Skip the engagement party and five other tips to help you cut wedding costs

The best ways to have that Pinterest-inspired wedding without emptying your wallet.

Look, we all know that weddings are expensive.

And it doesn’t help that the pressure to have the most breathtaking day is only fuelled by the myriads of “how to have the ultimate pinterest wedding” type of posts. The truth is that extravagant weddings, while costly, don’t necessarily equate to being beautiful. There’s a lot to be said for elegance in simplicity, and even if you do want the kind of wedding that belongs on a Top Billing segment, you don’t have to break the bank in order to achieve this.

Here are some handy tips to help you cut costs on your wedding expenses:

1. Say no to engagement  parties and photo shoots

Engagement parties and photo shoots have become all the rage these days. But, unless you have a photographer friend who is willing to gift you with a free photography shoot, spending money on having a professional photo shoot done is not only unnecessary, but is a waste of money.

The same goes for engagement parties. With a bachelorette party underway and a wedding day celebration, surely having an engagement party seems a little bit excessive?

2. Get married during the week

Do your research. As convenient as it is to get married over the weekend, chances are that you can often get a much better (and discounted) package deal if you opt to get married on a weekday. Your loved ones won’t mind taking a day off from work to attend your event and saving costs this way means you can invest more in other aspects of your wedding.

3. DIY where you can

Always been good with floral arrangements? Handy with crafts or anything design-related? Put your skills to good use and add a personal touch to your wedding by adding a flair of your own creativity where you can.

Yes, we know that vendors are professional and have years of experience, but that doesn’t mean that you should be afraid to express your (and your partner’s) individuality by incorporating things that you love or that is symbolic of all that encompasses your personality.

4.  Speaking of flowers...

If you do decide not to do your own flowers, make sure you stick to flowers that are in season as they are cheaper than those that aren’t. Think about how much you can save if you can avoid having to pay for flowers that are a) out of season and b) imported.

Another alternative, according to this post from the Buzzfeed Community, is to simply use fake flowers.

5.  Minimise your guest count

Another easy, and obvious way to save money is to cut down on the amount of guests at your wedding. Not that close to your distant uncle twice removed from your mother? Don’t invite him. Your wedding is about those closest to you and you shouldn’t have to feel obligated to invite every Jane, Joan and Jill just because you’re related to them. 

Also, caterers and vendors mostly charge per head, so do think about that before you start sending that invitation out.

6.   Skip the expensive wedding entertainment

Having a photo booth at your wedding may seem like a great idea, but if you’re working with a small budget, then additional party entertainment shouldn’t really be a priority.

Remember, your big day is special enough on its own and family and friends will be gathered together to socialise, celebrate and generally have a good time. Simply having music and a DJ at your party is pretty much already a guarantee that your guests will have fun.