Five Ways to Save Money on a Summer Wedding

When I first planned my wedding I made one crucial mistake -- opting for a beautiful summer wedding. In typical circumstances this would equal budget mayhem, but I quickly learned that having that beautiful summer reception did not necessarily require expensive wedding decor and a billowing, couture dress. By using my computer -- and seeking practical advice from fellow brides -- I learned how to decrease the cost of normally expensive wedding items. Here is how I used the following tips to save money on a summer wedding.

1. Save money by not ordering a dress. This is a tip often overlooked by brides who want a fancy, ballroom gown, despite how much they actually have in the bank. Instead of ordering a gown through a bridal boutique, consider purchasing a sample or discontinued gown from their store. It is often cheaper because there is no labor involved in creating the dress, and as I learned from my bridal consultant at Mestads, many boutiques are eager to get rid of it. I was lucky enough to fit into one of the sample gowns at Mestads, and as a result, received a 40% discount.

2. Save money on a summer wedding by not buying wedding items. Sounds a bit crazy, right? It's very true, in fact -- eliminate the word "wedding" from an item and watch the markup disappear. This was a lesson I quickly learned, both from experience and some not-so-kind words from wedding merchants. One of my friends had a similar experience with a florist. Upon ordering a beautiful calla lily bouquet, the florist asked if it was for a special occassion. When she revealed it was for her own wedding, the florist immediately increased the cost by nearly 30%, citing "wedding-related precautions". If that's not enough to have you tossing your own bouquet, I don't know what will. Simply order similar items that are not intended for weddings -- such as order regular bouquets or dressy shoes -- and watch the savings pile up.

3. Save money by not booking a wedding venue. This was another lesson I learned when I searched for wedding venues, and almost cost me my entire budget. My first venue, a beautiful country retreat in rural Minnesota, cost $3,500 -- and that was just for the rental! The wedding coordinator hadn't even included food, beverages, or the dreaded gratuity fees before I hightailed it out of there. It was a good thing I did too, because I found a more elegant venue for $1,200, which included rental of the entire place and linens. Because it was typically used for school and local events, I received a huge discount -- a discount that will have me laughing all the way to the bank.

4. Save money by not having catering. Wedding caterers are notorious for overcharging on simple dinner items, and paired with fees and gratuity charges, it may get too expensive. Summer weddings are even more expensive, and caterers usually charge more for heading summer receptions. Instead, let smaller restaurants do the catering. I chose a small Korean restaurant in the Twin Cities for my summer reception, and I only needed to pay $1,095 for a full buffet menu for 100 guests. Most caterers would charge $3,000 or more for a minimum buffet.

5. Save money on a summer wedding by going DIY. DIY (do it yourself) is not only necessary if you want to have a unique or eco-friendly wedding -- it also saves a lot of money. Going DIY cuts out the costs of labor, delivery, and other miscellaneous fees you would typically pay to a wedding merchant, and also adds a touch of personalization to your wedding. There are many items you can DIY, and the possibilities are endless. There are some items you should not DIY, however, such as your wedding gown (unless you are a trained seamstress, for example).

Ready to save money on your summer wedding? Despite being the most expensive season in the year, you don't have to pay full cost for an elegant summer celebration. Simply follow these tips and watch the money add up.

Sources:

Nina Callaway, "Top 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding and Have a Cheap Wedding" (About.com)

Unknown author, "How to Save Money on Wedding Catering" (DIYweddingplanner.com)