Save Money on Your Wedding (Without Looking Cheap)
Posted on February 26, 2007 by Her and tagged wedding
We've been planning our wedding for over a year now and have found lots of ways to make an inexpensive wedding look expensive. Here are some tips:
Buy Secondhand
Buying secondhand items is always cheaper than buying them new, and is even sometimes cheaper than renting them! By scouring Craigslist, ebay, and your own local shops, you can save tons of money. Often you can buy a very good quality used item for less than you could purchase a new poor quality item. Some items to consider: wedding gown, veil, tiara, purse, bridesmaids dresses, favors, centerpieces, candles, ring pillow, wedding rings, lights, serving pieces, cake knife set, etc. One wedding gown I saw for sale on Craigslist was a custom design by a world-renowned designer, and included an original signed sketch of the gown! It was selling for about the same price as a new gown from David's Bridal. Plus, many secondhand items are actually new: sometimes the bride just changed her mind before the wedding.
Spend on the Details, Skimp on the Big Stuff
People notice and remember the special little details of your wedding, and coordinated details make a wedding look more expensive than it was. For example, instead of renting expensive coordinated napkins, you could rent basic white napkins (or even use plain paper napkins) and make napkin rings out of inexpensive plastic pearls. Or you could spend an afternoon folding the napkins into a shape that matches the theme of your wedding.
Double-Duty Items
It's a waste to spend money on something you will only use once. For each item, consider if you can find a way to resell or reuse it after the wedding. For our reception, we purchased pretty photo frames to display the table numbers. After the wedding, we'll place our photo inside and give them as gifts to our families. We also purchased Japanese lanterns to decorate the reception. We'll list them for sale online after the wedding to recoup the cost.
Coupons and Discounts
Always ask your vendors what specials or coupons they are currently offering. Vendors almost always give away coupons during bridal expos. Attend these (free) events and you can save hundreds on each of your vendors.
Negotiate Like A Pro
Always, always, always negotiate the price. There are lots of books on negotiating at the library, and usually you can get a better price just by asking for it.
Get a Damage Discount
Be on the lookout for slightly damaged goods that are easy to repair. Shops will usually give you a 10% discount on slightly damaged goods if you ask fro a damage discount. Just be sure you really can repair the item inexpensively, or that the damage is unnoticeable.
No Impulse Purchases
Purchase nothing - NOTHING - on impulse. Always get a price quote in writing, then take 24 hours to mull it over. Take the time to compare prices, check that the item will absolutely fit in with your wedding and that you are allowed to use it (some churches prohibit confetti, for example), and that it is absolutely what you want.
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Miserly Bastard | Feb 26, 2007
I have to say, I find the fascination on "dream weddings" totally inexplicable. You cant turn on HGTV or the WE channel without seeing hours of this programming. Perhaps it has something to do with little girls being conditioned with "wedding fantasies" from a young age. But even some men I know seem to take inordinate care in crap like slipcovers on chairs, what the string quartet is playing, etc. I basically am of the belief that weddings are a complete waste of money. I've been at elopings in front of a Justice of the Peace, and I've been at weddings for the sons of Governors, and I can tell you that at the end of the day, both couples ended up happily married. How much they (or their parents) spent was irrelevant in the long run. As a new dad, I sure hope my daughter tells me she wants a simple affair, with minimal planning and expense. If she doesn't say this, I'll feel a bit like I've failed as a parent.
Gowns can be purchased from websites such as netbride.com or pearlsplace.com at a SIGNIFICANT discount. My dress was $910 at House of Brides, I paid $344 plus $10 shipping at netbrides.com, my BM dresses were $91, a local bridal salon quoted us $236.
Amy | Feb 26, 2007
I gently take issue with the idea of spending on details and going cheap with the big stuff. Crafted napkin rings do not a wedding make. Focus on people, people! Things to spend on: food and drink (if you're going to ask people to come to your wedding, you should feed them well), photography (the only tangible thing left years later), and invitations (the only part of your wedding that many people will see). Certainly make sure you have lovely clothes to wear and maybe some flowers, but your wedding is not about themes, wedding favors, and table decorations; those are just fodder for wedding magazines.
I also can't believe the number of couples who are paying many thousands of dollars for their own weddings. If the parents aren't paying for the bash, why not have an intimate ceremony with close family and friends, have a party afterwards at someone's house, and save your hard-earned cash for a down payment? A big wedding is essentially a demonstration of the family's social and financial standing: if the couple is (barely) paying for it themselves, what is the point of this elaborate demonstration?
I completely agree with "Amy" it's going to be a nice wedding with the family and friends because they are the one with whom we are attached.
Daniel.
