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COST CUTTING for the Wedding is really pretty straight forward and just a lot of common sense.
The first thing you can save money on is actually months prior to your wedding - it's your stationery! By ordering traditional invitations you can actually succeed in doing several things; keep in mind that simple, solid white (or ecru) invitation papers are not only the least expensive but are also the most formal; also, black print is usually included in the regular price and is more formal than colors; plus, be sure to use the print styles which are included in the price as more elaborate print styles cost more money and are often harder for your guests to read.
If you are paying for your facility "By The Hour" make a list for your wedding day and have a plan: BE ORGANIZED, you may even want to hire a wedding coordinator. While most wedding coordinators charge anywhere from $300 to $1500 for the whole day, this individual could save you HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AN HOUR being charged by the facility you choose. These coordinators are experienced at getting the job done and getting it done fast.
There are so many mundane items that are so easy to overlook when you start planning your budget. As an example, be sure to find a facility which supplies your chairs, this could save a lot in rental expenses. Also be sure to find a facility that is already elegant and beautiful. There will be less decorating that will need to be done and this will also save you money and time.
BORROW or rent those items you will never use again such as guest book tables, table skirts, decorations, pens, podiums, pew bows and hooks, green plants, floral arrangements, etc. When renting, search around before selecting a candelabra, archways, pedestals, etc. Not only find the best price but also the best quality. A candelabra is worthless if it is tarnished and chipped. Also, you may want to locate a decorator that can do all of your rentals and flowers for you. The cost of a decorator can be offset by the savings you may receive in rental and flower prices plus you should have only one delivery fee.
NIX MOST PARTY FAVORS. I am coordinating at weddings nearly every weekend and know, first hand, that most programs, scrolls, and party favors are left in the seats when the guests depart. Order bookmarks! They can cost about 75 cents each and can have a nice poem with your names and date printed on them (and for some reason, no one ever throws bookmarks away.) Most people put their bookmarks in their favorite book or bible.
Now, on to the reception! Probably the largest cost in your reception is the catering. Investigate your facility and find one that supplies your tables and chairs and that will give you a "per person" catering price. Find out at what number of guests you get a price break.
Remember that you can have double the amount of fruit, cheese, vegetables and pasta for the price of meats.
DON'T FORGET TO USE YOUR GUEST LIST! Book the caterer for only 65% to 75% of the number of guests you have invited. Make sure your facility will hold 80% of the number you have invited. Once you have received all of your RSVP's your caterer will let you add to the number of guests for food but they generally can't plan for FEWER guests...and...why should you pay for more guests than are there? RSVP's are an ABSOLUTE MUST. They cost less than $1.50 each and can save you $20.00 to $100.00 per person on the food and beverage depending on your menu selection.
Next, GO TO CAKE TASTINGS - you may be able to find a cake for $1.50 to $2.25 per person that looks and tastes just as good as a $2.50 to $3.50 per person cake...But Be Careful...you usually get what you pay for so be sure to GET REFERENCES and make sure the bakery is licensed! Statistics show that what people remember most about a wedding are what the the bride looked like and what the cake tasted like. Get the best you can for your dollar!
If you are serving alcohol, find a facility that will let you bring your own in. You can save hundreds to thousands of dollars by doing this. Remember you can not charge your guests if you bring in your own alcohol - check your local laws and regulations before you BYOB.
By having your fruit, cheese and vegetables available as soon as your guests arrive cuts down on liquor consumption drastically.
Limit your reception to 3 to 4 hours. This is plenty of time to do all the things you need to do.
Consider hiring a wedding consultant who may be able to negotiate prices for you and who may get discounts which they can pass on to you.
Get married in the "off season". Several of your service providers will give discounts to you in their off season, especially caterers and hotels. The same discount concepts goes for weekdays, Friday nights, Saturday mornings, or afternoons.
You can plan a brunch instead of lunch or dinner. The brunch is becoming more popular because the early morning sun is very brilliant, a brunch is a very formal affair AND YOU WILL FEEL MUCH MORE RELAXED.
Have your wedding and reception in the same location. You will save hundreds on the second lease, not to mention savings on rental and savings on transportation between locations. You can also have decorations taken from your ceremony to the reception to save on cost of decorations.
If you follow all of these cost cutting tips you could save several thousands of dollars!
