Are you thinking about getting married soon? Congratulations, we hope you have a lovely day! However, here’s something to think about when you’re pricing wedding dresses and venues for your ceremony. According to one news article, the average cost of a wedding in the UK is… wait for it…
£30,355!!!
That’s crazy money, although there are a number of cost-cutting measures you can take to vastly reduce that amount, so don’t call off the wedding just yet. If you don’t have that amount of money to splash out on your big day – not many of us do – consider the following, and save yourself a heap of cash.
- Use a wedding budget planner. Your wedding costs will escalate, so consider everything you need, from those little packets of confetti to the dress you will be wearing on the big day. By budgeting, you will be able to control your spending, knowing where you can and can’t part with your cash. This might mean cutting out on some of those nice-to-have things at the wedding (such as a horse-drawn carriage), but you should have the means to pay for anything that could be considered essential, such as your ring and bridesmaid dresses. Use this budget planner to help you manage your spending.
- Opt for ‘something borrowed.’ If you’re a wedding traditionalist, you will be looking for ‘something borrowed’ anyway on your big day, so to further cut down on your spending, talk to any recently married friends and family, and borrow anything they are willing to lend you. That beautiful tiara your friend wore? Borrow it! Those incredible table decorations your best mate used for the reception? Use them! When it comes to saving money, the more you can get your hands on the better!
- DIY as much as you can. Why buy when you can make something yourself? And if you’re lacking in craft skills, you might still have people around you to create what you need. Invites, wedding bouquets, wall decor, the cake…you don’t have to pay out heaps of cash on any of them if you or anybody you know has the skills to put something wonderful together.
- Save where possible. If you know you can’t afford a dress from that very expensive bridal store on the high street, don’t go in. Go online and look for affordable dresses that aren’t going to cost the earth. If you can’t afford an expensive caterer, ask members of your family to put food together, or speak to local food outlets to see if they can provide something for you. And if you’re looking for that perfect wedding venue but don’t have a lot of money to spare, know that there are some beautiful venues that won’t empty your bank account.
- Make your own entertainment. Sure, you could hire one of the most popular wedding bands if you have the money available. You could also hire a magician, dancer, singer, or a comedian to entertain your guests. Price them up and hire if they suit your budget. But if you’re looking to save money, why not ask people you know to perform for you? Or why not have a talent show? Or even a karaoke? Sure, you might not get A-class entertainment, but it’s cheaper than hiring somebody to perform for you, and it should still elevate the fun factor.
We hope these money-saving tips have been useful to you, but let us know what you think. And if you have any other ideas for cutting costs, be sure to let share your wedding wisdom with us!
Take care and thanks for reading!
