First comes love, then comes marriage – and with marriage comes quite the financial commitment. If you’re anything like the majority of our brides, you will do anything and everything to save a few bucks on your wedding. Fortunately for you, there’s a way to achieve the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.
The Invitations
Go paperless! Electronic invitations are a wonderful way to cut costs as well as track RSVPs. Not only will you save money, but you also eliminate the risk of an invitation getting lost in the mail. If you would rather send out a traditional wedding invitation as opposed to sending your invitation electronically, try printing your own. There are plenty of downloadable user-friendly templates making it easier than ever to create your own invitations from the comfort of your home while saving money.
The Dress
Who says you must buy your wedding dress at a bridal shop? Department stores are a budget-friendly place to start your dress shopping. Most every department store has a prom/formal dress section filled with beautiful white dresses. This option can work particularly well for brides having a beach wedding. Why drop a pretty penny on a dress from a bridal shop if you’re going to be standing with your toes in the sand? If this is out of the question for you as a bride, consider borrowing your accessories. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also check “something borrowed” off your list.
The Décor
Consider borrowing centerpieces or other left-over items from one of your recently married friends. If you don’t have any recently married friends, try Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. You are sure to score some great items that you can re-sell and make your money back after your big day. Used not for you? Try looking at craft stores. Hobby Lobby and Michael’s are both reasonably priced and have huge sales often. Creating your own centerpieces will not only save you money, but you will also have the power to ensure your décor will turn out exactly how you envisioned it.
The Catering
When it comes to catering, plated dinners tend to be the most expensive option. Save money by asking each potential caterer about having a buffet or family-style stations. Contact us today for a list of preferred vendors! As for alcohol, start by eliminating children and guests you know will not be interested in drinking alcohol. After you’ve got your headcount, we suggest purchasing your alcohol in bulk at Costco. The best part about buying your alcohol at Costco is their return policy – allowing you to return any unopened bottles for full price!
The Guests
The greater the number of guests, the greater the cost of your wedding. Keep things intimate with a small wedding. Limit the number of plus-ones given out by only inviting couples you socialize with regularly. If a small wedding isn’t something you view as possible for you, trim your guest list by just 10 to 20 people. Although this doesn’t seem like many people, you would be surprised how big of a price difference this can make.
The Venue
When setting your date, save money by contemplating a less popular month, such as January or February. The more demand for a given date, the higher the price you will pay for your venue. Seeing as Saturday is the most expensive day to get married, consider getting married on a Sunday or weeknight. Also, be sure to take advantage of what is included in each venue’s rental fee. Ball Event Center makes this easy by laying all pricing out from the beginning. To see all Ball has to offer you on your big day, click here!