Christine | Feb 27, 2007
You forgot the biggest money saver - Make it yourself! When I got married (less than two years ago), I couldn't find a veil for under $150. A quick trip to the craft store, and under $15 later, I had everything I needed to make my own.
Catherine the Frugal Homemaker | Feb 27, 2007
Oh, by all means make your own veil. My mother, who is usually very Southern Polite, actually snorted and rolled her eyes when the salon lady said how much the veil I liked cost. She made mine for less than 20 bucks, including my tiara (from Claire's) and extra fabric and ribbon in case she messed up. Now, my mother is an acomplished seamstress, but I'm pretty sure that even I could make a veil. If you can't imagine making your own, get thee to E-bay!
Jill | Feb 27, 2007
I got married last June...we saved a ton of money on flowers by buying them in bulk from Costco and arranging them ourselves. Most of us have friends that are ready and willing to help. It took about 30 minutes to make arrangements for the tables, alter, everything. It was easy and less than $400. We did still use a florist for the bouquets. Costco guarantees fresh delivery, we weren't disappointed.
Jill | Feb 27, 2007
A few more thoughts, I third the making your own veil. Cheap, cheap, cheap and it'll be the exact same. My tiara came from a knock-off type place for $12 (I saw similar at bridal places for hundreds). My mom and aunt made the "favors" -- safari themed cookies since we went on a safari for our honeymoon. For the location, if you have a smaller gathering, a family member's house can work fabulously. Our wedding was at my parent's because their view of the Rocky Mountains couldn't be beat. Food -- try a non-traditional food vendor, like mexican. We fed 100 people and provided alcohol for $4k and the food was great, there's nothing worse than spending a fortune on "wedding food" like rubbery chicken. Other options are having an afternoon ceremony and a dessert only reception. There's no shame in a cake and punch reception. What matters is your committment to each other, not the food, not the flowers, not the napkin rings. Remember that above all else.
JJ | Feb 27, 2007
With the exception of maybe your dress, don't buy anything from a bridal store. During the summer, every shoe store in the city will have at lease a few white shoes available - and they'll be much cheaper and/or better quality then "bridal shoes". And Ebay can be your best friend. If you don't have the skills to make your own veil, there are a ton of vendors on there, some that will cutsom design it for you. All for around $30-60, which is a far cry from the $200+ that bridal salons want to charge you.
Cat | Feb 27, 2007
We found a place that allowed us to bring in our own food & drinks which was the biggest savings for us. We got a local Greek restaurant to cater it for us and we bought all of the wine & beer ourselves. There are a lot of places that don't advertise, but do rent space. If you can find a place that allows you to bring in your own food & drinks, you will save a fortune and have much better food!
Pay cash. We have been able to bargain even more by offering to pay cash. If the seller chooses to pay sales tax, that's up to them, we merely remind them that if we pay cash, we don't know what happens after....hmmm.
Just because they say it's the lowest price, bargain more and be prepared to walk. They'll come down even more. Photographer, florist, rings, dresses (honestly we got two quotes from the same lady for the same dress)
I agree with Amy, spend it on the big stuff. No on will remember how your napkins will be folded.
Also, don't expect to sell the centerpieces. Most people will probably take them home.
All your tips are great! Of course another great one that I've even used for my wedding this past June was using the grocery store! They have really great tasting cakes at a fraction of the price, and I got my flowers from one as well for a deeply discounted rate. They can get the wholesale prices and know what they are doing to create bouquets, centerpieces, etc. for you! Also, places like theknot.com are great resources to get local tips and deals from past brides.
BTW, I love reading your blog!
beeblebrox | Feb 28, 2007
Though I'm not married or engaged yet, one of my favorite money savings tip was not doing favors at all or being charitable and giving that money to an organization. I went to a wedding that did that and I didn't miss the favor and liked the thought behind it.
Thrifty Bride | Dec 12, 2007
Being engaged and planning on paying for a large chunk of the wedding ourselves has been a lesson in creativity. My favorite bride website is kvetch.indiebride.com its filled with brilliant ideas and adivce and general non-traditional do it yyourself websites, ideas, and other wonderful things. I go there whenever I feel overwhelmed by all the details. Luckily none of which are being put on us by our families. We're going to be in a backyard in a beautiful setting, who needs little plastic favors that are junk that no one needs anyways.
I have also found sooo much stuff on ebay and craigslist. People use it once and don't want to throw it away and are just hoping to get rid of it without losing all the $ they spent. I mean what are you going to do with 100 candle holders. Their loss my gain, and I plan on selling my stuff or giving it away to some bride that needs it. You have to give in order to receive.
Christiana | Feb 26, 2007
Buy at after season sales - we purchase Christmas lights and garlands post-Christmas for decorations for about 10% of the original costs.
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