Cost-Cutting Tips to Keep Your Wedding Under Budget
If you’re planning to have your wedding in New York City, you’re likely already preparing yourself to spend a good bit of money. Weddings here can certainly get pricey—that’s no secret!
That doesn’t mean that there aren’t things you can easily cut out or do differently to save some money, though. Every person has a budget and we want you to spend the best way possible. Here are our favorite budget tips:
Forget the favors. Lots of guests forget to take them home and if they do, they usually end up in the trash. If you want something for your guests to enjoy at the end of the night, consider a late night snack.
Skip table wine service. It is a super nice touch & guests definitely enjoy it, but the extra staff, wine and glasses can really add up. When guests want another drink, they can walk up to the bar or some places offer table side orders.
Go digital! Online save the dates and invitations have become so much easier and common. (plus they save the planet) Save the stationary and stamps costs and send e-cards with a service like Paperless Post.
Do an open bar of just wine & beer. A full open bar for all your guests can get pricey! Offering unlimited service of just wine and beer can save a lot of money while still giving everyone the open bar experience. If you still want to include a cocktail option, consider offering a signature cocktail or two.
Don’t spend so much on a big fancy cake. If you want to do a public cake-cutting for photos, buy a small ornate cake just for that purpose. Then buy a cheaper sheet cake the kitchen can serve from the back for dessert. No one will know the difference and this can save hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars.
Consider a weekday wedding. This may be our most controversial take yet, but weekday weddings can cost THOUSANDS of dollars less than a weekend wedding. No, it won’t work for everyone. But if it can work for you, even just having a Friday night wedding rather than a Saturday can save you a ton of money in the long run.
Now that you’ve saved where you can, its important not to forget some things that plenty of couples don’t remember to include in their wedding budget:
Your rehearsal dinner or welcome event! You may have a separate budget for this, but it’s important to calculate this cost into your overall wedding budget.
Vendor tips. You don’t necessarily need to tip every single vendor, but staff and anyone you feel went above and beyond should get a tip. (Some vendors will include a suggested tip in their contract or it may be a line item in their proposal)
Wedding party expenses. Bouquets and boutonnières, hair and makeup, getting ready food, pajamas for getting ready photos—this all adds up! Don’t forget to put this in your budget.
Small decor items. Your guestbook, welcome sign, favors, welcome bags, and anything else you include to personalize your weekend.
Transportation. Whether or not you’re organizing cars/buses for your guests, even just Ubers and taxis for you and your family/wedding party is a cost that sneaks up on couples.
No matter your budget, its important to decide what you’re comfortable spending & what your priorities are. Establishing this early on in your planning process will make the process more enjoyable and much easier.
Happy planning!
