When it comes to weddings, they can seem like some of the most expensive events on the plant, and whilst they certainly can be pricey if you allow them to be, they don’t have to be at all, so if you’re looking to have a great wedding without breaking the bank and would actually like to have some money left over that you could put towards something useful other than a party for a day, then in this post we’re going to share with you just how you can make that a possibility for yourself

Go easy on the guest list:

The guest lists are one of the biggest causes of friction at weddings, but they’re also one of the things that rack up the costs the most, so it’s time to get firm with setting some boundaries around this and not letting anyone dictate to you who should or shouldn’t be at your wedding. Whilst we’re not suggesting that you leave people out just because you want to save money, it’s important to remember that it’s your wedding and you should only have people there who actually play an active role in your life, so if you don’t feel like inviting all of your dad’s work colleagues who you’ve never met because he was invited to their kid’s weddings or you don’t feel like you want to invite your aunt who you haven’t seen since you were baby, then it’s entirely up to you.

Call in some favours:
As mentioned above, weddings can be expensive, so if you’re able to save some costs along the way, then there’s nothing wrong with doing that. For example, if you know someone who loves to bake, then you could ask them to make your wedding cake and help them get their first job as well as allowing your guests to see their work. Likewise, if you’re looking for wedding photographers and know someone who’s an aspiring one, then why not ask them instead of giving the job to a stranger?

Skip a sit down meal:

Food and drinks are one of the main costs at a wedding, so if you’re thinking of what to offer your guests, then instead of opting for the traditional sit-down meal, then you could go for a more informal buffet that is going to work out a good bit cheaper and also offer a more relaxed settings for your guests to get food when they’re actually hungry and not according to a schedule.

Buy second hand:

If you’re looking for your wedding dress and things like suits, then a good way to save money and still get some great pieces is by buying second hand. Second hand dresses for example, have only been worn once, so it really doesn’t make sense to spend so much money on something you’re only going to wear once yourself when you could save your money and buy something that’s gorgeous but where you can also keep the money to put towards other more important things.

When you're planning a wedding on a small budget, so many little things have to go by the wayside, mainly guests. But, there's a way around this, for those that you can't justify coming for the whole day, you can just invite them to the evening bit. And for many, this is really where the wedding gets going! After all, this is when the father of the bride let his hair down and really shakes his money maker on the dance floor, and the alcohol has loosened a few lips (in more ways than one)!  But what can you do to ensure that you've got an evening party that caters for everyone?

Making Your Evening Guests Feel Welcome
The evening guests can feel like a bit of an afterthought, so it's important to get them up to speed by providing the drinks, and maybe a buffet, so they can fill their boots! Also, remember to have a collection of favors for them as well. Just because they are only coming to the evening, they still want to be a part of your big day, and they've made the effort for you.

Save Some Of The Special Bits Of The Day For The Evening
Traditionally, the first dance doesn't happen until the evening, but if you've got a tight schedule, and it was originally planned to be early on in the day, you can't let your evening guests feel left out. Because if this is the case, then they will feel like they're turning up to a party, rather than a special day. The same goes with the cutting of the cake as some couples do it before they sit down for dinner, but if you've got a lot of people turning up for the evening, it's better for you to save it until everybody can see.

Keep Everyone Fed
Arguably, the most important part of the evening! You need to remember that those who have come for the evening may not have had a meal earlier on in the day. At the same time, you have to ensure that the guests that have been with you all day are well fed as well! It's a very difficult balance to tread, especially if the wedding meal was massive in the first place! A buffet or a roast can keep all guests happy and within budget!

Don't Forget The Kids!
We can underestimate keeping children entertained, and while there are so many unique wedding entertainment ideas for your big day, if you've got children running around, you may want to consider a children's entertainer, or some form of evening childcare so the parents can let their hair down without having to keep one eye on the kids at all times.

While the most important part of the day occurs early on you still need to make sure the whole day is special for everyone, regardless of the time they turn up. The evening party can lag because people are tired, but on the other hand, this could be where people start to find their feet! Make it count!

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Your wedding is certainly an important time in your life, but it’s also one that can soon spiral out of control cost wise if you’re not careful. Weddings are now a multi-billion (and growing) per year industry just in the US alone, so you can probably not even begin to imagine just how much they’re costing on a global scale.

That being said, there are plenty of ways to have a great wedding and not have to go massively over budget. In fact, you can still have the wedding you dreamt of without having to sacrifice and without having to go bankrupt or re-mortgage your home just to have the wedding you want, so in this post we’re going to share with you how to do just that.

Cut the guest list:

When it comes to weddings, the food and catering is usually one of the biggest costs, so it makes sense that in order to keep those costs as low as possible that you get a bit conservative with your guest list. This certainly doesn’t mean that you have to give up on inviting people that you really want to have at your wedding, but it’s just about not allowing yourself to be backed into a corner and having to pay for meals for people who you don’t even know or distant relatives who you haven’t seen since you were a baby.

Family members can start behaving especially weird when it comes to weddings and start thinking that they have a say in who gets invited, when really they don’t, and if they get offended then so be it, because you shouldn’t have to bend over backwards to please others or give into their demands on your special day.

Call in favors:

If you’re getting married and you’re looking for some ways to not pay crazy amounts for things like your wedding cake and even the decor, then maybe now is a good time to consider who you know that could possibly help you out. This isn’t asking anyone to work for free - you should never do that, but if you know someone for example, who can get a special deal on things like wholesale tablecloths from Richard Haworth because they have a contact there, or someone who’s just starting their cake design business, then you could reach out to see if they’d consider working on your wedding and maybe offering you a special deal. It’s a win-win situation, because you’re getting a good deal from someone you trust, are getting quality work, and they’re going to get more exposure.

Buy second-hand:

Wedding clothing such as dresses, accessories and suits are also one of the biggest costs that couples end up paying for, and they really can be quite crazy when you think of the fact that you’re only wearing them for a few hours, so it’s always a good idea to consider buying second hand outfits that you’ll get for a fraction of the price, but that are still great quality.