Your wedding should be one of the greatest days of your life. However, it can also be one of the most expensive. In fact, the average wedding costs $30,000. For that much, you could buy a car or open a business. But your wedding doesn’t need to cost that much! From cutting down on the guest list to doing the best research possible, there are tons of way to save money on your wedding.
The Guest List
From movies to celebrity weddings, a massive wedding seems completely normal. However, think about it: do you genuinely need to invite your co-workers or your cousin, twice removed? Probably not!
One of the best ways to save money on your wedding is by limiting the guest list. For most weddings, each guest carries costs of somewhere between $100 – $200, when you add up the food, drink, extra space, and so on. By limiting the guests to those who you dearly love and want to celebrate with, you and your partner can save thousands!
Still, a study from the University of Denver found that those who invited at least 150 guests to their wedding had more successful marriages. So, there’s that to think about, too!
Friends Are Your Friends
This might seem redundant, or like a bad pun, but it’s important: friends are your friends! If one of your guests is a DJ, let them work your wedding. Same goes for caterers, photographers, officiants, makeup people, and any other role you need filled. Of course, if you feel bad about asking, just let them donate their time or talent as a wedding gift.
However, it can also go further than that. Instead of paying a set-up crew, see if some of the guests are willing to help instead of a gift. Same goes for clean up! We’re sure you can come up with more creative ways for your friends and family to help out.
Do-It-Yourself
Of course, you might not have any DJs or caterers attending your wedding. How can you keep down costs then? It’s easy: do as much as you can yourself! For instance, instead of hiring a DJ, why not take a night with your intended and make a killer playlist? Then, borrow some speakers from a friend or rent some for the day (setting them up yourself), and jam out all night long!
Similarly, instead of having the bakery deliver the cake, why not pick it up the day before? The list goes on, but the thing to remember is: always ask, “could I do this myself?”
Used Clothing and Re-Selling
While you can lean on friends, and yourself, for a lot, the fact is you’ll need to buy some things. However, many couples do not take the time to do proper research, paying far more than they should. Just look at wedding dresses! The average price for a new wedding dress is a jaw-dropping $1,357. Meanwhile, the majority of used dresses come in at under $500. That’s more than 50% in savings!
Still, if you do end up buying a new dress, all hope is not lost. PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com lets you find out just how much your used dress is worth and helps you sell it, earning you some cash back.
Gifts That Help (Unlike Toasters)
Many often forget there is a hidden, massive cost attached to most weddings: the honeymoon. Not only do those getting married need to pay for the wedding, but they also need to cover a vacation on top of that. Thankfully, many wedding sites now offer “honeymoon registries.” These replace typical gifts with honeymoon options, including plane tickets, hotels, excursions, and more. Let’s face it, few make toast enough to need a toaster. Now a vacation, on the other hand…
Or, better yet, just ask for cash! Almost all wedding sites now let you register for a “fund” instead of a list, where your guests can donate instead of buying you a gift. This can go towards a honeymoon, gifts you actually need, or paying off the wedding!
Hopefully, these simple tips can help you have the most affordable wedding possible, while still making it an unforgettable day.
Sources: 20SomethingFinance, HuffingtonPost.