Don’t let the stress of planning your wedding day leave you feeling like you have to break the bank for a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The cost of weddings has been on the rise for decades, and many couples find themselves with a hefty bill after their big day. Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to save money on your wedding without sacrificing anything that is important to you.
You don’t need to sell your soul (or your firstborn child) in order to fund your wedding. There are lots of little tricks you can use to save money on your wedding, while still keeping it special and memorable for everyone involved.
Check out these 4 creative ways to save money on your wedding day and you can have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank or giving up anything that really matters.
Get a 0% APR credit card to make payments over time.
If you have decent credit, you may be able to get a credit card with 0% interest for up to 18 months. If you were already planning on putting some expenses on credit cards, you will save money on your wedding by saving on interest, plus it allows you to have more cash on hand day to day. You'll be able to spread out all your big deposits into more manageable payments, even after the wedding is over.
Alternatively, you can often get a personal loan with a lower interest rate than most consumer credit cards. This gives you the same cash advantage as the credit card, but may be more appropriate for lower credit scores.
If the idea of debt makes you bristle, I get it. But keep in mind that leveraging debt is one of the best kept secrets for wealthy people. You can use it to your advantage to save some money on your wedding.
This is not intended to be financial advice - it does not take into consideration your personal objectives, goals or situation. Please research on your own to determine if these options are right for you.
Go far off the beaten path for typically costly items, like venue, food, or your dress.
This might be the most obvious way to save money on your wedding: Save by going off the beaten path.
Consider getting an event permit for your local park, for example. It’s a beautiful, intimate way to celebrate a commitment to one another without incurring the high costs of an enclosed venue or reception hall.
As wedding venues are generally the largest cost, going non-traditional can save you thousands. Think restaurant, backyard, rental house, public park, apartment rooftop -- something unexpected that isn't part of the wedding machine.
In general, to really save money on your wedding, it may be a good idea to try and avoid the word "wedding" when shopping as much as possible. You can find "formal dresses" or "prom dresses" that may be exactly what you're looking for, without the tax associated with calling it a wedding dress.
After venues, food is the most expensive item in most wedding budgets, and even catered meals can have little flavor and flair yet still with a big price tag. To really save money on your wedding, look to a local fast-casual-fast-food place for a big order -- you could serve a lot of people for a fraction of traditional food prices!
Negotiate with your vendors - the worst they can say is no!
One of the easiest ways to save money on your wedding day is to negotiate with your vendors.
Don't argue with a stated price, but try asking for a discount or a price break or if they have any promotions going on. Show the vendor that you value them and believe they are worth what they are charging, but anything they could do to help makes a difference to you. This will have the best results in the off-season, but don't be afraid to try it no matter when your wedding is!
Take a chance and ask. If it doesn't work, you can always pay full price, or find another vendor for your budget. If it does work, you just saved money on your wedding, with minimal effort!
For the crafty brides: make something you can repurpose and sell.
If you’re crafty, you might have already been planning on DIYing some wedding decor -- what if you could do it for other brides at the same time? Save money on your wedding by earning money off your wedding!
Weddings is a huge category on Etsy -- could those custom table signs you're making be duplicated and sold? Or your dried flower corsages? Or your custom designed invitations?
If you have the skills, open up a shop during the wedding planning to bring in more money for your wedding. Or, wait until after and use your bridal expertise to pay it off!
If opening up a shop isn't right for you, try selling some of your decor after the wedding is done, on places like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. A budget bride will surely appreciate your handiwork and saving money on their decor, and you'll be able to recoup something for all your hard work!
One other way to earn to save money on your wedding: document the planning process on social media. If you're comfortable on camera, set your camera to record as you craft, make decisions, go through the planning process. You don't have to be a professional to make videos for social media that can help others -- and help you make money too!
How will you save money on your wedding?
There is a lot of conventional ways to save money on your wedding: have a small wedding, do your flowers yourself, do your own hair and makeup. But you know all that already!
We put together this list to help you think outside the typical ideas and really save some money on your wedding. Is there anything we missed, or do you have any creative money-saving tips for brides?
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