Say "I do" to a Wedding Spending Plan

It’s time to talk about the day. Nope, not tax day. Today, we’re talking about your wedding day.

For some of you, it might be the day you’ve dreamed about your whole life. And why shouldn’t it be? It’s a huge celebration! Just the fact that you have all your loved ones together in one room is enough to get your serotonin pumping. Add in some champagne, cake, some more champagne... it sounds like a dream.

But dreams have price tags, and in the case of weddings, it’s a pretty big price tag.

According to WeddingWire, the average cost of a wedding reception is around $30,000. Although, I’d venture to say it is probably a bit higher. When I did the math on Money Rehab, my calculations were closer to $36,000. To put that into perspective, that’s a little more than a downpayment on a $175,000 house, or tuition for a year and a half at Florida State University. That’s a gigantic chunk of change.

Of course, these averages vary widely depending on factors like location, what time of year (or even what day of the week) it is when you tie the knot. But no matter where you are, there are some universal ways to save money on your dream wedding. Here are five tips to shrink your budget:

1. Save the (Best) Date (and Venue):

You can save big by looking at a date that’s “always the bridesmaid, never the bride,” so to speak. You know when you get to the age where all of your friends are getting married, and all of a sudden you don’t have a single Saturday free in the summer? Exactly. Everyone is trying to get married on a weekend in the summer.

You should think about a fall wedding, or even a week-day wedding. If you give your friends and family enough lead time, they can make a Thursday night work. They even might be able to take that Friday off if they want to rest after an evening of dancing the night away.

I know you might be envisioning getting married in a rustic barn or maybe you’re the larger-than-life type and want to get married in the crown of the Statue of Liberty, but going with an established wedding venue will likely save you big.

A traditional venue will spare you the cost (and headache) of covering the essentials like tables, linens, champagne flutes, salad forks, you name it. Plus, I don’t know about you, but if you’ve never planned a wedding before, nonetheless had a wedding yourself, it’s pretty comforting to lean on a venue that already has some receptions under its belt. You don’t want to be waking up in 2am the night before your wedding thinking - fuck! I forgot to order chairs!

2. Say Yes to Renting the Dress:

You know the old wedding tradition that you need something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue? Well, I’d recommend making your wedding dress either something old or something borrowed.

The boys are renting their wedding best, so ladies, you can too. I know it’s different with a wedding dress; I know you want your dress as a keepsake, but isn’t that what the photos are for?

If you do want to keep your dress forever and ever, or if you just don’t trust yourself to return your dress in pearly-white condition, think about buying your dress used.

Also - a note for the bridesmaids; let me debunk a lie you’ve been told: the “Oh, you can cut the bottom off and wear it again.” Trust me, you can’t and you won’t. Say yes to renting the dress.

3. Introducing DJ DIY:

Next, you don’t need a wedding band, and you certainly don’t need a DJ. Full stop.

I’m sorry, but you’re going to shell out a couple grand to someone who put together a Spotify playlist? And might not honor your strong recommendation to play Whitney Houston five times? No thank you.

4. No One Cares About the Invitations:

Another thing you don’t need? Invitations. Seriously. I know you want something that people will put on their refrigerator, but that’s all for show. The only “save the date” that matters is the one that people are putting into the calendar on their phone. Just send an e-vite. That's an invitation that will cost you my favorite price: $0.

5. Save on Food in the Not-So-Secret Way:

The biggest cost associated with a wedding is typically the food. The solution here: go for a buffet. Depending on the caterer, you could save anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 per 100 guests, and you often get more food for the amount you pay compared to a plated dinner.

But the fastest way to save on food? Invite less people. Narrow your guest list and only offer people +1s where it makes sense. That friend who is perpetually “in love” with a new person every three months? They don’t get a +1. Sorry to show my bad cop, but you don’t want to pay for her entree if you’re going to be cropping her out of all photos in six months.

If you're planning your big day and want a few more of my favorite tips, click here.

Think about it this way: your wedding day is the first day of your married life. Nothing says happily ever after, like not breaking the bank on day one.

xo,