
Stay local and seasonal
Hiring your local suppliers is good for basically everyone, as well as the environment and your budget. Get even more savings by asking about seasonal specialties – this includes food and flowers. Think about it. You can have a blueberry pie in December, but it will cost you extra. Tulips in October? Possible, but at what price? Your supplier will know best – so ask them for suggestions first, then make the decisions.
Photo from Miranda & Matthew’s real wedding by Daniel, DKPHOTO
Slay your postage costs
If you’re looking to save money on stamps, how about adding a phone number, email address, and your wedding website address to the RSVP card instead? Let people reply by contacting you directly, rather than sending back a card through the post. Designate one person to receive all the phone calls and keep a tally of who RSVPd already, and who hasn’t.
One supplier, two services
Did you know many suppliers provide more than one service for weddings? Example: a photographer may also does photo booths. A florist – sweet tables. When booking two services together, you could save a bundle, so remember to ask about this when shopping around.
Photo from Alexandra & Neil’s real wedding by Lyndyloo in Spain
Minimoon plus honeymoon
We’re not saying you should skip the honeymoon altogether – but how about booking it for when the price is right? Consider going on a minimoon right after the wedding, so you get the time alone plus the well-deserved break. Think of the best long weekend you could possibly have (locally, or a short flight away) and do that. Then take a breather, let your finances recover, and book that honeymoon.
Get clever about the cake
Do you like the look of many smaller cakes, rather than one tall cake? We’ve seen this trend gaining momentum over the last few years, especially for rustic weddings where simply decorated multiple cakes add that home-made feel. Plus, it’s a great way to personalise your wedding. If the idea appeals to you, ask your cake-maker to quote for both types. If there’s a flavour you particularly love, remember to ask about it.
Or how about… a little twist on the usual? Timeless Cakes 4 U offers a brilliant cake hire option. Choose from a range of their gorgeous pre-decorated creations. They look fantastic in photographs, and your guests will be none the wiser. Your favourite cake will be made separately and served to the guests – so you literally get to have a beautiful cake, and eat it too, at a fraction of the cost. As far as wedding budget tricks go, this is a winner in price and cleverness stakes.
Photo courtesy of mccardellphotography.com
Smart credit card
Many couples will have to put one or two wedding expenses on a credit card. Consider getting a new credit card with an introductory 0% on purchases – and as long as you pay off the balance by the cut-off date, there will be no interest, possibly saving you hundreds of euros. It’s worth spending a little time on research to find the card with the longest interest-free period. A second option is a new balance transfer credit card – some give you as long as a year or more to pay back the balance, at absolutely no interest. Just make sure your other half agrees with this idea before you proceed.
The wonder of printables
There are so many out there, it’ll make your head spin! They bring serious savings on decor and colour to the party – cheap and cheerful, as they say! Here’s a fun selection of our favourites – or if you’ve got a way with graphic design, have a go at making a few yourself.
Photo from 16 Fab Free Wedding Printables
Budgeting for bridesmaids
Before you go shopping, consider dressing your girls in separates, instead of buying gowns for everyone. This trend comes back again and again every year, because it’s gorgeous AND smart for the pocket. To pull a unified look together, all you need is one common item – like the same skirt for everyone and you can find a simple top to keep costs down.
For those not too keen on the separates look for bridesmaids, how about shopping for evening dresses when the Christmas and post-Christmas sales hit the stores? Once the party season is over, everyone will be discounting. Look for bridesmaid dresses inspiration online, then find similar items in the sales.
And finally – the more bridesmaids (and groomsmen) you have, the more the costs multiply – so can you keep your wedding party small and sweet? By the way, it’s absolutely ok to have a different number of guys and gals – don’t add extra people (and €€€ to the budget) just to keep numbers even. Photos looking ‘imbalanced’ isn’t something you should worry about – so don’t spend extra just for that reason.
Photo from Juliana & Adam’s real wedding by Paul Duane Photography
Returns and refunds
Nowadays, with much wedding shopping done online, the one thing you simply MUST check is this: does the seller accept returns? If yes, what is the cost? Many sellers make the buyer pay return postage. It’s fine if it’s a packet of rhinestones… but what if it’s something large or heavy? You could be paying a fortune to send it back. Check the prices on An Post – a parcel of up to 1 kilo will cost nearly €30 to return to any country outside Ireland or the UK. That includes Europe and China! Now imagine having to return multiple items – that’ll blow a huge hole in your budget. Don’t buy anything online until you check the return policy very carefully.
Main photo from Fionnuala and Ciarán’s real wedding by Kathy Silke Photography
