When researching how to stretch your wedding budget, you’ll come across a lot of tips capable of saving you a few dollars here or there. These are the kinds of tasks which you may as well pay full-price for, as the convenience is often more than worth the expense. You want to focus on money management tips for savvy brides—the kinds that can save you hundreds of dollars in one stretch. Title Tree is here to help.
The following wedding planning tips provide real savings for real brides who want a wedding that far surpasses what they’d normally be able to afford:
Save on your venue.
According to a survey by The Knot, the average cost for a wedding’s venue in 2013 was over $13,000. Savvy brides can find a beautiful, inspiring location for a wedding at a big savings in any number of ways. If you’re among the 90 percent of couples who want to be wed in relatively warm temperatures, getting married in the outdoors can be an affordable option.
If your heart is set, however, on a particular venue, a winter wedding can present mega-savings. Sometimes, you won’t be charged at all if you hold your ceremony in off-hours. The key is to find a venue with all the features you need, and then ask about special savings.
Save on dinners, parties and brunches.
Small celebrations related to a wedding are on the upswing. It’s custom for both bride and groom to have their own party, in addition to bachelor/bachelorette outings and wedding showers. Then there are rehearsal dinners, wedding receptions, after-parties, and morning-after functions, like breakfasts with the parents or a wedding party brunch.
Many weddings now take up a full weekend or more of your time, which is hard on budgeted time as well as money. You can do your guests and your bank account a favor by scaling back a little bit. Serve snacks and refreshments during your rehearsal instead of a formal meal. Leave for your honeymoon during your reception so that after-parties and brunches aren’t even a question. These small steps still allow for spending time with your guests, but seriously cut back on your cost-per-person.
Save on services.
Photography, catering and entertainment take up healthy chunks of a wedding budget. If you look at your alternatives, you may find surprising bargains. Rock bands that pay for $500 at a club might jump at the chance to play your wedding, and they’ll usually agree to your set list. You can burn your own CD for dance music instead of hiring a DJ.
Photographers with senior portrait or pet photography experience may jump at the chance to add wedding work to their portfolios. Similarly, you don’t have to pay top dollar for items like shoes or accentuating jewelry. Rent it instead.
Where not to skimp.
Table settings and flowers are two of the most recommended areas for savings, but they usually don’t look as nice without professionals taking charge. Doing them yourself rarely provides enough savings to make it worth going through the trouble either. Instead, perform a thorough search online for affordable alternatives. The cake is also something you should leave to the pros. This item gets a lot of focus during the reception, and the taste will leave lasting memories, so make sure you invest in the very best.
It can take time and practice to learn how to stretch your wedding budget. If you need a bit of wiggle room, a title pawn can help. Call or visit your nearest Title Tree store to find out whether you qualify.