Wedding costs are on the rise, according to a study by The Knot: The average cost in 2016 was $35,329, up from $32,641 in 2015. If you’re planning a wedding and need to stick to a budget, your best bet is to address the categories where you’re likely to spend the most. But before you decide how much to spend on anything, both partners should decide which parts of the wedding are the most important to them. For some couples, it may be the food, ceremony space and location. For others, the music, surrounding scenery and open bar might be the most crucial. Once you figure out your priorities, you can decide how to allocate your budget.
Here are the ways to significantly reduce your spending on the five biggest wedding costs.
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Venue. The cost of a wedding venue can vary greatly, but it has the potential to be one of the biggest expenditures of your wedding. There is typically a site fee that covers the use of the grounds and facilities, plus any included furniture, glass, silverware and linens. The longer you have the site reserved, the more it will cost. Some venues offer exclusive use of the facility, where others have multiple event spaces and might have a few different weddings happening each day. It’s important that you evaluate the priorities of your day — would you rather allocate more of your budget to the venue, so that you feel your event is more private, or is it OK to share the use of the space with others? Read reviews on websites, such as The Knot and WeddingWire, to get an idea of other experiences there.
Another significant way to reduce the cost of a venue is to adjust the timing of your wedding. By hosting an event in the off-season, typically November through April, you can usually secure a lower rate. The exception to this rule is the holiday season, as this timing is often high in demand. Also, Friday and Sunday rates are typically discounted and worth considering. If you are having a destination wedding, this might not be optimal for guests who are traveling and would need to take off several days to attend.
A word of warning: Be wary of the oft-enticing “free” wedding venue, such as a family member’s home or friend’s beautiful barn. It’s great to save money on a site fee, but the amount you spend on rentals could easily add up to more than the average venue cost.
Food. Food and beverage are easily two of the highest costs of a wedding, if not the highest. If your venue does not require you to use certain vendors, you can shop around for the best price. Try searching for “caterers” instead of “wedding caterers” to find some delicious options from reputable companies that don’t advertise in the wedding industry. Wedding menus are becoming more and more eclectic. Buffets are often a good way to save money. Less expensive cuisines, such as barbecue, are getting increasingly popular. Don’t be afraid to try something less traditional — as long as your guests are well-fed, you won’t get many complaints.
For dessert, if you are interested in serving a traditional wedding cake, keep it small. You can have a beautiful, small cake for cutting and photos, and then a sheet cake kept in the kitchen for serving guests. If you’re open to other dessert options, you can save money and delight your guests with cookies, pies or an ice cream sundae bar.
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Beverages. You may feel pressured to offer your guests a full service, open bar all night long at your wedding, but there is more wiggle room with alcohol packages than you realize. Offering just beer and wine can save a lot of money, as liquor is typically the most expensive. If you want a bit of variety, choose one or two “signature cocktails” to add to the menu. For the traditional champagne toast, serve prosecco instead, as many guests won’t know the difference. Or don’t serve it at all — guests can simply use their own beverages to toast the happy couple. Talk to your venue and find out what options are available outside of their listed packages.
Photographer. As Pinterest-perfect weddings get increasingly popular, so has wedding photography. Photographers are now included in the hours before, during and after the wedding. Plus, many couples want an engagement shoot as well. If you’d like to cut down on the cost of a photographer, think about the parts of your wedding that are most important for professional photos. You might be able to get away with only a few hours of their service for ceremony and family shots, and then count on your guests to take candid photos during the reception. If professional engagement photos are important, research photographers that include it in their total package rather than charging an additional amount.
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Flowers and decor. A major consideration when deciding on your flowers and decor is how much time and how many resources you have available. If you are a fan of do-it-yourself projects and have friends and family willing to chip in their time, you can take on a lot of projects yourself. Buying flowers in bulk and making the arrangements yourself can cut down on costs quite a bit. It’s recommended to practice beforehand, however, so you’re not stressed during crunch time. If you’d rather leave it up to the experts, you can order beautiful bouquets and arrangements from artificial flower companies. Before you decide that artificial isn’t up to par, check out reviews and photos online — these days, you can find beautiful options, and your guests will be none the wiser. As a bonus, you can keep the arrangements for years to come as keepsakes.
When ordering decor, remember to check the sales and wait until you find a coupon code. Craft stores and online retailers will offer significant discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and you can find good sales during the off-season. If you plan accordingly and stagger your purchases, you’ll be surprised at just how much you can save.
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How to Save Money on the 5 Biggest Wedding Costs originally appeared on usnews.com
