Here are 10 simple tips that could save you thousands off your wedding.
1.
The obvious way to save money is to plan your own wedding, which is why you are reading this article.
However, most couples start with little or no knowledge of how to plan a wedding, therefore, if you are planning your own wedding you will definitely need to get hold of a wedding planning guide.
There are a lot of guides on the market, you don't need anything professional or that costs a lot of money.
You do need to make sure to choose a good planning guide that will take you step by step through everything you need to know to plan a wedding the right way.
2.
Don't buy an expensive designer wedding gown.
Discount bridal stores often have similar gowns at a fraction of the price.
Consider choosing a non-traditional formal dress for your wedding gown.
A lot of large department stores and online stores like Amazon have a large selection of gowns at very reasonable prices.
You can also save hundreds or thousands of dollars by renting all your wedding attire.
This may only suit those brides who do not hold any sentimental attachment to their wedding dress.
3.
Put some time and effort into researching all the items you want to have in your wedding before you start spending any money or making bookings.
Get costs for each item and then sit down and add up the costs.
Work out how much you want to spend on your wedding and set the price.
If you want to save a lot of money check out online sites like EBay and Amazon to name just a couple.
You can often find the same thing at a hugely discounted price.
4.
If you know family or friends that have a particular hobby or interest and are willing to help out with things like photography, wedding cake, wedding outfits, making decorations, making jewellery, flower arranging.
You could easily save a lot of money doing as much of the preparation work yourself.
5.
Don't hesitate to negotiate with suppliers to get the best deals for your wedding.
Most vendors are open to negotiating their prices and terms of service.
6.
Skipping any unnecessary items such as save the date cards, wedding favors, hiring wedding cars can add up to a lot of savings.
7.
One of the biggest single savings you can make is cutting down your guest list.
Consider having a small intimate wedding with family and friends that you are close to.
8.
Choose flowers that are in season for the time of year your wedding is being held.
Pick a few special flowers and then fill with less expensive flowers and lots of greenery.
9.
Check to see if a self-serve buffet menu is cheaper than a traditional 3 course menu served at the table.
10.
Don't have an open bar tab.
Set a tab limit and then if the limit is reached, guests will have to pay for their own alcoholic drinks.
If this sounds a little mean then just look at it as your duty of care to your guests, and reducing the risk of anyone driving home while under the influence.