Weddings can get very expensive very quickly. It feels as though these expenses start piling up seemingly out of nowhere. The average cost of a wedding in Canada in the most recent year has totalled to $30, 717. Unfortunately, up to 45% of couples end up spending more than they initially planned to. No need to worry though! With these tips and tricks you’ll be feeling like a million bucks!It’s important to know when to splurge and when to settle for the affordable.
Splurge
Wedding Photographer; your photos will be with you forever
Food; if there’s one thing people will remember about a wedding, it’s whether the food was good
A Wedding Planner; we may be biased on this one… but the research speaks for itself!
Save
The Cake; by the time the wedding cake comes around, most people are too full to even take a bite. When getting a cake consider having a few of the tiers be foam covered in fondant for the look. You could even have only the top tier of the cake real for your cutting the cake photos and serve slab cake to the guests.
Invitations; sometimes it isn’t necessary to get the full stationary package, as long as the message gets across, that’s all that matters. You can also think of other alternative ways to invite your guests. For new and creative ways refer to our blog post titled “Unique Wedding Invitation Ideas”.
Wedding Favours; something simple and sincere says a lot, no need to be extravagant on this one. A great favour could be something food related. One of the best ones I have received was two macaroons in a simple box with a thank you card from the bride and groom.
DIY It!
There are some DIY wedding do’s and don’ts. It’s very easy to get carried away on the DIY Pinterest board you’ve been putting together for the last few months. DIY is a fantastic way to cut costs however it takes a lot of time and people often underestimate this. Pick a couple of very doable DIY projects that you are confident you can get done in a reasonable amount of time. Here are a few examples!
1. Make your own wedding favours
2. Make your own photo booth backdrop
3. Make your own wedding program
4. Make your own wedding invitations
5. Make your own wedding place cards
6. Make your own centerpieces
Off Season Wedding
The wedding industry, like many other businesses, fluctuates with supply and demand. The most popular wedding months are far more expensive. If you’re trying to save some money, get married in January, March, April or November. Wedding vendors are more likely to offer discounts during these months, and with the venue being one of the largest expenses in a wedding, this can add up to some significant savings. Make sure to create a contingency plan in case of bad weather and travelling issues for guests. Getting married in off season can lead to a very unique event, and is a great opportunity to think outside the box.
Budgeting
Creating a proper budget prior to the wedding and updating it regularly, can assist in keeping costs low. Begin your budget by creating a set of categories ex florals, décor, photography, rentals etc. to ensure that nothing gets overlooked. Having a visual layout of wear your money is going makes it easier to shift it around. For instance, if you want to spend a little less on your wedding dress and a little more on food. An excel spreadsheet is the best way to organize this and there are many wedding budget spreadsheet templates online if you need assistance getting started. Like this one à http://bridalmusings.com/free-wedding-budget-spreadsheet/.
Happy planning!
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