How to Save Money on Your Wedding
12 Ways to Help You Stick to Your Budget
TPA Photography
You’ve determined your budget, but sticking to it is getting overwhelming. We feel you. Costs of operating a business are on a steady rise, and as a result, so are the costs of goods and services. Wedding-related businesses are no exception, but with a little flexibility and creativity, there are several ways to save big on your day.
1. Choose an affordable wedding venue
Start your wedding venue search with budget and value in mind. Consider the inclusions when determining the overall value. Choosing a wedding venue that includes furniture, coordination, décor, getting ready spaces, ceremony space/furniture, a rain plan, overnight stays, supportive staff, bartenders, etc., will save you money and stress over having to source these things separately. If you are allowed to choose vendors yourself, that gives you more flexibility and control over how you allocate your budget. Find out about the value offered at Cold Spring Farm, here.
2. Consider off-peak days
Most wedding venues and vendors offer considerable savings for weddings booked during off-peak times of the year. Wedding venues will also likely offer additional savings for any day other than Saturday.
3. Refine the guest list
Imagine an intimate wedding day surrounded by your favorite people and spending time with every single one of them. Both the vibes and the wedding day costs are directly affected by the guest count. Costs, including food, beverages, venue space, table décor, furniture rentals, favors, and more, are all directly impacted by the number of guests you have. Consider intentionally choosing a wedding venue with limited space, creating the perfect excuse to limit the guest count. Need help figuring out how to cut down the list? We’ve got some suggestions on how.
4. Go seasonal and local
This tip works for both flowers and food choices! Choosing flowers and foods that are local and in season ensures you have the freshest flowers and ingredients while also helping to save on cost. Plus, eliminating the need to ship flowers and ingredients from all over helps lower your carbon footprint. (Extra flower tip: choose larger blooms like sunflowers or hydrangea for a big impact using fewer stems overall.)
Bridal party bouquets created with local, in-season blooms by our friends at Winnipesaukee Woods Farm.
5. Limit the bar
Consider limiting the bar offerings to just beer and wine, or just 1-2 signature drinks. Not having to stock a full bar can translate to significant savings (and shorter bar lines!)
6. Rent/borrow/DIY décor
A wedding venue that provides décor can be a huge cost saver. Additionally, you may be able to acquire décor from friends, family, or yard sales. If you are crafty, DIY décor is also a great way to save. Access to borrow from our décor collection at Cold Spring Farm is included in your venue fee. Check out the collection here.
Hand-built champagne wall from our included décor collection.
7. Do your research
Besides the obvious sticker prices on everything, there can be a lot of hidden costs that pop up throughout your wedding planning journey. Read every contract and make sure you understand what’s included and what isn’t. Does setup/breakdown cost extra? Does your venue charge for décor rentals, or is it included in the initial fee?
8. Go Digital
Stationery and postage are other costs that will sneak up on you, and prices are currently on the rise. Printing and purchasing postage for save the dates, invitations, RSVP cards, and following up with thank you cards for 100+ guests can get expensive, fast. With the abundance of options for digital invitation services that not only get the job done but also open you up to more efficient communication, this switch is actually becoming the norm. Even if you want to print invitations for aesthetic purposes and flat lays, consider going digital for RSVPs to still take advantage of the cost savings and convenience.
Beautiful brunch spread courtesy of The Brussel Catering.
9. Brunch over dinner
Brunch often costs significantly less than dinner, and who doesn’t love brunch? You can get creative with your menu offerings, and due to the earlier timing, you will most likely see savings at the bar as well. Consider limiting the bar options to a fancy mimosa bar that fits the brunch vibe.
10. Something Borrowed (or at least on sale)
You absolutely do not have to spend thousands to find the dress of your dreams. Look for consignment stores, resale websites, or sample sales at local bridal boutiques to save on the dress. Alternatively, consider reimagining a vintage dress, maybe even one that belonged to someone special and carries sentimental significance for you.
11. Slim down the wedding party
Keep your wedding party limited to just siblings or BFFs. There are several potential costs associated with the wedding party, including bouquets, boutonnieres, gifts, hair and makeup, dresses, suits, rehearsal dinner, transportation, and accommodations. Skip the extra costs and keep it to those you're truly closest with. Picking just your nearest and dearest to stand with you will save you both money and stress.
12. Hire a wedding planner/coordinator
You might be thinking this is an easy vendor to cut, but hear me out… if you are trying to ball out on a budget, a great wedding planner is exactly who you need guiding your planning efforts. They specialize in how to get things done within your budget. Their in-depth knowledge of how things work and connections in the industry will help save you far more than their fee will cost you. Plus, the relief of knowing someone else will be running the day, handling issues, managing vendors, and making decisions is priceless. You should not be working your own wedding day; it’s worth the effort and money spent if you truly get to relax and enjoy it.
There are plenty of great ways to save on planning your wedding. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, we hope that some of these tips will be helpful in your wedding planning journey. We sincerely believe that everyone should have the chance to experience the wedding they dream about, and for that reason, we are always working on ways to include more value in our wedding packages at Cold Spring Farm. We find that small, local businesses tend to pack more value into their packages, and we hope that as you plan your day, you consider shopping small and local to help you bring your vision to life.
Thanks for stopping by our blog today! We use this space to share updates about farm life, wedding planning resources, and support small businesses. We pride ourselves on being a small, family/women owned and operated business, and we truly believe in the power of community support. In an effort to support our peers in the industry, we always share a few other locally owned wedding venues and businesses we appreciate.
