Whether you’re earning a pittance or are the lovechild of a gold-mining magnate and a diamond dealer, your dream wedding won’t come cheap. The frightening part is the costs that creep up on you.
Some wedding costs are fixed. These include the DJ, the photographer, the officiant, your videographer, hair, make-up, clothing, rings, and the cake.
Reducing your guest list will save on catering and booze, as will choosing a more cost-effective venue. A locally-manufactured dress and Dune shoes will be substantially cheaper than a Vera Wang with Jimmy Choos. But after all that, you may be thinking “Well, what’s left to save on?”
My husband and I got hitched in April, with 180 incredible people as guests. Planning that unforgettable day was a journey in itself. We learnt a few tricks that I’d love to share with you.
1. Hire out the entire venue.
If your desired venue has on-site accommodation, it may prove more cost-effective if you hire the venue and all the accommodation for your guests.
Taking over the place not only ensures that everyone can party, it allows you to recoup a large portion of the venue hire.
By booking the entire venue and charging guests the standard accommodation fee, we got the wedding venue and reception hall for R15,000 less than if we had booked the wedding venue alone.
2. Hire a wedding planner.
How can paying someone save you money? Well, aside from the peace of mind of knowing that your wedding will run like a Swiss timepiece, hiring a wedding planner saves you moola because of relationships they have with suppliers. They are able to negotiate competitive rates with caterers, decorators, cake manufacturers, florists, and so on.
Wedding planners are very strict when it comes to sticking to your budget. Trust me, in the excitement of planning your dream day, you’ll be thankful for the voice-of-reason that talks you out of spending a small fortune on importing trained lemurs as your ring-bearers.
3. Those bloomin’ flowers.
Did you know that the mark-up on flowers is between 300% and 500%? It’s mind-boggling how much we’re willing to spend on something that will begin to droop 12 hours later.
For your centerpieces and table layout, think about candles, glass, mirrors, wood, and metal as opposed to flowers. Tall candleholders or hanging mason jars with candles inside can be a fun DIY project and create a wonderful, warm ambience. You can use them as décor around your home later.
When it comes to bouquets, investigate what flowers are going to be in season, so you aren’t charged a premium.
As for boutonnieres, have some fun with the tradition. Instead of roses, try customising these with laser-cut shapes with the groomsmens’ names on them.
4. It’s 2015. Go Digital.
Wrapping your gold-leaf printed invitations in silk and having them delivered by doves may sound romantic, but it’s expensive and unnecessary.
Here’s what you’re in for with printing:
* You have to produce and send Save The Dates.
* These are followed by the actual invitation.
* Do you also plan to send a reminder invitation? Well, there are those, too.
More and more couples are migrating to email invitations or creating websites to host their nuptial details. The benefits are two-fold. Firstly, you’re saving money (and trees). Secondly, far more information can be contained digitally such as full registry details, your journey to the altar, and the inside scoop on the bridal party.
5. If it’s not you, don’t spend money on it.
Many couples succumb to the pressures put on them by society (ahem, Pinterest boards). They feel their wedding will be incomplete without a myriad of things they don’t even enjoy.
If you’re not dancers, there is no point in spending hundreds on lessons for your first dance. You won’t be present in the moment as you’ll be thinking about the steps. Focus on you, incorporate what you love, and the day will be more real. And more affordable.
6. Skip the Champagne.
Many people will pour a glass of Champagne to toast with, take a sip and leave the rest to waste. Why bother? Because it’s expected of you? This comes back to my point of remaining authentic. Your guests will be happy to toast with whatever they have in front of them. Offer champagne for those who want it, but don’t have waitrons fill every person’s glass at a couple hundred bucks a bottle.
7. Keep your marriage in mind.
Those extravagant peonies petals you spent thousands of Rands on and hours agonising over? Sorry, nobody is going to notice them, because they are so focused on you. You will not notice them because you should be focused on the love of your life and your future together.
Forget the expensive details and focus on hosting a day full of hope and love. Those things are free.
Having said all of this, there are also a few non-negotiable aspects of your wedding:
1. Photographer
You will have so much fun on your wedding day that you will want to relive it over and over again. That’s where your photographer comes in. They have been trained to capture the special moments of your day and deserve to be compensated. Great wedding photos are priceless.
2. Videographer
Your photographer may be able to capture many things, but the vows and speeches aren’t on that list.
3. Caterer
I’m not saying have caviar flown in from Russia, but food can make or break an evening. Be sure to attend a tasting, and order enough food to satisfy everyone.
No matter how much you do or do not spend, your wedding day will be the best day of your life. Just remember to keep your wits about you when it comes to sticking to your budget.
Leave a Reply