Weddings can get expensive, especially in the D.C. area. You can have a very lovely wedding on a smaller budget. I wanted to spend some time going over a few ways to save money and where not to cut corners.
The first step is to set up price comparison sheets. Set them up for vendor vs. vendor as well as DIY vs. hiring a professional. This will be a very valuable tool and you'll see where you're spending money and what it's really for. For instance, if you want to do your own food instead of having a caterer, you'll have to provide all the plates, cutlery, drink cups, serving utensils, you'll need servers and a bartender, trash bags, possibly taking the trash to disprove of off site, napkins, and so on and so on. Your comparison sheet will help you keep track of it all.
Cut the extras. If you’re looking to limit your event spending, cut down on things you don’t need. For Example, if you were thinking of hiring an ice cream truck for cocktail hour, you can find ways to incorporate it if it’s special (you had ice cream on your first date!). Ask your caterer if they could serve single scoop cups and skip the cake. You can have a small cake tier for cutting if you’d like to keep that tradition. Otherwise, loose the ice cream, no one will notice.
Other cuts to make are on draping, extra up lighting, and personalization (such as your monogram) on décor items.
Shop around. I have a background in contracts and purchasing and learned the rule of threes. Get at least three quotes from separate companies for each vendor needed. Keep in mind the cheapest may not be the best option, ask exactly what is included in their services, outline the services in your comparison sheets. Meeting in person will really help you get a feel for who they are and what they will provide for you.
Shop small business. Many small businesses are able to be more flexible with pricing. Don’t be afraid to ask if they can offer any discount.
B.Y.O.B. Everyone knows restaurants mark up their liquor, it carries into weddings as well. If your venue allows it, bring in your own alcohol. Even if the venue charges for bringing in outside alcohol, do a price comparison and see which is the best option for you.
Think outside the favor box. Favors are fun mementos to remember a wedding by, but people would much rather have a snack than a trinket that will most likely break or be out of place in their décor or a random glass. A baggie of Hersey’s Kisses with a nice thank you note can do the trick. Also, consider making a donation to charity in lieu of favors. Did you know there is a wine company that donates to different charities with every bottle and you could take care of two budget items in one?
Get married during the week. A Thursday night wedding can be done. And it can be done eloquently. It’s becoming a more popular trend. Also consider getting married out of season. May- September weddings will generally cost you much more than any other time of year, especially with venues.
Make it short and sweet. You don’t have to party the night away while paying for a D.J. and the bar tab. Have a wonderful dinner with an hour or two of dance then retire to the hotel bar with a smaller, more intimate crowd. A lovely brunch reception with only the traditional dances (first dance, father/daughter, mother/son) can also be quite a memorable reception.
Hire a wedding planner. Many people think planners are unnecessary, or they are just too pricey. The truth is, they can end up paying for themselves in the money they can save you. Most wedding professionals like to work with pros they know, to do this, they’ll offer discounts to clients referred by their colleges, especially planners. A planner can also help you figure out where to make cuts, help you think of things you may be overlooking that would be a budget kicker otherwise. It’s an investment that will pay off for your budget, and your sanity!