Top tips for cutting wedding costs
Don’t let a little global credit crunch stand in the way of you having the wedding day you always wanted! With one bridal magazine’s reader survey revealing that the average cost of an Australian wedding is $39,114 it seems likely that many couples start off their married life in debt. Money worries can be one of the greatest stresses on a relationship so here are some tips from one of the leading Sunshine Coast wedding venues for cutting those wedding costs.
To start with:
Decide who’s paying for what and set your spending limit.
Itemise everything you will need for the wedding and budget for each one.
Set up a wedding account and a spreadsheet to keep track of all your wedding related spending and keep it separate from the rest of your money.
How many bridesmaids and groomsmen do you actually need? Do not feel obliged to return any bridesmaid favours; it might be more sophisticated to not have any bridesmaids. After all, what do they really do anyway?
Wedding venues
Take your time in choosing your venue carefully - there are so many Sunshine Coast wedding venues to choose from.
Invite only close family and friends to the reception meal and then invite everyone else to the party after dinner.
Choose a mid-week or mid-winter date for your wedding.
Instead of having a band or DJ, make your own CDs or use your i-pod so you can have the music you like, not somebody else’s choice.
Getting There
Have your wedding reception venue in the same place as the ceremony so that you don’t have to drive.
Do any of your friends or family own a fancy car? They may be happy to chauffeur you if you ask them nicely!
Use wedding cars efficiently by having one or two cars to do double trips so you're halving the number of cars used to transport everyone
The dress:
Hot tip: have your wedding dress made to measure by an eBay seller. Search wedding forums to find out what other brides’ experiences are of these sellers. If you allow enough time before the wedding to have it made, you will be able to have it altered if necessary when you receive it. After the wedding you can always sell it again and recoup some of your money!
Take the time to try on a number of dresses so that you get an idea of the styles that suit you and you can compare prices.
Check out end of line or end of season gowns that are cheaper.
Be environmentally friendly and hire your dress or buy a second hand dress, available from some shops or online.
Bridal Jewellery
Borrow it! If you borrow from somebody significant in your life it adds a very special touch to your wedding day.
For a simple yet sophisticated touch, limit your jewellery to one piece only, especially if your dress is quite detailed.
Hair and make up
Have your make-up and hair done by trainees for but make sure you have your trials early!
Have a free makeover from a cosmetic counter on the morning of your wedding.
Do your own facials at home and ask one of your friends to do your hair and/or make-up on the day.
Photography
Chances are that everybody will be taking photos and videos so set up an online photo website for free and give your guests the username and password so they can upload their photos to it.
Ask friends and relatives to take pictures for you at the wedding reception venue and just pay a professional photographer to stay for the ceremony.
Flowers
Ask your florist to recommend flowers in season as they will be a lot cheaper than more exotic ones. Go for a simple bouquet as a heavily structured one will need a lot of wiring – meaning more expense.
For a more personal touch, pick your own flowers from friends’ and families’ gardens (with their permission of course!).
Use the same flower arrangements for the ceremony and reception venues. Or, better still, have your ceremony and reception in the same venue so that you can reuse the same flowers. Getting married during major church celebrations, such as Easter, may mean that your church already has flowers in place.
Make your own table decorations, e.g. balloons, confetti, lanterns, candles, etc
Wedding Cake
Ask a friend or relative if they will make your cake instead of giving you a present.
Have wedding cake for dessert. You can still have the cake cutting part of the ceremony at the beginning of the reception dinner.
Wedding Stationery
Make your own invitations, table cards, seating charts. Why not use a special photo to make your own photo cards?
Email your invitations.
Wedding Favours
Not something that most guests really expect but, if you insist, make them yourself!
Presents
If you already live together, it’s quite acceptable to ask for money rather than gifts.
Honeymoon
Be flexible and check out last minute deals; your honeymoon does not have to be immediately after the wedding.
And don’t forget to ask yourselves, ‘do we really need it?’ When all is said and done, the most important thing is not how many crystals are on your tiara, but that you are marrying your partner in life and that you enjoy an unforgettable day together.
Contact the events centre @ maroochy today to find out how they can host a memorable and elegant wedding that won't break the bank. |
