Four Ways to Reduce the Cost of a Wedding

Those of you who are pinching pennies and watching your expenses at all times realize that there are endless opportunities to try to reduce expenses. A wedding should be one of the most amazing days of your life, but making the wedding very costly can end up making it much more stressful. There are several ways you can go about reducing the price of the wedding, while still making it a day that everyone will treasure. Let's take a closer look at five ways to make that wedding more affordable.

Four Ways to Reduce the Price of a Wedding

1. Limit the Guest List- Sure you want there to be plenty of people there to experience your big day, but keep it reasonable! The reception after the wedding is where caterers and banquet halls general charge per person. You'll find that the reception is almost always the most expensive part of your wedding day, so make it a point to watch your costs here. A nice rule of thumb is to plan on spending one minute of your time at the reception with each of the guests. If you have 150 guests, that is already two and a half hours. Do you really have the time or money to invite people to your reception who you don't know well?

2. Pick an Off Season Wedding Date- There is no doubt that May, June, and July are the peak wedding months each year. Venues will be booked quicker during this time period, and they will be booked at a higher price. You should all know by now that higher demand equals higher prices! Consider a wedding in November or even April and you'll find that the costs are much more reasonable. Additionally, Saturday's are always the most popular, so if you pick a Friday night or Sunday, you'll likely save money.

3. Reduce Flower Costs- A quick trip to the local florist and you'll see that flower prices have gone through the roof over the last few years. If you are sending a blank check to a florist and asking them to provide the floral decorations for the wedding, you are in for a huge bill. Silk flowers are a great alternative that can be bought for a substantial discount. Additionally, it is possible to grow your own flowers if you want real flowers without the large expense.

4. Make the Decorations Unique- Almost everyone appreciates a unique and individual touch in the theme of a wedding. Consider making your own centerpiece for the tables at the reception with pictures of the bride and groom or even candles. Wedding favors can be extremely costly, but if you have friends who are willing to help, the favors can be prepared by hand and they will be more memorable!

Make sure your wedding day is unique and special, but don't just assume that a wedding must put you into severe debt!