However much you want to throw caution to the winds and spend, spend, spend in the run-up to your wedding, just remember the most beautiful weddings really don’t have to be the most expensive ones.
First – and most important – DECIDE HOW MUCH YOU CAN AFFORD TO SPEND AND STICK TO IT! That doesn’t mean you can’t have the fairytale dress you always dreamed of, it just mean you have to spend less on another aspect of the wedding that’s less important to you.
So here are our top tips for ways to make the most of your budget, without compromising on your special day.
GO FOR A MID-WEEK DATE: The most expensive part of the wedding is likely to be the reception and opting for a Monday to Thursday celebration will always attract a huge discount. If that is likely to prove difficult for guests, then Fridays and Sundays can also attract substantial savings. You may well also find that other wedding suppliers, like photographers will offer cheaper rates as well for exactly the same service they offer on Saturdays.
GO OFF-SEASON: The same applies to weddings outside the main May to September wedding season – November to February weddings in particular. And the weather won’t take you by surprise, either!
KEEP YOUR GUEST LIST TIGHT: This is never as easy as it sounds, but if you limit your wedding breakfast invitations and invite the majority of your friends to the evening reception only, you’ll be working along the right lines.
GET HELP FROM FRIENDS: If you have friends with special talents, ask for their help instead of a wedding present. You may know someone with a beautiful car, which would provide perfect transport, or use your own or a family friend’s garden for the reception and lay on a picnic or a hog roast and ice cream. A crafty mate might help you make wedding stationery or a group of your besties could turn out the day before to decorate the village hall.
NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR SUPPLIERS: Even if you can’t get the price down, you may well be able to persuade them to adda a little extra to the package. if you don’t ask, you won’t get, so give it a go.
REMEMBER, LESS IS OFTEN MORE: It’s often more satisfying to treat a few friends lavishly, than a crowd badly. Ask advice from your suppliers, who are experts in wedding budgeting. They will be aware of all the little ways in which you can trim your budget – and you’ll be surprised how much cash that can amount to.
