There are few things more exciting (and expensive) than planning your own wedding. After all, becoming a bride or groom is something you’ve dreamed of since you were young. While scrolling Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration is great to help you envision how you’d like your special day to look, it can be all-too-easy to get swept away in the excitement of it all without thinking about how your budget can stretch to include the social media-worthy details you’ve been influenced by. To help you stay in budget, you need to pinpoint which aspects are worth splurging on and which you can save on.
Splurge: Venue
For most engaged couples, the venue is one area to splash out. Think of your venue as setting the stage for your big day. Whether you dream of getting married in a rustic barn, a historic country house, grand ballroom, or quirky industrial space, the venue helps set the tone. Although a hefty chunk of your budget will go on your venue, going for a wedding reception venue that offers packages that include food, drink, and staffing, or offers reduced prices at off-peak times or midweek, are ways you can save a little when splurging on the most important element of your wedding day.
Splurge: Food
Food is one of the most talked-about parts of any wedding. If your venue doesn’t include catering and food is important to you as a couple, this is the next place you should invest in. You might want to go all out with luxury canapés followed by a lavish four-course wedding breakfast, and then an indulgent buffet to finish off the evening. If you prefer something more relaxed, then a food truck, build-your-own pizza station, or family-style sharing plates are a lovely idea that will wow your guests.
Splurge: Photography and Videography
Your wedding day will go by in a flash, and all you’ll have to remember it by is photos and videos. That’s why it makes sense to allocate your budget to professional photographers and videographers who come with good reviews and a strong portfolio in the style you want. Bonus points if they’ve shot at your venue before and know all of the best spots to shoot. Yes, they’re expensive, but you might regret going for someone cheaper when you get the pictures and clips back.
Save: Invitations
Yes, stunning wedding invites can give your guests a great first impression and build up excitement for the day, but they often end up in the trash. You can save on the cost of invitations by designing them yourself by personalizing a template on Canva to match your theme. You can also save on post costs by sending your invites digitally and asking your guests to RSVP via a website, text, or email.
Save: Favors
Wedding favors are certainly a nice-to-have, but that doesn’t mean you should blow your budget on them. Quite often, wedding favors get left behind. Skipping them altogether can save you loads, but if you do want to give your guests something, going down the DIY route is an affordable option. Cookies, jam, chutneys, and cupcakes are good choices as people will be less likely to let them go to waste.
Save: Flowers
Flowers are expensive, but there are ways to save here. If your ceremony and reception are in different locations, you can take your flowers with you between the two. Taking a less-is-more approach and going for artificial flowers over fresh is another way to save.
With a little bit of careful thought, there’s no need for your wedding to cost the earth. Think about what is most important to you and what you don’t mind saving on.
