As soon as you begin planning your wedding, your excitement can soon turn to dismay as it becomes clear just how much everything is going to cost. All the must-haves soon add up and before long, you’re eating into your bank balance like there’s no tomorrow! Thankfully, there are loads of ways to make real savings. A few DIY tips and you can still have a glamourous day at a fraction of the cost.
Choose an off-peak day or season to get married
Hiring the right venue is one of the main costs of the wedding but you’ll find many great deals and reductions by choosing a day or season that isn’t as popular. Of course, the most popular days are Saturdays in the spring and summer, so by choosing a Friday in late Autumn or Winter could save you a small fortune. If you desperately want a summer wedding, then compromise with a weekday affair to save money. Find out more about Gloucester Hotel Wedding Venue hire at hatton-court.co.uk/gloucester-cotswolds-weddings
Clearance Wedding Dress
Why not shop for your dress in a clearance sale section? This sounds a lot of worse than it really is. Each new season, as new gowns enter the market, unsold dresses from existing or last season’s collections get bumped into the sale section. These are still brand new, dream gowns but there’s a better chance of you grabbing one for a discounted price!
Consider hiring a student band
Instead of searching the local wedding band directory, why not consider contacting local music colleges or bands who might not have been playing the wedding circuit? Wedding bands are expensive, and you could hire a non-professional yet highly talented group for a fraction of the cost of a professional set-up. See them live, watch a recording or hold auditions, just make sure you’ve heard them before they play your big day!
Use fresh flowers sparingly
Stunning fresh flowers will bump up your wedding bill, mostly for florist labour than for the flowers themselves. Focus on the bridal bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets and corsages, but use artificial flowers for the rest of your décor in order to cut costs. It’s the bouquets and corsages that will show most in the photos. You can also substitute table flowers with cheaper yet attractive potted plants or candles.
Buy a basic cake and decorate it
A basic cake can easily be made beautiful with cheap accessories such as ribbon, edible decorations, toppers and ready-to-roll icing for example. Alternatively, have a small fancy cake for display and cutting but serve a more basic sheet cake to guests. Keep reading mother of the bride hairstyles.
Use trainee hair and make-up artists
As with booking a live band, you don’t have to use professional wedding hair and makeup stylists. You can find students and trainees who want the practice for a fraction of the cost, or even free if they need to build their portfolio. Have them come with their trainer so any last-minute fixes can be made before you head off.
