Save Money on your Wedding

We always try to cut our costs and not spend more than we really need to. Below are tips to help you manage your wedding budget

Weekday wedding Just like train journeys and phone calls, weddings are cheaper off peak, so steer clear of Saturdays and the summer months, and set the date for a weekday between October and May. You’ll save on everything from your venue to your photographer – and your guests are less likely to miss the big day because of holidays.

Share and share alike Okay, so the only people you want to share your special day with are the ones on your guest list, but have you thought of asking your ceremony venue if any other couples are tying the knot on the same day as you? If there are, you may be able to agree on a colour scheme and split the cost of flowers and decorations.

Play hard to get You may have fallen in love with a venue/photographer/make-up artist, but don’t go with the first one that you see. Shop around and compare prices and services to make sure that you get the best deals. Ask other couples who they went with and ask photographers and the food supplier if you can see samples of their work before setting anything in stone.

Using friends’ skills Come on, you must know someone who bakes a great cake, is a natural with a make-up brush or is a handy seamstress. Now’s the time to call in favours, and ask your nearest and dearest to share their amazing talents and help you save money. Chances are they’ll be delighted to help with your day, maybe in lieu of a wedding present?

Get crafty Have you ever received a handmade wedding invitation and thought, ‘I could make those’? You’ll save a lot of money if you do. Stationery isn’t the only thing you can make yourself: you could assemble your own favours, fill paper cones with homemade dried-flower petals for gorgeous confetti, or teach yourself calligraphy and design a beautiful table plan. Visit a few arty stores like Hobbycraft www.hobbycraft.co.uk for lots of crafty accessories and materials.

Hire amateurs It’s not as crazy as it sounds – many wannabe photographers, videographers, caterers and hair stylists are desperate to break into the wedding industry, but struggle to get bookings without experience. As a result, some talented people offer their services for free or at cost price in order to build up their portfolios. Contact your local college to see if any students are looking for work.

Eat on your feet Opting for a buffet reception could keep your budget under control. Catering costs tend to be lower, and you won’t fork out for as many waiting staff. You can still have separate courses and a formal seating plan, and as an added bonus, you’re more likely to please your guests by offering a selection of dishes. To save even more, why not serve your wedding cake for dessert, instead of a separate pud? Your guests’ waistlines will thank you… and so will your bank manager.

Skip the evening reception… Evening receptions are often seen as a way to keep costs down, but by the time you’ve paid for venue, buffet and entertainment, costs can mount up. Do your sums carefully – if you’re only inviting an extra 20 people in the evening, it may be cheaper to invite them all to the ceremony and wedding breakfast, and skip the evening do altogether. Which, of course, leaves the whole night free for you to spend with your new husband. …

Or just do it cheaply! You needn’t spend a fortune on your evening do. Most venues will provide a room free of charge if you’ve held the main festivities there, or decamp to the village hall or the function room of the local pub. Don’t overdo the buffet – afternoon guests will have already dined like kings, and evening guests eat before going out, so catering for 60-70% of the final number is usually sufficient. And don’t book an expensive band if money is tight – a cheesy DJ is great entertainment and much cheaper.

Suits you Encourage the men in your bridal party to get organised and pay for a group visit to the suit hire shop. Most menswear suppliers run ‘groom goes free’ deals if you order three or four wedding suits at the same time. That could add up to a tidy saving of £100 or more.

Share the cost In the States, it’s customary for adult bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses. The jury’s still out on whether it’s acceptable over here, but more British brides are taking the lead from our transatlantic neighbours. Only you know whether your bridesmaids will go for it, but if you choose dresses that flatter their figures and can be worn again they may be prepared to chip in. Likewise, don’t spend a fortune kitting ushers out in hired morning dress – they’ll look just as smart in their own suits with matching ties.

Go channel hopping Daunted by your venue’s wine list? Then it may be worth nipping to France to stock up on bargain booze. You’ll need to check the venue’s corkage policy first, but with champagne from just 13.49 euros a bottle (around £9.30) at Tesco Vin Plus in Calais, and return ferry travel from around £50, you could be quids in. Visit www.tesco.com/vinplus for a price list, and www.ferrysavers.com for cheap channel crossings.

Brass in pocket You’re not expected to pick up the tab for your guests’ drinks all night – it’s fine to have a pay bar for the evening reception. Just make sure you spread the word beforehand, either by word of mouth or by putting a note in the wedding invitations, to make sure your guests visit the cash machine en route.

Designer dreams A designer dress on a shoestring budget? It’s more possible than you might think. Many wedding stores have designer days where they sell off last year’s designs to make way for the new ones coming in, and you may be able to pick up a bargain there. You could also pay a visit to Debenhams for a fantastic selection of off-the-peg wedding dresses by famous designers like Jasper Conran and Gharani Strok.

Be a fair lady A wedding fair lady, that is. With hundreds of suppliers under one roof, they’ll all be touting for your business, which can mean big savings on everything from your dress to favours, especially if you book on the day (although you shouldn’t be pressured into a decision). Just don’t forget your cheque book!

Second time around The very nature of weddings means that all those beautiful things – the dress, the veil, the bridesmaids’ gowns – only get used once. You could buy all or part of your outfit second hand. Or, if you don’t fancy wearing someone else’s dress and you aren’t the sentimental type, you could always sell your wedding dress after the big day and recoup some of the cost.

Shop around for bargains Wedding products and services vary hugely in price, and paying over the odds won’t necessarily guarantee a better deal. Before shelling out for anything, phone around other companies and see how their prices compare, and what deals they can offer you. It’s a really good idea to talk to other local brides-to-be and newlyweds to see what they paid for their services and if they have any hints or tips for you. Even if you save £50, it’ll be worth it.

Hit the high street Not all of your wedding purchases have to come from exclusive bridal boutiques. The high street is a great place to start looking for some real bargains – try BHS for inexpensive yet stunning tiaras, shoes, bags and veils, and Monsoon for cute bridesmaids’ dresses and gorgeous accessories. You can even get your wedding cake from Marks & Spencer – their plain white fruit cakes can be easily jazzed up with a sprig of fresh flowers for a fraction of the cost of a custom-made cake.

Go seasonal You may dream of filling your venue with lily of the valley and dining on asparagus and fresh strawberries, but if they’re not in season, you’re going to have to pay over the odds to get them on your wedding day. Using seasonal produce and flowers can reduce your final bill, so do your research first and check it out. Your catering manager should be able to talk you through good menu choices. Find out about flower availability at www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/facts/by-month.htm

Don’t buy ‘wedding branded’ Stick the word ‘wedding’ in front of anything and you’re guaranteed to add a few pound signs to the price tag. Instead of buying ‘bridal shoes’, buy some sparkly summer sandals that’ll look just as good. And you can save a small fortune by choosing evening dresses from a department store.

So where does it all go? The average couple now spends somewhere between £11,000 and £15,000 on their big day. Here’s how. Where could you save a few pennies?

Bride’s wedding ring £200

Groom’s wedding ring £150

Wedding dress £700

Veil and head dress £150

Bouquet £75

Shoes and accessories £125

Beauty treatments £75

Bridesmaids’ dresses £500

Groom’s outfit £150

Flowers (except bouquet) £200

Stationery £300

Transport £300

Ceremony fees £200

Photography £400

Video £400

Cake £200

Reception venue £600

Reception decorations £150

Reception catering £2,000

Evening reception £750

Drinks £750

Entertainment £500

Going Away Outfit £150

Wedding night venue £125

Honeymoon £1,500

Wedding insurance £50

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