Shine OnTop 10 ways to save on your wedding
First, there's excitement.
Then comes dread.
Those who have made the walk down the aisle to wedded bliss know all too well the varied emotional stages of planning a wedding -- from the tears of joy at the prospect of creating your dream day to the all-out freak-out that accompanies your impending credit card bill and hit to your hard-earned savings when you realize you have to pay for everything.
And with the average price of a Canadian wedding at $15,000, it's no wonder engaged couples are relying on credit cards and loans to foot the bill.
But it doesn't have to take such a toll on your finances. In weddings, the devil is so often in the details, and while you should splurge on a few key things that are important to you, a lot of money can be saved by saying 'no' to minor details that end up costing you a fortune. Because at the end of the day, who's going to remember those custom-made wedding programs and monogrammed napkin holders?
To give you some ideas on pulling off your dream day without thrusting yourself into debt, we've rounded up the top 10 tricks of the trade for cutting wedding expenses:
1. Steer clear of Saturdays. Saturday is undoubtedly the most popular day for weddings, and therefore the most expensive. Friday evening or Sunday ceremonies are just as lovely, and you can usually negotiate a cheaper rental fee for the venue if it's a less popular day.
2. Don't be afraid to offend. By far, the No. 1 factor that drives wedding budgets up is the size of the guest list. If money is a concern, you may have to throw caution to the wind and cut out friends you haven't seen in years or relatives you just aren't that close with. If you're worried about hurting feelings, simply send them a quick email explaining that your budget is tight and therefore the guest list was restricted to very close friends and family; if anything, they'll be relieved -- a recent study shows that Canadians can expect to spend $100 to $500 to attend a wedding this year.
3. Get digital. You don't have to be a tech genius to create a wedding website these days. Easy-to-use blogging platforms, such as WordPress, allow you to set up a website in minutes that includes everything your guests need to know about your big day. This way, you can stick to a simple one-page wedding invitation, or even skip the paper altogether and send e-vites that send guests to your site.
4. Cut the cake. Wedding cakes can run anywhere from $200 to $800 and up. If you still want the traditional wedding cake but don't want to shell out, get a smaller tiered cake that will serve about half of the guests, and have an inexpensive sheet cake stashed in the kitchen for the remaining half. Since the cake is generally whisked away to the kitchen for cutting into serving sizes, all your guests will assume their slice is from the "real" cake. Another way to cut costs is by choosing buttercream frosting over fondant. "It tastes better, anyway, and it's cheaper," says Dufflet Rosenberg, owner of Dufflet Pastries.
5. Follow seasonality. Food will be one of the most expensive items on your budget, so talk to your caterer about selecting a menu that features seasonal foods; produce is at its cheapest (and tastiest!) when it's season, so you'll cut costs by keeping it local and fresh.
6. Party supply stores are your friend. If you don't have a use for it after the wedding, don't even think about buying it (wedding dress excluded, of course, although renting the gown is not a bad idea). Napkins, candle holders, cake stands and twinkle lights are all available to rent from party supply stores
7. Think outside the (rose) box. While roses are romantic, they tend to be pricey, so consider using them as accents in your bouquets rather than the main affair. Opt for less expensive flowers, such as baby's breath, for bridesmaids' bouquets and to add volume to the bridal bouquet. And, just like food, flowers are also cheaper when in season, so ask your florist to present you with seasonal options only.
8. Choose fabric wisely. Lace wedding gowns may be on-trend this year, but it's one of the most expensive fabrics. Chiffon and satin are significantly less pricey, and look just as timeless. And while brides tend to focus solely on the cost of the dress, the adjustments and hemming fees often take on a life of their own -- but not if you do your research. "To save on hemming, look for designers that make petite or tall dresses that suit your size – that way you won’t have to pay extra to have the dress made shorter or longer," says Lidia Salvador, manager of Jealous Bridesmaids Bridal Studio in Toronto, Ont.
9. Avoid photography packages. It's tempting to sign up for the full-day package (plus a videographer), but most couples will tell you that they a) never watch the video and b) most certainly don't do anything with about 75 per cent of the photos taken throughout the day. You can save hundreds of dollars by booking a photographer only for the ceremony and for some portraits before or after. To be sure you get what you want in the short time frame, establish a shot list of images you can't do without with your photographer ahead of time.
10. Ask for cash. There's no shame in forgoing the wedding registry and asking for cold hard cash, instead. Chances are you can do without that panini press, and the money could be much better spent on, say, paying off wedding bills or funding your honeymoon. Think of it this way: if every couple on your guest list gives you $50 and there's 50 couples on your list, you can recover $2,500 from your expenses.
