Parents and daughters pay attention. This article is for you.
Wedding days are meant to be the most memorable of your life. But it is an expensive memory – they cost £20,000, on average.
So while the idea of cutting costs might not go down well with brides, it is perfectly possible to reduce your wedding budget without sacrificing any of the day’s sense of occasion.
First of all, work out how much you can afford to spend in total. Then break down your budget so you can keep an eye out for any area that’s running out of control. You can download a budget planner at Cheap-wedding-success.co.uk.
Then its time to start looking for savings.
1. Stationery – average cost £465*
This is one of the easiest areas to make cuts. First of all, forget sending “save the date” cards to your guests. Send an email around instead. Or, assuming you are doing your planning well in advance of the day, just send out the invitations a little earlier.
As for designing those invitations, why not tap your friends’ talents? If you know someone artistic, perhaps they can do your invites by hand. Alternatively, you may know someone who can produce them on a computer.
2. Venue – average cost £4,000
This is a tricky one to substantially cut back if you want a specific stately venue. If you don’t, consider holding your reception in a village hall or even community centre. They are usually cheap to hire, and with a little decorating can look fantastic. Or if a relative has a large garden or field, consider a marquee.
If you already know exactly where you want to get married, opting for an out-of-season date – wedding season is May to September – or getting married on a weekday can cut costs substantially. Also, be ready to haggle. Tell the venue that the price is important to your decision, and see if they will cut the cost or throw in anything for free. For example, at a hotel, try to get some overnight accommodation included in the price.
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Indeed, be ready to haggle over every element of your wedding. When getting quotes, try not to mention too early that you are organising a wedding. Venues, caterers and the like tend to bump up their prices. Only mention the ‘w’ word after you’ve got the quote.
3. Flowers – average cost £685
Slash your florist’s bill by talking to them. Ask them what flowers will be in season when you get married. Pick blooms that are available in the UK rather than ones that have to be flown in, and your budget will drop dramatically.
4. The dress – average cost £1,590
It’s possible to have an amazing wedding dress without breaking the bank. If you want a brand-new designer dress, look out for designer warehouse sales. Or if you are less bothered about a designer label, hit the high street. The likes of Debenhams, BHS, Monsoon and Marks & Spencer all have bridal ranges with outfits costing from as little as £95.
If you are prepared to wear a second-hand dress – they’ve only been worn once before after all – then try eBay or charity shops. It’s possible to pick up the holy grail of wedding dresses, a Vera Wang, on eBay for £250. They normally retail at £2,000 plus.
Oxfam has a range of wedding dresses for sale on its website too.
5. Rings – average cost £630
zzFor example, a plain platinum band will cost you upwards of £645 from Tiffany whereas they cost from £99 at Argos. And they look exactly the same.
6. Cake – average cost £370
If you know someone who knows how to wield a spatula and a piping bag, then consider asking them to provide the wedding cake instead of a gift. Or buy a plain iced celebration cake from a supermarket and decorate it with fresh flowers. It’s possible to pick up three tiers of white iced cake from Asda for £23.
And there you have it. A wedding for a fraction of the cost that doesn’t compromise on style.
*All average cost figures come from Weddingday.co.uk.
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