How to Save Money While Planning a Wedding


Almost every engaged couple I know is trying to plan their big day without maxing out their credit cards, no shame in their game. Despite this, the average American wedding cost $44,105 in 2018, according to Brides.com. It's easy for any of us to scoff at such a huge number. But if you go to a venue that typically hosts weddings and choose a standard package, you'll likely be staring down the barrel of a bill the size of a new Audi A5 or a house down-payment! The peanut gallery, comprised of well-meaning (mostly) friends and relatives often chime in, talking about how they spent $20 on their wedding decades ago while simultaneously telling you what you absolutely MUST have as part of your wedding. In order to save your sanity, you will need to learn to “smile and nod” and do whatever is best for you and your future spouse. In order to save money, you will need to flip the script on “traditional” wedding planning.

Let's break down where to look for lower costs while planning a wedding:

  • Venue
    • This represents the highest single cost for many weddings. While the venue fee might be wrapped into the catering cost, there is sometimes an additional charge to use the space or even a fee based on the headcount of your guests. If you really want to be thrifty, you will need to minimize the venue cost.
  • Flowers
    • The average cost of wedding flowers rose to $2,629 in 2018. This is over 10 times what I spent on flowers for my wedding so it's difficult for me to fathom spending this much on some temporary plants.
  • Attire
    • I'm not going to suggest you go back to Home Ec and make your own wedding outfits (but if you are that talented, rock on), but a look at some non-traditional sources for accessories and you can lower your overall costs without sacrificing your overall aesthetics.
  • Stationery
    • Traditional, labor-intensive calligraphy has mostly fallen out of fashion anyway. You have a number of thrifty options from printing your own to ordering online.
  • Decorations
    • There are a lot of Pinterest, YouTube, and other online ideas for making your celebration beautiful without going broke by choosing the old standby: a floral centerpiece that will cost you hundreds of dollars and be enjoyed for mere hours.
  • Hair and makeup
    • Many makeup artists and hairstylists specialize in create special looks for your wedding day. Even a basic look can run up a hefty tab, so consider alternate sources for your beauty routine.

I'll be posting on each of these topics with examples that my friends, family, and I all used to celebrate our marriages while staying solvent. Some of my tips and tricks might not be right for you, and that's okay. I'd love to hear from readers on how they saved money and celebrated their new lives as a married couple!

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