1. Trim the guest list.
Does your uncle’s friend’s daughter really need to be there? Since your cost per
head is by far the largest expense, start here when trying to save some money.
2. Choose a venue that is already gorgeous, without having to pay for
and bring in tons of flowers and décor. A lakeside wedding or a Tudor ballroom don’t
need much fluff, they are already outstanding.
3. Go with a reception site that comes complete with tables, chairs,
staff, linens, etc. You would be surprised at how much it can cost to rent a tent and all
the necessary equipment. Believe me, it adds up. Plus, the less vendors you have to worry
about, the better. If the hotel (or whatever venue you choose) can provide everything you
need, your costs will go down, as well as your stress level.
4. Start the wedding earlier in the day. If you have a 2:00 service,
you could get away with an afternoon tea or hors d’oeuvres instead of a full dinner.
Not only will you save on the cost of food, people will drink less, thus lowering your
liquor costs.
5. Limit the kinds of alcohol offered at the reception. Beer, wine, and
maybe a signature cocktail are a great offering. While an open bar is nice, staffing it
and stocking it really add to your costs.
6. Have your wedding on Saturday instead of Sunday. Vendors usually
charge their highest fees on Sundays, followed by Saturdays and weekdays.
7. Change the toast from a champagne toast to a
whatever-drink-you-are-holding toast. Most of the champagne will end up being tossed, and
oftentimes people would rather drink what they have anyways.
8. Don’t go overboard with desserts. The wedding cake will be
enough, especially after all the drinking and eating your guests will have already been
doing.
9. Choose simple, classy invitations and skip engraving. You can still
have a cleverly designed invitation with spending the extra money to add an invitation
liner, extra postage, etc. |
