Venue

Have the ceremony and reception at the same location to avoid multiple site fees. This also prevents having to provide transportation between venues.

Guest List

When it comes to guest lists, bigger is not always better. Conservative guest lists will save you money or allow you to serve more courses for the same cost as feeding a bigger crowd.

Friday Night Wedding

Is typically cheeper than your traditonal Saturday evening wedding by as much as 15 ~ 20% differential, especially when you book it far in advance. Friday evening weddings can be intimate having candles lit, creating the most romantic setting. 

 Sunday Weddings

Venues are typically cheaper at off-times. Saturday is the most popular day for weddings, so ask about the possibility of a Sunday discount.

Centerpieces

There are several ways to save on centerpieces. Keep the flowers simple, used potted flowers, or do the centerpieces yourselves. You could also consider using greenery in your centerpieces to save money or buy in-season flowers wholesale but pay a florist to do simple arrangements. Other options is using silk florals great way of going green and having a great keepsake for your guests.

Candles

Having candles as the main decor piece instead of flowers. It’s more eco-friendly, it sets great ambiance and is less expensive. 

Ceremony Music

Ceremonies are lasting a mere 20 ~ 30 minutes, Hire a string trio or harpist  of students from the local conservatory for less than a third of the price of professional.

Toasting

Instead of serving champagne during the toasts, just let guests toast with whatever drink is in their hand.

Hire a DJ

Cut back in other areas to have a live band at your wedding (again, it’s all about prioritizing!), some couples are more than happy with a DJ or even prefer one to a band. If this sounds like you, get samples and reviews of the DJs in your city. 

Photographer

Rely on your professional wedding planner to refer you the photographer that they have the relationship with and the discounts that are offered to them are passed on to the client. Hire the photographer’s assistant if it is offered more often there assiant less expensive than the lead photographer.  Have the photographer there only for the photo session (before the ceremony) and the ceremony. At the reception, have small cameras at each table so the guest could take photos of what they are seeing at their angle.  Set up as a photobooth with a high table so guests can take poloraids of themselves and place them in a favor book and write a quick message to you. 

Cake

No wedding wouldn’t be complete without a cake there are ways to save on it. You could purchase on with buttercream icing instead of fondant consider cupcakes.  For larger wedding have a 3 tiered cake for presentation purposes and have a sheet cake in the back of your bottom layer and have the cater cut that and serve it to your guest as well, no one will ever know.

Videographer

Have your professional videographer shoot your wedding and reception for a portion of your day instead of the entire day; this will save on your budget because you are not paying for more time than you really need, the cost will be substantially less. 

Alcohol

Open bars can push the cost up, so if your guests aren’t big drinkers this is one area where you could consider cutting back. A bar serving beer and wine only will be cheaper than a fully stocked one, and if you luck out with a venue or caterer that will allow you to bring your own booze, your bill will go down significantly. You can also return any unopened bottles.

The Dress

No matter how much you’re budgeting for the dress, you should try on every style available and go to at least a few bridal salons before selecting the one. If you’re really trying to save on your dress, let your wedding planner do the leg work for you she know your budget and will only take you to the bridal shops that can meet your budget. Make sure your wedding planner evaluate all your options.

Negotiate and Shop Around

Rely on your professional wedding planner’s relationship that they have with several wedding professional to ensure you’re getting reasonable rates.

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