Budgeting for a wedding: Tips on keeping the costs low
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Weddings can be pretty expensive. In fact, aside from buying a house and possibly a new car, they are probably one of the biggest things you’ll ever spend money on in one go. The average U.K wedding costs around £30k so it’s worth thinking about budget constraints before you get started.
Before The Wedding
Before the wedding planning even begins, it’s time to start thinking about money.
While the old adage was that you should spend at least three months wages on an engagement ring that isn’t going to be possible for a lot of people. Personally, I think whatever reasonable amount you can afford is a better option.
There is nothing wrong with looking at and buying cheap engagement rings for both parties as this is far better than going into debt or spending money set aside for emergencies.
Remember it’s the sentimental value that counts more than anything – so choose somewhere special and meaningful to propose rather than spending a fortune on the ring.
Once the proposal is done and they’ve said ‘yes’ it’s time to start looking at how much you can realistically afford to spend, based on what you earn, savings and any contributions from family.
Save Money While Wedding Planning
If you’ve never looked at the cost of weddings before, then you might be in for a bit of a shock. However, as with anything in life, there are almost always ways you can save money.
The absolute cheapest way to get married is a simple registry office wedding with two witnesses, but I do concede the majority of people will want something a little bit more extravagant than this.
However, I do find this makes a good starting point to then to consider each extra you want for your wedding from here on out.
Really think about the priorities for your spending.
Is the venue the most important thing? The dress? The food?
What is less important? Flowers? Bridesmaids?
Remember it’s your day and to do what is best for you within your budget.
Save On The Venue – The wedding venue is likely to be your biggest expense but there are still ways to save money. Opting for a weekday or a Sunday wedding can save you a big chunk of cash although it could make attending tricky for some guests.
Also, consider the time of year, weddings in July and August tend to be the most expensive with November and January being the cheapest.
In a hurry? Last-minute cancellations can also see you snag a bargain as venues don’t want to lose money.
Save On The Food – If you’re having quite a big wedding then food is probably going to be your next-biggest cost. Venues will often show you their most expensive options so ask if you can reduce the number of courses, opt for something cheaper such as afternoon tea or serve your wedding cake instead of dessert.
Save On The Dress / Suits – Buying your wedding dress second hand can be a great way to save money – it could even be brand new as lots of brides buy and then change their minds as their wedding date draws near.
For suits, you could choose to go with something the groom and groomsmen already own and just add matching ties and shoes.
Another option could be to hire suits but remember suits will need returning in immaculate condition – we didn’t feel we could trust our wedding party with that responsibility! Suits usually need returning within two weeks of the wedding to bear that in mind if you’re planning to go straight off on honeymoon.
Think out of the box when it comes to bridesmaids dresses. Mine came from the Tesco F&F range and cost £25 – similar styles were selling Debenhams at the time for around £100.
Save On The Big Day – When it comes to the day itself, there are definite areas where spending can be reduced.
For example, for my own wedding I was already staying at the venue so that meant we didn’t need to hire fancy cars. If you have a family member with a nice car you could ask them to take you and simply add some ribbons to make the car feel more festive.
If you’re not into flowers you could opt for something different to carry such as a brooch bouquet and have a display of something else on your tables – I love the idea of books, candles, feather or even fallen leaves instead of the traditional flower arrangements.
One of my biggest spending regrets for my own wedding was hiring a band. They were great but no one really danced and looking back I think a DJ would have been perfectly adequate and about a third of the cost.
Make Money After The Wedding
If you’ve gone over budget for your wedding, then you might be able to make some of that money back in the weeks after your nuptials.
While it isn’t for everyone, the biggest way to recoup some money is to sell your wedding dress, veil and shoes, as these are all items you’re unlikely to use again.
You could also consider selling any other wedding paraphernalia you bought, such as signs, decorations, glass jars, table cloths and so on.
Don’t forget, no matter how big or small your budget, your wedding day is all about getting to say ‘I do’ in front of everyone you love and having an amazing time with your new spouse.
