Smart Ideas for Wedding Planning = Substantial Savings

I was asked to write an article about how couples can save money while planning their wedding.  This advice applies to couples with substantial budgets as well as those with limited budgets.  Good advice is universal, so here are my favorite tips:

• Cutting the guest list is going to provide the most substantial savings – for example, if you haven’t seen someone, yes even relatives, in over a year and etiquette is clear on this, no need to extend the invitation.  Many times those relatives and acquaintances are relieved not to have to make the decision to attend.  At a minimum, couples will save $100 per person which includes cost of invitations, décor, floral, food and beverage and entertainment.  As I mentioned that's just the minimum, many times depending on the design and location of the wedding savings can amount to $500 per person or more so choose your guest list wisely. 

• Hiring a professional wedding consultant will be the best money saved – they know the very best professionals for the budget and will negotiate discounts or complimentary upgrades.  These same deals cannot be obtained by couples and many times the savings covers the cost of the consultant.  Consultants will also save the couples hundreds of hours of time looking and interviewing wedding professionals. 

• Regarding favors, my recommendation is save yourself money by not providing them…guests really do not care about taking home a favor and in most cases they are thrown away at the end of the night.  Rather than a favor consider donating the dollars you would spend to a charitable organization near and dear to your heart.

• Lighting is a dramatic and cost-effective way to transform the look of your wedding – consider hiring a lighting expert to up light walls in dramatic colors or points of interest such as windows or columns or down light areas of the room or shine the couples initials or logo on the dance floor.  Great lighting is simple and dramatic and will save hundreds of dollars over dramatic centerpieces or linens.

• Bridal gowns can be purchased at dramatic discounts at consignment boutiques or look for samples that have been on the rack for several months.  Do not be afraid to ask to see samples that have been in inventory for a long time and if you find one you like, ask for their best price.  I had a bride who purchased her gown on eBay and it was perfect for her.

• To save substantial dollars on flowers, re-use ceremony flowers at the reception. One or two large ceremony displays can be moved to the reception and placed in significant locations such as near the head table or the dance floor.   Consider a variety of centerpieces such as florals for 1/3 of the tables, dramatic candles for 1/3 and a smaller combination of flowers and candles for the remaining tables.  Large dramatic centerpieces can cost $500 or more so imagine having 20 tables…the cost exceeds $10,000 however if the remaining tables each cost $150 the total is $5450, Guests will walk into the reception and focus on the large dramatic look first.  There should be continuity between the two or three centerpiece designs so it doesn’t look haphazard.  At the end of the night, give the flowers to guests or donate to hospitals or nursing homes so they can continue to be enjoyed rather than discarded.

• Use Centerpiece cakes for an environmentally friendly approach rather than reception flowers by providing four of five different flavored cakes on every table.  There is no waste at the end of the night and guests love to get up and sample other flavors.  Centerpiece cakes range from $35 to $100 each which provides huge savings over a one-time-use floral display.

• For entertainment save money by hiring local cover bands.  Depending on your area, many cover bands can be hired for four hours at the same prices as a DJ.  Speaking of DJ's, I do not recommend trying to save money by using your iPod - after spending thousands of dollars to make your day perfect, why would you rely on one little device to keep your party rocking into the midnight hour?  What if something goes wrong...don't tempt Murphy's Law.

• Food saving ideas include providing one main entrée to your guests rather than offering multiple choices – caterers and venues charge extra per person to manage the extra labor involved.  Ask for childrens menus and pricing because this can save 50% or more of the adult menu pricing.  Offer two or three different hors d'oeuvres during cocktail hour rather than five or seven.  Guests will eat what they are offered and the more that is offered the more they fill up.  Offer a plated meal rather than buffet.  These days buffets costs more per person because the caterer or venue does not want to run out of food and because they have no way to gauge guest consumption so they overstock.
  

• Save on beverages by hosting kegs of beer rather than individual bottled beer – most times guests are happy with whatever is hosted and a keg of beer will provide approximately 163 glasses for about $350.  163 bottles of beer will cost approximately $815.  Many venues offer package pricing for beverages, however I do not feel this is a savings to couples.  For example, 200 guests can be charged a four hour package price of $30 per person for a total of $6000.  However statistically 1/3 of the guests leave right after dinner, so unfortunately the couple has paid for two to three hours for guests who have gone home.  At least 10% of guests do not drink alcoholic beverages however all guests are charged the package price regardless of their beverage preference.  Some venues even charge the package price to minors. 
  

• For invitations, consider DIY – do it yourself is fairly simple with all the design programs available and if you are not necessarily creative go to a local paper supplier or stationery store for ideas and see if they offer complimentary classes.  If DIY isn't your thing, there are many great websites for stock stationery which can be customized with design and color choices for less than $1 each.

Thankfully, people continue to get married and fortunately that is the one constant in this very scary, unpredictable economy we're faced with so why not protect what assets we do have.

I have many other tips for saving time and money but a girl can't give away all her secrets.  Check our website Fete Perfection for affordable wedding planning packages and start saving.