How to plan your dream wedding on a budget.
As always, thank you for coming back to the PBC Venue website and reading my blog! Today I am writing about how to SAVE MONEY at your wedding.
Hear me out…..when you compliment a woman on an outfit, or accessory, etc., what do response do you hear more often: “Thanks!” or “Thanks!! I got it at Kohls! It was only $7….and it has pockets!”?
I ask this, because most women I know (and this includes me, friends) not only enjoy saving money, but there’s also a sense of bragging rights to it! It’s a score! A deal! And they found it!
Allow me to celebrate with you!
First off, being realistic, your entire wedding could be done under $50, down at the courthouse or city hall.
Now, if you don’t want that option and you’re looking for a more traditional style, then there are lots of places to turn.
But, before you do that, you need to really decide a few things. And these “few” things, could be saving you a “few” thousand dollars when done correctly.
I always did a headcount before offering to go thru and pick up dinner for the family. Every time, I automatically planned on spending roughly $10 per person. That was about 4 years ago. Now I plan for $15. That way, it’s not a shock when I get the total – because I planned for it when I made the decision to pick up dinner.
Lets start with the suggestions!
Step 1: Set Priorities
Decide what matters most: photography, food, venue, dress, or entertainment. But don’t eliminate anything, yet. Book an amazing DJ that brings all the vibes & entertainment. Then you aren’t taking time out of your event to focus attention on other things. It all just flows nicely. And bonus: Usually DJs give a discount if you book a photo booth with them, so keep that in mind when interviewing your DJ.
Allocate your budget to the top 2–3 priorities, then trim costs elsewhere.
Step 2: Venue Hacks
Choose off-peak times: Fridays, Sundays, or winter weddings are cheaper. At Pole Barn Chic events, our off-peak Months are January – March.
Nontraditional venues: parks, backyards, libraries, museums, or restaurants often cost less. But this is for the couple that is happy with unconventional venues and weddings. No matter what, that is going to be a different feel, a different vibe and a different reaction by your guests.
All-in-one venues: places that include tables, chairs, linens, and staff reduce rental fees.
Step 3: Food & Drinks
Buffet or food stations instead of plated dinners are more affordable than served plated meals.
Brunch or lunch weddings are less expensive than dinners, but take into consideration that the only money you will be saving is from catering. You won’t get a photo booth any cheaper because you booked it for 2:00 and not 4:00. Any amount saved can be a great thing! But, make sure you weigh out the total amount saved due to your lunch instead of dinner. Is it worth it? Can all your guests still make it if it’s during the daytime?
Limit the bar: beer, wine, and a signature cocktail instead of a full open bar. All venues are different. Some have bar minimums and some don’t even have a liquor license. Make sure you know what your venue is charging. At Pole Barn Chic, we have a very small bar minimum for weddings. We charge $750 and the couple can decide how they want to spend that minimum. Side note: if the venue does have their own liquor license, make sure you find out what time it ends.
Ask about BYOB, if that is something you want to do. Do you want your guests to go to the grocery store and buy their own bottles of wine? Ask about a corkage fees if you bring your own alcohol.
Step 4: Flowers & Décor
Seasonal, local flowers are more affordable. That is the bottom line. But you know what’s even more affordable than seasonal local flowers? Fake ones. The bridal bouquet can be real if you’re wanting to preserve it, but if not, it’s even easier.
Use greenery, candles, fairy lights for ambiance at a fraction of the price.
Repurpose décor: Ceremony flowers can decorate the reception.
DIY touches like signage, escort cards, or simple centerpieces add charm, but they are completely unnecessary and these are the small things that add up and make people go over budget.
Try to find a venue that includes decorations! We have saved couples thousands of dollars in decorations by allowing them to use ours. Everything we have at the PBC Venue is professional grade and beautiful!
Step 5: Wedding Attire
Sample sales, trunk shows, pre-loved gowns (sites like Stillwhite or Nearly Newlywed). The only problem with this that I can see is that sample sales and trunk shows are primarily only bringing sizes 00-4. That’s nice, but not for everyone. So a sample sale may not be able to save you too much, if you can’t use what they’re selling.
Bridesmaids can wear mismatched dresses in your color palette.
Grooms: rent suits or buy from outlets instead of tux shops.
Step 6: Entertainment
Spotify or curated playlists for cocktail hour/dinner. Yes, this is true, but I will die on this hill: Hire a DJ! Do not use a playlist for a multitude of reason – enough for another blog!
Student musicians/DJs can be more affordable. So if you are singing or playing a section of music during your ceremony, this is a great idea. We even had the music teacher himself help out once at a wedding!
Combine DJ + live element (e.g., hire a violinist just for the ceremony). That doesn’t save money, but it’s a live element. So weigh the options.
Step 7: Photography & Video
Hire a rising professional (newer talent with a strong portfolio). It’s a risky move, but it can be done. We have had amazing experiences with some of our photographers! When I looked up pricing to discuss with them, I was incredibly shocked to see how affordable they actually were. They have been in business for a very, very short period, but their work was so good, I thought they had been doing it for 20 years!
Limit coverage hours (just ceremony + reception highlights). This isn’t a bad thing. You can only get so pictures of the same people dancing.
Add apps that go on everyone’s phones! That way anyone with a camera can take pictures and then send them to you via your special QR Code! This is a perfect idea and works great! Plus, even if the DJ is giving you a special rate on a photo booth, this is still more affordable!
Step 8: Smart Extras
Digital invitations or minimal paper invites have been on a massive rise for years now!
Skip wedding favors -most guests don’t miss them. As a matter of fact, with the weddings we’ve done, it’s been very 50/50 on whether people even bring them or not. Never once have we had a guest ask where their favors are, but we have had a lot of wasted flowers left behind or discarded before the night was even through.
Use cashback credit cards to earn rewards while paying for vendors – unless your venue charges the service fee for using credit cards! Then it’s just a wash. Stick with cash or checks and make sure to get a receipt!
Mind your list. Your invitation list, that is. If you are looking to cut back and save, do you really need to invite your 2nd cousin that you haven’t seen in 4 years? Do all your siblings and family members need to have “plus ones” if you’re all there together, anyway? Do you want to have kids at the wedding? If so, remember, every one of their little mouths, is an extra person for catering and beverage pricing.
Thank you again for visiting my blog! If you have any additional ways to save money, please let me know so that I can pass the advice along!
Pole Barn Chic is locally owned and operated. We hope to encourage engaged couples to consider choosing a locally owned wedding venue. We go to great lengths to exceed expectations, and you will find that locally owned wedding venues have far less turnover and that leads to better communication! We love shouting out and supporting our locally owned wedding venue and wedding business colleagues. Here are a few locally owned wedding venues across the US:
Carinal Cove Venue: www.cardinalcovevenue.com
Lambermont Events: www.lambermonteventvenue.comArcadia Academy: www.arcadiaacademyweddings.com
Price Creek Events: www.pricecrekevents.com
Lavender Manor: www.lavendermanor.com