Weddings are not cheap! People always think that if they celebrate their big day in their (or their parents) backyard then that will save them a lot of money. This is only partly true because many times, money saved on one expense is spent on another and in other words, not saving you money at all! Another issue is that you don’t want your wedding to look cheap. There’s a limit to what the future bride and groom are willing to spend or un-spend. The following ideas will both save you money and ensure your most important day looks and feel beautiful to you and to your guests!
Save money by hosting your wedding at home
Well if you really want to save money and you live in the country, then why not host your wedding at home? The venue is so much more affordable than a hotel and the food will be much more delicious! Plus, since you’ll be spending so much time in the kitchen, you’ll have plenty of time to catch up with your bridal party and your guests! There’s no need to worry about having to get a license for hosting a wedding at home as long as you follow a few simple rules. Make sure to follow all the correct zoning ordinances, so the police don’t have to be called, get a state-licensed event planner, hire a video team to capture the day and make sure to put together a day itinerary and guest list so everyone knows where they are supposed to be at what time!
Save money on the wedding dress
My personal thoughts about wedding dresses are, you don’t have to buy one unless you really love it and it suits you. Sure you can spend hundreds, thousands, even millions on a wedding dress. But remember, that money is not going toward you or your future husband or wife to begin with, it’s going to the manufacturers, the stylists and the other suppliers to produce the gown. It’s best to spend money on the dresses of your bridesmaids, you’ll have a better and less expensive time at the ceremony. Plan an outdoor wedding A lot of people do not know that they can save a lot of money by planning their wedding outdoors. Although the weather can be very unpredictable, some places are a lot more beautiful in the fall or the winter time than in the summer time.
Save money on the wedding venue
Fitting into an already established wedding venue is quite difficult and expensive. The reason why most couples spend lots of money on a wedding venue is that it provides a great setting for the event. So, if you don’t already have one, think about contacting local church groups or private individuals who have a lovely space that you can rent. When you look into it, you will find that many local churches have space that they don’t use at all, plus, there are even huge farms that can fit around 2 or more wedding parties! Make your wedding reception less expensive If you really want a wedding with a large guest list but aren’t ready to spend a fortune on it, then consider hosting your wedding reception at your house.
Save money on food
We all know that food is a very important part of weddings. You will always want to eat something after all. Many couples head to the grocery store or they order a caterer and send in a list of what they want. While it might save them some money, they often end up resenting their efforts. The same idea can be applied to having food at your backyard wedding. To make it even better, you can go further and save even more money by sharing your grocery list with your guests ahead of time and offering to have them bring their own food. Cheap video equipment Sure, the videographer you want might cost a few hundred dollars but you could definitely save some money by shopping around. A couple of things to look out for are the quality of the footage and the number of shoots required.
Save money on the wedding cake
Did you know that you can order wedding cakes online and that they come out perfect every time? These cakes are often customized for each couple and look so wonderful. Check out the wedding cake menu at Florida Cheesecake. You will be amazed at the wide variety and the prices! The best part is you don’t need to go to a fancy cake shop and sit at their counter to design your cake! All you need to do is tell the lady what you want (name, flavor, style) and she will design it for you! Save on decorations The average wedding usually consists of 30 tables. It’s fun and festive but a lot of money is spent on tables, balloons, table linens, napkins, plates, cups, wedding favors and centerpieces.
Save money on the wedding photographer
As the photographer comes into play later, this doesn’t apply if you are using your wedding photographer as your videographer. However, if you are taking wedding photos at the same time, then you can definitely save money. Wedding photographers have packages which can have costs for several hours’ work. For example, they can be hired for a certain period of time and therefore can be hired at a particular cost. There will be specific fees per hour and per location. Wedding photographers also set their own prices and may charge extra for several services. Usually, this includes getting a photo at a particular location, taking individual shots, and helping with decorations.
Save money on the wedding flowers
You can save some money on the wedding flowers by making your own from flowers that are already in your home or at a grocery store. Although there are many things you can do to cut corners on your flowers (you can make simple bouquets for less than $10) you can still have a beautiful flower table arrangement with a few fresh flowers and greenery you already have. Instead of flowers, use other greenery that you already have like bamboo (or potted plants) and ivy. You can also make arrangements from paper clip flowers and tuck them in a vase in the shape of your favorite flower! Share the costs of catering with your guests Instead of having your guests foot the bill for the catering, you can also choose to have your guests help out in a cost sharing arrangement for the caterer.
Save money on the wedding DJ
In the last 20 years, there have been many local wedding DJ companies. One of the biggest ways to save money is to book a local wedding DJ company. Since most of them are family-run businesses, you are sure to get the attention of someone who actually cares about the music and the music alone. Also, you don’t need a big staff of wedding DJs to play the music you want. Sometimes, you might have a DJ who has just come out of school and has no prior experience playing weddings. They will have to learn as they go and they are willing to put in the effort. Many times, they end up bringing an album and practice time with them. They also are willing to bring backup music they have created so you won’t have to worry about needing to buy an expensive album to go with your wedding songs.
Conclusion
Your backyard wedding is perfect! Yes, it’s the perfect place to celebrate your wedding. The only problem is that your wedding has to look beautiful as well. Don’t let your guests think that your wedding is the stuff of cheap dreams.
