Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life. After the news of your engagement and celebratory Champagne, it is time for the business of planning your dream big family wedding. Warning: this task won’t be the most enjoyable part. Even if you hate discussing money, you need a clear plan. Your day is the culmination of months of preparation, from deciding on your guest list to invitations.
However, weddings can be expensive. As a savvy mum, you know that costs escalate if you don’t keep a check on things.
In the following article, we will go over very helpful tips for the planning of a wedding on a small budget, helping you get a bit creative with cost-cutting measures so your special day doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Setting the Scene and the Budget
Consider your financial sources. Sit down with your partner, be open about your finances and think about how much cash you are willing to put towards the day.
Do you have savings? Can you afford to put part of your salaries aside each month? Perhaps parents will contribute?
The most important thing is to make sure you’re not going to get into debt. Avoid elements you simply can’t afford.
The second step is to set a budget for each element. Excel or Google Sheets are good tools for keeping track of how much you spend. Don’t be tempted to splash out on designer labels; your wedding doesn’t have to cost the earth; you just need to get creative.
Prioritise What Matters to You
Estimate how much you will spend on your venue, food and entertainment. Figure out what is most meaningful to you both: some prefer a dream honeymoon; others want a specific dress or a larger venue. There is no right answer. By figuring out what matters most, you can work out where to cut costs.
These estimates serve as a starting point, but you can of course add extras, like a live band, once you have a clearer idea of the day.
The Power of Asking
Benefit from the skills and knowledge of your family and friends. Maybe someone is a hair and make-up artist. Perhaps someone has a car to take the bride to the ceremony, or someone is in the jewellery trade. You are not expecting handouts, but ‘mates-rates’ are better than high street prices.
For example, friends who love crafts can create your wedding invitations. An amateur photographer could take shots. Or a member of your family could make the wedding cake.
Finding the Perfect (and Affordable) Venue
The venue sets the tone and may take up a large chunk of the budget (usually around 15–20% of your total spend).
If you’re trying to keep the cost down, in the UK it is possible to find gorgeous wedding venues for under £1,500. Think outside the box: look at pubs, golf clubs, or marquees.
Holding your wedding at home or in a village hall is also a budget-friendly idea. You could hire furniture and catering equipment to kit it out as your own bespoke venue. If you have the nerve, you can also hold out for last-minute dates, which often have competitive packages.
Savvy Catering and Drinks
The bigger your guest list, the bigger the spend. Keeping your guest list smaller can save you a huge amount of money. Instead of a sit-down meal, consider a buffet, a BBQ, or food stalls. Sharing platters or a hog roast costs less and are easy to make in large quantities.
Couples on a small budget should consider afternoon teas. You can also scale back by serving the wedding cake as dessert. For drinks, pay for wine and beer during the daytime and have a paid bar in the evening. Providing a free bar all night will take a larger slice of your budget.
Dressing the Wedding Party for Less
Wedding dresses and suits range in price. You can find fashionable dresses on the high street at brands like Whistles, ASOS, Monsoon, and Phase Eight. Some bridal boutiques have sample sales where designer dresses go for much less. You could even buy your wedding dress online.
For grooms, the cheapest option is to hire a suit. It’s a lovely touch to pay for the suit hire for your ushers and bridesmaids, but set money aside for alterations.
Last, modern costume jewellery is fantastic and costs a fraction of the price of white gold or platinum.
DIY Decorations and Atmosphere
Doing your own decorations is a great way to save money. You can check Pinterest for creative and original DIY wedding decorations: pompoms, bunting, and favours cost very little. You can save on flowers by sourcing them at markets a couple of days before. Making arrangements yourself is a brilliant way to save.
Also, the quality of luxury silk flowers nowadays is superb; it’s almost impossible to distinguish between the two. For entertainment, lawn games or a magician are great and cheap options. Another free option is to create your own wedding playlist on an iPad and plug it into the venue’s sound system.
Final Thoughts for the Savvy Mum
The internet is a resource for price comparisons; use it to your advantage.
In addition, by setting up a website for your wedding, you can skip physical invites. This is a saving and eco-friendly. Also, look at the day of the week; Fridays or Sundays are usually cheaper than a sought-after Saturday.
Last, don’t get stressed. Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves. Don’t forget that the planning process should be a joyous experience, not a painful accounting task.
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