Planning a wedding is definitely up there when it comes to one of life’s most stressful life events. It’s also up there when it comes to budget, with the average UK wedding costing around £32,273. With purse strings being tightened in most households these days it’s no wonder that most couples lean towards a frugal wedding. However, it can be very easy to get swept up in all the glamour and excitement, and before you know it that low expense wedding has turned into the lavish event of the century for all involved. So how can you save money when you’re getting married on a budget? Read on for my top 5 money-saving wedding tips!
Set a budget and stick to it!
Sitting down with your significant other to work out your spending should be step one. Work out exactly what it is that you both can afford. If you want to get married sooner rather than later, this will affect your wedding expenses massively, whereas if you’re aiming for a date a year or more ahead, you’ve plenty of time to save up a little extra. Don’t instantly assume your family will want to get involved with tradition either - plan your wedding expenses based on what you and your partner can afford, and if your relatives offer to contribute, that’s just gravy! If you’re not sure where to start, there’s plenty of online budget planning tools out there to help you out too. Once you’ve settled on those all-important numbers, stick to it! My top tip? Don’t torture yourself! For example, if you know a wedding dress you like the look of is out of your price range, don’t try it on. Trust me, I'm talking from experience!
DIY the decor (or whatever else you fancy!)
<>Making your own decorations, favors and just about any other tiny detail you can think of definitely tops the list of budget wedding ideas! Rather than buying fancy favors or over the top decorations, consider making them yourself and you’ll be surprised at what you can save. In addition to that, buy your supplies online! Shopping for all your crafting supplies means that you can take advantage of online voucher codes which will shave even more off the cost. If you’re stuck for inspiration, get browsing the hundreds and thousands of wedding inspiration boards on Pinterest to get those ideas flowing. Not feeling particularly creative? Fear not, there’s plenty of websites out there where you can buy ready-made decorations and still take advantage of an online discount.
Don’t forget the high street!
So many people write high street retailers off when it comes to shopping for wedding supplies within a budget. But when it comes to a frugal wedding, it’s a must! In particular, many retailers have now started their own ranges of wedding wear. Stores such as Coast, Phase Eight, and Monsoon have really upped their game when it comes to bridal wear - you can potentially pick up your wedding dress, your bridesmaid dresses, and the mother of the bride’s outfit all in the same store! The same goes for the groom too - you can find a fantastic range of suits in stores such as Moss Bros, Burton, and Next. Quite often you may even be able to get yourself a multi-buy deal, meaning you can kit out your best man and your ushers too.
It’s who you know…
Do you have any friends or relatives with a talent (or maybe even a job) that might come in handy? For example, if you have a friend or family member that’s made some amazing cakes in the past, you may want to consider asking if they’d be willing to make yours for a small fee. You never know, they may even offer to do it for free! It’s also worth asking any recently married friends what suppliers they used. A lot of suppliers offer ‘refer a friend’ discounts on their wedding packages, so provided they fit into your budget (and the previous bride and groom don’t mind of course!), it’s worth considering.
