While a wedding should be a moment to cherish, financial stresses can often have an impact on our daily lives in the run-up to the big day – particularly as we struggle to get the funds in place to ensure things run as we want them to.
Although The Beatles once sang, “love is all you need”, it’s nice to be able to add some unique flourishes to a wedding to make it fun, memorable and a celebration of two lives joining together in matrimonial harmony.
With this in mind, we’ve decided to collate some of the thriftiest ways to enjoy a wedding on a budget – and your guests won’t even have to know you’ve made an effort to save!
1) Book a midweek or winter wedding
It may come as no surprise to learn that wedding venues are typically more expensive to hire during the summer months. After all, the nights are brighter and the weather is warmer (provided it doesn’t decide to rain, which according to Alanis Morrissette is one thing you don’t want). This means outdoor buffets and longer opportunities for outdoor photography – but does the expense justify it?
Venues tend to up their prices when they’re high in demand, which means you could net yourself some serious savings by booking the same venue during the winter months. Winter weddings are incredibly romantic affairs – think cosying up next to a real wood or coal fire, with a hot food buffet awaiting your guests.
If you’d prefer a summer wedding, why not consider booking during the middle of the week? While some might raise concerns that certain guests might not be available due to work commitments, it’s worth pointing out that many people also work weekends – and those who are worth sharing your day with will make the effort to be there.
2) Hire a band that is local to your wedding venue area
If your wedding venue is in another part of the country (or abroad, as is a current trend for weddings) you could save some serious money by hiring a wedding band that is based as close to your venue as possible. This way, you won’t have to pay extra for accommodation and travel costs. While a band might include petrol costs on their invoice, you can keep that to a minimum by booking a band with members that live in a 20-mile radius of your venue, as opposed to paying for a group to travel hundreds of miles across the country.
It makes sense to book a fully-contained wedding band that provides its own PA system, instruments and microphones. Many wedding bands will even offer a total entertainment package which includes DJing into the small hours – this could save you even further as it means not having to hire a separate DJ to inspire your relatives to get on the dance floor after a celebratory champagne or two!
Before choosing a band, it’s worthwhile getting in touch with them (or their agent/promoter) to see what sort of set they can offer. Most professional wedding entertainers will be able to cover for a wide variety of tastes, with everything from rock to pop, soul and jazz on the setlist.
3) Ask friends and family to help
Asking your friends and family to help doesn’t mean expecting them to splash out financially. Instead, you could rely on the skills of an acquaintance who has serious bake-off skills to create you a cake as a wedding gift, or perhaps ask your craft-happy friend to help design you some wedding invites, table placeholders, wedding favours and decorations.
Ultimately, love knows no bounds – even on a budget. So get creative, start thinking about how you can save on venue and entertainment prices and prepare yourself for a day you’ll never forget!
If you’re planning a destination wedding, there’s a lot to consider – from finding the perfect location to arranging travel for your guests. But don’t worry, help is at hand. To make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible, be sure to check out our destination wedding directory.
Our directory is filled with information on top wedding planners and vendors who specialise in destination weddings. From florists to photographers, caterers to DJs, we’ve got you covered. You’ll find everything you need to plan the wedding of your dreams, no matter where in the world you choose to tie the knot.
In addition to our directory, we also offer a private group where brides-to-be and wedding experts can connect and share tips and advice on planning a destination wedding. It’s the perfect way to get inspiration, ask questions, and connect with others who are going through the same experience.
So whether you’re just starting to plan your destination wedding or you’re in the final stages of preparation, be sure to take advantage of our resources. With our help, you can make your wedding day an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.