How to Save Money While Wedding Planning

Let’s be honest, wedding budgets are of the utmost importance, and with that importance comes stress. No matter how big your wedding budget may be, there is ultimately some “thing” that costs more than you anticipated, more than you think it’s worth, or more than your budget can handle. I’m here to take some weight off your shoulders, help you save money, and breathe a sigh of relief. Let’s dive in!

1) Prioritize Your Budget

This will help every other decision you make when wedding planning. Making a list of the things that matter to you most will be your guiding force. It will be a good reference when you hit a bump in the road and have to make a budget cut somewhere.

Of course one of the things we think you should prioritize is wedding photography and videography. In 10 years, no one is going to remember or care about the wedding favors you chose, but you’ll be able to relive real moments with the aforementioned. If you can’t afford a photographer, that’s okay. We have previously mentioned some wedding apps and tools where all the images from your friends and family can be stored and shared.

2) Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

While handing off tasks to someone you know might be too uncertain, do consider asking friends and family for help if what they do is related to one of your needs. For instance, one of my good friend’s aunts was a florist, and her grandmother made amazing cakes. She had two whole services off her list, and at low to no cost! While you might be a little shy about asking for help, it can really be beneficial! You might be surprised at how many people will feel honored and excited to help out!

3) Look for “All-Inclusive” Venues

While these may be a bit difficult to find, they are worth the extended search! Tim and I learned very quickly that trying to find, coordinate, and then afford all separate vendors was unbelievably stressful. This process can be dealt with easily with a wedding planner, but if you’re on a shoestring budget, and doing it all yourself, it’s overwhelming.

My soon-to-be sister-in-law is getting married out of state, where virtually no one in her or our family lives. But the few hours travel is worth it in the end because not only is she gaga over the venue, but it included SO many items! Tables, chairs, decor including table cloths, a ceremony and reception site, and more. While the price tag may seem large at first glance, you almost always save in the long run.

4) Look for Seasonal Flowers

You might be surprised at how much money this can save. If you’re like me, I looked online for bouquet inspiration, found one I loved, and went to my florist asking her to recreate it. It didn’t even cross my mind to ask her what would be in season for my date, and compare costs. You can also take this one step further and purchase the flowers from a florist, or even a place like Publix, and then make the bouquets yourself. I’ve photographed many brides who did this and they looked awesome!

If real flowers aren’t something you’re interested in, artificial flowers can save you even more! We just want to stress that you should make them ahead of time because the more you DIY, and put off, the more overwhelmed you’ll be as the date approaches. Plus, if you need to rework or change something, it’s best to know way ahead of time.

5) Plan an Out of Season Wedding

Unless you’re a wedding professional, most people don’t even know there is definitely a “wedding season.” April through September is wedding season, with peaks being in June and September. If you don’t have your heart set on a particular month, I highly recommend getting quotes for dates in October through March. Just this one simple change can save you over 60%. And let’s be real, winter weddings are just as gorgeous as spring weddings!

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I hope you found this post helpful, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! Happy planning!

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