So often, it is frowned upon for couples to try and save some money by doing certain aspects of the wedding themselves. This is a frustrating taboo, as we have seen many couples do things excellently on their own, outside of hiring a vendor for the specific service or need. While you shouldn’t take some projects on right before the biggest day of your life, there are some things can be done to cut small corners and allow yourself the option to free up some of the wedding budget by just doing a little planning and hardwork on the front end.
Granted, we don’t advocate for you trying to take your own photos or make a meal for 130 guests—but there are a few shortcuts to hopefully make your dollar stretch! With great power comes great responsibility, though, so make sure that wherever you are cutting away at, that you are okay with bearing the burden of what is cut.
Here are a few of our cost saving favorites for each wedding category:
Cake: So many people have stopped doing the massive wedding cakes and instead just do a small cutting cake for you and your spouse. Then you can do a dessert bar filled with donuts (purchased at your local bakery to save $), cupcakes, brownies, etc. You can also take a page from the Pennsylvania wedding playbook and do a “Cookie Table” where you have beloved family members make their most popular cookie and put it on a massive table filled with cookies for everyone to enjoy.
Catering: While there shouldn’t be much “cost saving” in this area, as you need a full team to service as many guests as you’ll be having, there are a few options.
-Hire a smaller catering company to perform the cocktail hour. Keep it super simple like a grazing table.
-Opt to rent the place settings yourself. Sometimes, companies put an upcharge on this for them to rent them for you. If you rent directly from the rental company, it could save you a bit of your budget.
-Find a venue that allows you to bring in your own alcohol. Most venues upcharge massivley on alcohol, so if you are able to bring your own, this can be huge savings.
Florist: We are big fans of well done florals. We love all of our florists friends and recognize it is a very difficult job. However, most women are fairly crafty and can cut off a significant amount of expense with florals. If you and your bridesmaids are feeling up to it, do a bouquet making bar the morning of your wedding. Have mimosas, laugh and build your bouquets. Have a florist do your ceremony arch piece (which can be repurposed to your sweetheart table) and have them do aisle or chair pieces (that can be repurposed for your reception tables). This can decrease the cost significantly, while still making sure that your venue is beautifully decorated.
Photographer: Please do not skimp on a real professional photographer. However, if you have a coordinator, you shouldn’t need to have a second shooter. A good coordinator will be with you during the photo timeframes and help with family photo list calling, fixing your dress, holding bouquet, etc.
