Simple Ways to Save Money!

Ways to Save!

Even though you may be very organized in keeping track of your financial investments for your wedding, there is always going to be times when you are tempted to go over budget. Over the next 2 days you will learn numerous ways to stay in the black, starting with what’s important and the guest list.

What’s Important?
You can start by making a list of your top 3 aspects of the wedding that are most important to you. Once you’ve made your list, allocate a little extra money into those categories. Now, create a new list of the 3 items that are of lowest importance and subtract the total amount of money you’ve assigned to the others amongst them.

Cut the Guest List
The next step is considering cutting the guest list. Of course we know cutting your guest list would be tough, but it could potentially save you quite a bit of money. At $100 person, removing 10 guests would save you $1000! There are a few rules you can use as guide lines for this option. Rule #1: If you have never met, spoken to or recognize a name on the guest list, they get cut. Rule #2: Decide whether or not you’d like to invite children. Not inviting children could also save a substantial amount of money, especially if each family has more than 1 child. Last but not least, Rule #3: Decide whether or not you’d like to invite the significant others of friends/family if they are only dating. That is totally up to your transgression. However, this could come in handy. If So and So has a girlfriend you just don’t like, don’t feel obligated to invite her. You’ve just saved yourself $100 and a lot of annoyance. 

Also reconsidering the number of woman in your bridal party will help with staying on budget. Although it would be hard to cut a few of your closest family or friends, paying for gifts, hair and makeup for 3 bridesmaids would be a lot easier on your pocket book than for 6. If you cannot bear to cut the list, which is totally understandable, simply ask each bridesmaid if she would be willing to purchase her own dress and wedding day essentials.

Flower Selections
It’s been said that by using more greenery and only one or two types of flowers in your bouquets and centerpieces can save a fair amount of cash. Buying flowers that are in season are also going to be more affordable, so shop around to see what’s the best price for flowers in season. Be mindful that a simple switch of peonies to roses can cost you 5 times less in the long run! That’s right! You heard me correctly! Peonies can cost up to 5 times more than roses! By including non floral elements into your centerpieces you can also save on the floral budget.

Reception
While cutting your guest list can save on your final reception tab, there are a few other ways that will help. For example, by having bigger tables you can seat more guests at one table eliminating the need to have to order extra centerpieces and tablecloths. Shopping off season for your wedding needs is also a very good idea. If your wedding is black and pink, you can purchase modern black vases on sale after Halloween and pink ones after Valentine’s Day, same goes for red and green and more than likely silver or gold after Christmas.

By only serving a select number of alcoholic beverages as opposed to a full bar or having a cash bar and skipping the champagne toast you could save greatly. Serving comfort foods like barbeque chicken and macaroni and cheese is often cheaper, and everyone is sure to enjoy it.
Wedding cakes can certainly be expensive so it is recommended that you only order a small one or two tier cake for the traditional bride and groom cake cutting ceremony but then supplement larger sheet cakes hidden in the kitchen for your guests. By forgoing expensive sugar flowers, specialty fillings, using butter cream frosting instead of fondant and reusing ceremony flowers on the cake table for decoration you can significantly reduce your overall cost.

Favors can be costly so having them do double duty would be fantastic. Using a favor that doubles as an escort card would be ideal. You could also make the cake your favor, delicious and simple. If double duty isn’t for you, it is possible to reduce the number of favors you need by giving only one per married couple.

Saving money is easy; it only takes a little time and effort. Remembering the two most important questions when you aren’t sure if there is an expense too large will help you figure out if it’s worth it or not. “Will anyone notice I didn’t do this?” and “Will I regret having/not having this as part of my wedding in 10 years?” If the answer is no, then move along.  We here at Magical Moment Weddings hope this blog has inspired you to go the extra mile to save some of your hard earned money and make the most of your wedding budget! For more information please visit us at www.magicalmomentweddings.com