Tuesday Tips

TysWife2Be

I know this is a repeat but there are so many new Knotties so I will bring it up again...

What are some ways you can save money for your big day?

Soon2BSand

DIY!!!!!!!!!

I'm doing everything I can myself and loving the savings... I also saved over $1000 on my dress by ordering from "over seas". It's a gamble but it paid off.

Dancerppf

These are tips that I've come across but didn't always use

*Having your BM carry single blooms instead of a bouquet
*Order flowers from an on-line provider like proflowers
*Do it yourself (only if you can do a really good job)
*Invite fewer guest (your second cousin twice removed through marriage,now divorced isn't a must invite)
*Serve beer wine and a speciality drink instead of an open bar
*Look into ETSY and the Knot Classifieds to find reasonably priced items
*Re-sell what you can after the wedding
*Budget strategically and realistically (don't forget to include tips)
*Every wedding idea you've ever had doesn't need to be incorporated into your wedding. Pick the most important aspects and if your unsure about it, leave it out.
*Don't try on wedding dresses you can't afford or that are out of your budget.
*Comparison shop for items and look for coupon codes

mikimoto6

I am saving money by:

1. Having a SMALL wedding (60 guests). Containing the guest list is the biggest savings.  I didn't wan to water down my wedding vision to accommodate a large number of people.

2. Leveraging my vendor relationships for good deals on services. I have been referring clients to them for years so they are taking good care of me.

3. My BFF is an amazing florist. She is gifting flowers to us for the wedding.  Can we say $10,000 worth fo flowers for the mere cost her supplies?  #WINNING

4. Soft bar only

5. My officiant is an elected official. Since she cannot accpet gifts over $45, we don't have to pay her. (we will figure out some way to thank her that won't require her to have to complete the reporting forms for gifts)

6. Not investing time and money in too many little things. No favors, programs, personalized cake knife, toasting glasses, etc.

7. Purchased invitations wholesale. 50% savings off the retail price.

8. My mom is baking my wedding cake. 

9. The venue is owned by the City, so its considered park space.  Really inexpensive rental rate and I can bring my own caterer.  Controlling food and beverage cost is biggest savings.

10. Found killer shoes at DSW for $20.75! 

11. Getting married on a Friday afternoon.  Vendor costs are lower because they can still book their Saturdays for other stuff.  Not paying a "Saturday fee" for the exact same services. 

12. No "plus ones" for guests. It would defeat the purpose of having a small wedding and it eliminates strangers attending the wedding. 

We are paying for our own wedding because we don't want to have to entertain outside influences on what we do for the wedding.  My mom's money would come with way too many strings FI parents are not living).  We are also paying cash for the wedding, so we are only spending a finite amount of money.  

Fabbiegirl

-Cut the guest list.
-DIY a lot.
-Do a more casual and laidback affair instead of black tie.  Casual events look good with inexpensive things.  I hate it when formal looks cheap.  lol
-Craigslist
-Try cake places like WalMart, Publix, Kroger, etc instead of bakeries.
-Try catering from those places as well including Sam's or Costco.
-Try those same places for flowers.
-Look into parks for rec centers and event space. Many are very affordable and sometimes very beautiful.
-Have a small bridal party.
-Research
-Don't tell stores you are doing a wedding. They jack prices up.
-Walmart has invitation kits as well as Target, but WalMart is cheaper.
-Pick about 5 items that are the most important to you and put a lot of your DIY time and budget into those items.  Don't sweat other stuff.  EX.  My dress is important to me, so I budgeted accordingly.  Invitations are not, so I bought them at WalMart for $10 for 25.  Even in the printing, I did not pay extra to use colored ink.  I just didn't care.
-Think outside the box.  Don't get too set on a certain way because that way may be too expensive. If you are open to beauty then you will see it in different ways, but if you are set on a Tiffany theme, you trap yourself.

-

wallacje

I saved money by: 

- Moving the wedding from Denver to Las Vegas (So I could have my Saturday wedding saved us over 50% just on food and beverages alone)
- DIY Programs (They doubled as fans)
- DIY Bouquets for the BMs
- DIY Cardbox
- DIY Pocketfold Invitations
- No rehearsal dinner - We didn't have a rehearsal, ceremony was short and sweet
- Our wedding wasn't small but still keep the count down as much as possible
- DIY Veil - Birdcage
- DIY Luggage tags - favors
- DIY centerpieces
- DIY Boutineires - so easy
- Research and time getting the best deal
- Find a venue that lets you bring in your own alcohol (if you have a bunch of drinkers)

M1ssJ

- get married on any day except Saturday
-get married in the "off season" for your area
- reduce the liquor consumption
- consider lunch and brunch receptions

lil01

Agree with all above. I will add that realizing what you can and cannot do without is important. Asking yourself what you will probably not even pay attention to or remember that day will cut out a lot of "I want this...this...and this". I had a LONG list of things "I wanted & had to have" in the beginning. Towards the end of the planning, the only things I really cared about were the food, cake, and my attire. That's where my $$ went.