20 Ways to Stretch Your Wedding Budget – Part II

Well, it’s been two months since our last post on this subject and it is our hope that you’ve been able to implement some of the suggestions made in the first part of this series and have experienced both peace of mind AND pocket book savings.  So now that you’ve gotten started here are five more areas that you can stretch your wedding budget without compromising your wedding day dreams. 

The Guest List:

Have you made the observation that the number of “friends” you have has increased dramatically since the day you and your betrothed announced your engagement?  It seems that EVERYONE wants to be on your guest list; including the psycho room-mate from college that you haven’t spoken to in the past 8 years, despite the fact that the restraining order has been lifted.  OK – I’m having a bit of fun here; but I’m not far off the mark am I? 

Everyone loves a party and weddings are the “mac-daddy” of all parties.  However, can I just say that as a society we’ve forgotten that attending a wedding is an honour and privilege; not a birth right. 

Let me repeat that last statement.  Attending a wedding is an honour and a privilege; NOT a birth right. 

Just because you’ve known Sally Sue since you shared a playpen with her when you were two doesn’t mean that you “must” invite her to be present on your wedding day.  The more guests you invite, the more its going to impact your budget; its the old “cause and affect” scenario.  It may surprise you to know that each of your wedding guests comes at a per person cost  of $75 per head.  Think about it; from the cost of  invitations, favors, programs,  placesettings, tabletop decor, cake, food, and beverages it all adds up.  Having said that, here are the guidelines we encourage our clients to consider when they are drafting their guest list that will assist in trimming its size and reducing their overall reception expenses:

Cost saving tip #11:

If a wedding guest falls into one of the following four categories,  you might want to place them on a “B” or “C” list of guests to include if there is room, or even include them on a “Wedding Announcement ” list instead.  A Wedding Announcement still allows you to share the good news with them without the expectation of their presence on the actual day.

1. Your wedding IS NOT a family reunion.  By this we mean that this is not the time to invite your fourth cousin five times removed who you met briefly at a family function when you were 10 years old.  Family members should be limited to immediate aunts, uncles and cousins – and preferrably the ones you have a knowledge of.
2. Your wedding IS NOT an office party.  NEVER no never should you post a blanket invitation on the breakroom bulletin board for all your colleagues to see.  If you are going to invite office colleagues, they should be limited to your immediate supervisor (assuming you have an amicable relationship with him/her) and associates that you have known and worked with for longer than 2 minutes and actually like and care about and should be mailed to them at their private residence. 
3. Your wedding IS NOT a high-school reunion.  Obviously there are those high school classmates that you have maintained a relationship with; so by all means invite them.  But again, limit the number of your glory days buddies to those that you have a continued and ongoing relationship with.
4. Your wedding IS NOT a kegger.  Believe it or not, there is a difference between celebrating and getting slammed.  If, when examining your guest list, you recognize a name whose only memories involve a brewsky and a porcelain god, then it might be wise to place them on an alternate list.

Your Wedding Date, Time and Venue

Where is it written that your wedding must be held on a Saturday?  Go ahead, show me.  What?!  You can’t suport nor prove  this “rule” – well guess what?  It isn’t written anywhere.  Of course we understand that the tradition of holding your wedding on a Saturday in the middle of the summer is difficult to overcome.  The argument can be made that  family members and friends with children are more likely to attend a wedding during the summer as they can plan their school vacation around it; and of course co-workers LOVE Saturday weddings because they don’t have to worry about punching a time card until Monday morning if they partake in too many “spirits” but consider the triple  play savings in our next suggestions:

Cost saving tip #12:

If you must have a Saturday wedding,  choose a date in the “slow” season.  Statistically speaking,  December thru April constitute the slower season of the bridal year; therefore venues are motivated to offer discounts, savings and/or upgrades during this time of year.  A venue that commands $5200 during the “high” season for a Saturday could be attainable for $3500 during the “slower” season.  Thats a savings of $1700 placed right into your  wallet to be used for your honeymoon!

Cost saving tip #13:

If a December thru April wedding is not your cup of tea and you still have your heart set on a high season wedding (June – September), but the venue of your dreams (or fantasies) is still unattainable, then consider hosting your wedding during the week vs. on a Friday or Saturday.  Friday and Saturday weddings are in HIGH demand, which of course is why venues can charge a premium for them; however a Tuesday-Thursday event date at the same location is harder to sell,  translating into direct savings for you – if you are willing to be flexible.  This strategy pays off in several BIG ways:

1. Mid-week cost savings - usually 15-25% less than a Saturday event
2. Lower guest attendance; translating into fewer centerpieces, table linens, food, beverage, favors, cake etc. etc. etc. 
3. Shorter day for everyone – which means you can get to that much awaited wedding night nap
4. Airfare is cheaper since you’re flying off to your honeymoon destination during the week instead of on the weekend

OK – you’re still not convinced are you?  So, you’re just  like the millions of brides before you  and MUST have a Saturday, mid-summer wedding with all the bells and whistles.  Am I right?  OK, then if this is your hearts desire, so be it; but consider this next tip:

Cost saving tip #14:

Instead of hosting the traditional summer evening wedding hold your nuptials mid-morning or early afternoon; it will be more comfortable for your guests (as the temperature is much more tolerable) and less expensive for you as you contemplate what to select to serve them to eat. 

Of course the “reception meal” is a whole other subject and is best left to our final post. 

Until then, we hope that you will seriously consider the tips and suggestions found in this post and implement as many of them as possible.  Remember, you don’t have to marry into the Rockefeller family to have a posh event; you just have to be a bit more innovative and creative in the execution of your wedding dreams.