Wedding Budget Ideas

posted by Catherine Starling on June 26, 2010.

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In this recessional time cutting costs is a necessity for some but that doesn’t mean having to cut on great ideas, good food and not having the day you always imagined.

There will always be an element of compromise and here are some practical tips on how to have the day you have always wanted to fit your budget.

• Consider fewer guests at the ceremony and wedding breakfast and more in the evening.
• Change the date of the wedding to ‘Off Peak Season’ or consider a mid week wedding
• Consider getting married later in the day and providing one meal for one set of guests.
• Use seasonal flowers, for example Tulips in spring, Sweet Pea’s for summer, and the all year round blooms like Roses and Gerbera’s
• Purchase flowers directly from a market or wholesaler
• Reusing flower displays from the ceremony location to the reception
• Using more white flowers than coloured, and adding more foliage
• Use local florists and ones who work from home who will have fewer overheads and should be more economical
• Re-use the bridesmaid’s bouquets as centre pieces
• Consider having silk flowers
• Approach a music school/college, see whether there are any possible students who want to gain more experience
• Utilise talented friends who can play instruments or sing
• Use a sound system and I-pod instead of a DJ
• Consider Buffet, Hog Roast, Self Service, and Hot Canapés instead or a tradional sit down wedding breakfast
• Doubling up the wedding cake and serve as desert
• Have a friend or family member make the cake
• Have cup cakes instead of a cake and use them as favours
• Decorate a plain iced cake yourself
• Pick up the cake instead of paying for delivery
• Have an afternoon tea party theme, cut Sandwiches, fresh cream cakes etc rather than a wedding breakfast
• Have a trip to France and buy your own wine in bulk/wholesale (check though that your venue does not charge a corkage fee)
• Consider sparkling wines, Buzz Fizz etc rather than Champagne
• Have a PayPal account instead of a gift list
• Hand deliver invitations and save on postage
• Have a photographer at the ceremony only and have guests take photos for you at the reception
• Do not have favours, guests will understand