Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Brandi
Savvy July 2021

Need Help Cutting Costs

Brandi, on May 30, 2019 at 8:04 PM Posted in Planning 1 63
So my fiance and I are planning a wedding for July 2020. We want to keep the cost down and set a mutual budget for $10,000. I am beginning to find out that either that is unrealistic or I just have expensive ideas bc we have stretched the budget $6,000 additonal dollars...... I need help and ideas on where I can cut costs please! We are having 150 guests (unfortunately bc I prefer a smaller number but my fiance doesnt) and our most expensive categories are catering (which we already cut the price down by having a family member’s company cater), transportation, and favors/gifts. Any pointers on cheap diy decor for the ceremony and/or the reception? Or anything for the matter? Lol thanks!

63 Comments

Latest activity by Sara, on June 1, 2019 at 12:13 AM
  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Rockstar March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Is your reception venue expensive? A brunch time or non-Saturday night dinner can save some money. Skip the favors—not necessary anymore. Glass vases from the Dollar Tree might be cheapest as centerpieces and you can fill with water/floating candle, real flower stems, or fairy lights depending on the size of the vase. Does that help?
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Its quite cheap tbh because its at an elks lodge. The glass vases from the dollar tree are a great idea! Favors really arent necessary these days?
    • Reply
  • Fmv
    Super October 2020
    Fmv ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Were inviting 165 guests. Our budget calculator says our budget is 12k.
    We arent doing favors- they are a waste, nobody uses them. Put that money towards the reception dinner.
    We are ordering our invites online and waiting for 50% sales.
    We arent offering transportation.
    I never buy any of my decor without it being on sale.
    We arent doing flowers, i actually bought my boquets from a previous bride on facebook marketplace.
    Basically being realistic and not buying all the unimportant things.
    We aslo asked a family member to officiate. Thats another saving cost
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Nice! Thanks for all the suggestions! Awesome to find out that favors truly arent necessary
    • Reply
  • Katie
    Devoted September 2020
    Katie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I was in the same boat as you and for the life of me could not make it happen. No matter what I did, the cost crept high above $10k. I seriously considered taking out a loan to cover the additional costs... But we'd honestly rather buy new furniture redecorate, and have an awesome honeymoon! So I had to go back to the drawing board...

    We gutted the guest list to about 70 people and are having a dinner reception at a restaurant in Tahoe. Food is about $20pp.

    We'll either use Spotify or one of my FHs musician friends offered to play, so we'll just pay for her hotel and travel - so no DJ.

    I'm only going to pay for photos of the ceremony and portraits after, so about 2 hours of photography vs the whole wedding package.

    I'm not making anyone in my wedding have hair or makeup done and will only pay for myself.

    The restaurant we chose has a lovely ambience and doesn't need much decorating. I'll probably only have a bouquet for myself and BMs and it can be fake flowers for all I care.

    I'm not doing favors or escorts cards or programs, and I think I'll just ask people to RSVP online. If I have to track them down to get a confirmation, I have to track them down, oh well. It's one less card+envelope included in the invites, as well as $50 less in postage stamps.

    We're getting married on a Sunday during a NON holiday weekend.

    Now I just need to find my wedding dress! I'm going to search and try my best to buy clearance/off the rack!
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Nice! Thanks so much for easing my mind!
    • Reply
  • Lauren
    Just Said Yes November 2019
    Lauren ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Hi! I have reached out to so many photographers and they want so much money. It’s crazy to me. Being on a budget can one recommend a photography that is reasonable. I would really appreciate it.
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Mostly depends on your area
    • Reply
  • CDickman
    VIP September 2019
    CDickman ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    You don’t need transportation
    cupcakes normaly cheaper
    DIY or find bouquets center prices on Etsy or Afloral
    shorter wedding g we are saving 1000 by dou g just 5 hours
    have a photographer there only 2 or 3 hours ceremony wedding party pics first dance
    Smaller or no wedding party
    no rehearsal
    • Reply
  • CDickman
    VIP September 2019
    CDickman ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Lol yep I got mine on Etsy 45 and BM were 10 each.
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Thanks but Im not so sure we could cut transportation completely out as we are having the ceremony and reception in different places to cut down catering costs by almost 10 grand lol. Its an ugly give and take🤦🏾‍♀️
    • Reply
  • Vanessa
    Expert September 2019
    Vanessa ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I was in the same boat. Same budget. Now with the same extra $6k outcome lol... it’s really hard 😪
    • Reply
  • CDickman
    VIP September 2019
    CDickman ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    People can drive.
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I moreso meant the transportation for myself, my groom and bridal party
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I will say, with all the ideas that everyone has just thrown at me, I have just cut my budget down $2000 thank the Lord lol
    • Reply
  • Jessica
    Savvy June 2019
    Jessica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Couple pointers for what we are doing!

    1. If you are crafty do your own flowers (but, do extensive research)! We are using Costco and fifty flowers and having a “flower party” with all my girls the day before!

    2. No favors, seriously, can you remember any favors from weddings that you love? I mean maybe you can, but, I can’t!

    3. Stock your own bar-again, costco!

    4. If you have a sound system, play your own music from a phone or device, and get a close friend to make announcement prompts (like dinner time, first dance).

    5. We are using a lot of plastic ware, which actually isn’t super cheap-but, make people drink it of their beer bottles and just get wine cups?

    6. Cupcakes for wedding cake! No one likes fondant anyway tehe

    Happy planning!!!
    • Reply
  • Keisha
    Savvy August 2020
    Keisha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I am the opposite. I am crafty and related to most of the people that are being hired as vendors so mine is actually becoming a lot less than what I thought I was going to spend. Making your own decorations could save you a ton.

    • Reply
  • Jessica
    Savvy June 2019
    Jessica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Oh, also, have people RSVP online (maybe only send a few to the older crowd who sent too tech savvy), but, will save you on stamps and extra invites!

    And we got ours on Vistaprint for like $40 after sale, they turned out very cute!
    • Reply
  • Brandi
    Savvy July 2021
    Brandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    Thank you for all the great pointers! We will definitely be doing online RSVP!
    • Reply
  • H
    Master July 2019
    Hannah ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    Definitely cut the favors. Be careful with DIY. It can save money a lot of the time, but sometimes it becomes more expensive and time consuming than just buying whatever predone. The quickest way to cut costs is to cut the guest list. I know you said your FH wants a larger wedding, but that is where the most savings are to be had. Also, cut extraneous stationary and signs (no one needs programs and menus, same as favors). Ann's Bridal Bargains offers invitations (with RSVPs included) for 99 cents and often have 20% off sales. That's where I got mine, and they turned out great.
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Learn more

Groups

WeddingWire article topics