In the midst of wedding hype, it may seem like a total buzzkill to have the ‘money talk’. The trick is to turn this niggly conversation into a much-needed brainstorming session. Together you can come up with all sorts of ways to save on wedding costs and make sure you don’t blow your wedding budget.
We know the financial logistics aren’t exactly the most exciting part about planning a wedding. But budgets are the reality for most wedding couples.
We have good news!
There are big savings to be made and you don’t need to be cheap to be frugal and we think you will be surprised.
Be upfront with vendors
Wedding vendors are enthusiastic people who have made weddings their bread and butter. However, you need to remember that you are in charge of your budget, no matter how much you might feel like stretching things to accommodate your vendor.
Be clear about your budget from the get go. It should be a take-it-or-leave-it situation for your vendor. As most people do not want to lose the business opportunity, a little negotiation could see both parties get a result you’re happy with. Remember, in this day and age, there are plenty of vendors you can turn to if your first choice is not prepared to budge on price.
Avoid adding elements late in the piece
Too often wedding couples neglect to think of all potential costs. Most of the time, unexpected costs don’t rear their ugly head until close to the actual wedding day.
Couples often feel completely organised until a few weeks out from the wedding. These final few weeks are a crucial time to stay focused and not be drawn in to thinking you need to keep adding to your wedding day.
Because you don’t.
You know what you want and you know your budget.
The closer you get to your big day, the more you’ll need to remember this.
Be practical with groomsmen and bridesmaid gifts
Although we’d like to go all-out with gifts for our bridal party, it isn’t so wise if we’re on a tight budget. Fortunately, we can be savvy with these and save on wedding costs.
The trick is to opt for something practical and, perhaps, with a double purpose. For example, gift a necklace to your bridesmaids that also becomes part of their wedding day attire. Or for groomsmen, gift them a nice tie or pair of cuff links. This way you don’t have to fork out for that something ‘extra’ on top of all the things you’ve already purchased.
Ask for help in lieu of gifts
In your long list of wedding guests, you’re bound to have several who have a useful talent.
Any musicians, photographers, hair dressers or celebrants among them?
If so, kindly ask if they’ll offer up their skills on your wedding day in lieu of buying you a wedding gift. They don’t need to do it completely free of charge, even a discounted rate will go a long way in saving on wedding costs.
Be clever about your flowers
While the cost of in-season flowers may not be a lot, the labour to put arrange them into bouquets and table decorations certainly is.
By simply taking one of these tasks from the florist, you’ll save some serious cash. You’ll have a team of friends or family just itching to help out in some way. So give them your idea for floral arrangements, equip them with the flora they need and let them get cracking.
It’s also a great idea to choose a florist carefully. Go by recommendations and read reviews. You need to shop around before choosing a florist as each has their own idea of what price tag to put on their service.
Keep track of everything
If you’re partial to spreadsheets, tracking your wedding costs will fulfill your love for rows and columns. If you don’t particularly like spreadsheets, now is the time to at least pretend that you do.
Tally up your costs as you go. Highlight areas where you’ve saved. Highlight areas where you’ve overspent. Go through it together and ensure you’re on track to balancing it all in the end.
Find a venue that does it all
There are so many different elements of a wedding that it’s easy to lose track of where you’re at. And the co-ordination of it all is also enough to give you a headache.
Here at Markovina, we take the hard work out of wedding planning. Our packages include a full menu, beverages and a variety of decorations for your reception space. By simply booking with us, you’ll tick a lot off your to-do list.
For a better chance to save on wedding costs, consider booking with us on one of our off peak dates.
Having seen thousands of couples plan weddings, we have exactly the kind of advice you need to stay on track in the process. We want your day to be all you want it to be,
so call us today to find out how we can turn your wedding dreams into a reality
