It’s a sad but inescapable fact that, for many twenty- and thirty-something couples thinking of tying the knot, the financial burden of the big day can be weighty. The conflicting demands of striving for promotion and trying to get a foot on the property ladder, whilst trying to be responsible by putting any spare pennies away for a rainy day, all conspire to take their toll on the bank balance; and, well, weddings can get expensive. If you and your beloved are planning to make your commitment to one another in tighter times, here are a few suggestions for reducing some of the costs of the day:
1) Borrow as much stuff as you can
If your venue comes with everything included then this may not be possible, but if you’re starting from scratch then enlisting the help of everyone you know can save a heap of cash, as well as turning the big day into a fun collaborative effort. Chair and marquee hire, for example, will take a sizeable chunk out of your budget, and you won’t even have anything fun to show for it. Ask around your nearest and dearest (in plenty of time!) whether they have any spares you can borrow for the day; mismatched chic is a big wedding trend at the moment, after all…
2) Make yourselves an amazing wedding playlist
While the idea of having a live band or DJ at your ceremony is undoubtedly a lovely one, the associated expenses may leave you looking sorrowfully at your bank balance and wishing you hadn’t bothered. Making yourselves a wedding playlist of your own not only virtually eliminates the costs but can also be a fun activity for you and your fiancé to do together when you just can’t face looking at the guest list yet again. Even better, using an online music platform like Spotify will allow others to add to the playlist, so you could enlist help of the bridesmaids and groomsmen too. See our top wedding music guide for inspiration.
3) Include stuff for the day on your wedding list
You might never need an ice bucket or podium again in your life, but serving dishes and a cake stand will be as useful at the wedding as they will be at home afterwards. Use every resource available to you by incorporating useful items for the big day into the gift list: this entrée paddle from The Great Gift Company, for example, is so beautiful and useful you’ll be sad you didn’t have it in time to use at the reception. Just make sure that your guests are aware of the timescale, and don’t rely on anything turning up on time until you’re absolutely certain!
