Weddings on a Budget

Spend your wedding celebrating your love and future happiness, not worrying about the cost.

A wedding budget planner helps determine your wedding priorities by detailing every cost from the invites to the honeymoon. But as every bride is different, so is her wedding budget. Even the most organised bride will find more expenses than she bargained for, adding as much as an extra 10 per cent to the total wedding budget. So it pays to prioritise your costs from the start. You and your fiancé will need to be realistic and focused when determining where you most need to save and where you can splurge.

Doing it yourself may help save money in areas while adding a personal touch. For instance, you can create your own invitations with a computer, printer and some creative flair. Bulk-buy ribbons and paper then deliver those you can by hand. This way you avoid any hidden material, design and postage costs.

Another do-it-yourself tip is to choose a reception venue where you can supply the drinks. Purchase the amount you will need during sales. You will avoid paying corkage and mark-up fees. And you can bring unfinished bottles home.

Burn your own CDs or play your iPod on the venue’s sound system rather than pay for a band. Nominate a friend to keep an eye on the tunes who can change the song order if you are suddenly inspired to switch the mood on the dance floor.

Make your own wedding cake or create small cupcakes instead. Cupcakes are easy to make and can double as dessert and name-card holders. This helps you avoid spending extra on layers of cake that might not get eaten.

Spend smart simply by marrying and celebrating at the same wedding venues. Keep in mind that getting married in a church can have many hidden costs. For example, you’ll need to decorate the church with flowers and candles, possibly donate money to the church and design wedding programmes for you guests.

Having one wedding venue also saves transportation costs. The wedding car rental company and driver usually charge by the hour. You may be able to make two trips in the same car or hire a bigger car rather than a few separate vehicles. Your might even have a friend (or friend of a friend) who owns a perfect car that you can borrow for the day.

While opting for a couture gown may be more expensive than buying off the rack, keep in mind you may need to make alterations and buy your veil separately. Why not decide on purchasing your bridesmaid gowns from the same shop if possible? Dress designers may give you a discount if they make all the wedding party’s gowns. Leftover material can be used for the groomsmen’s’ ties and flower girl’s dress.

Ultimately, your wedding budget is a work in progress. Don’t stress if you spend more or less than you had hoped. Keep a tally of each cost to minimise surprises down the track. It’s natural that you may pay a bit more than originally anticipated. If you overspend in one area, try cutting back in another.

Remember what is most important – you have shared a special day with those you love and who love you. All the money in the world can’t buy that.

Wedding Ideas on a Budget

Email your save-the-dates to save on paper and postage
Decorate your cake with fresh flowers instead of intricate icing.
Use our bouquets as the floral decoration for your bridal table.
Consider marrying during the week. There is more room to negotiate deals for a wedding day other than Saturday.
Consider how long your reception will be – every hour adds up.
Expect dress alteration costs if you buy off the rack.
Make your beaded jewellery to match your colour theme and gowns.
Remember, the larger your bridal party, the greater the cost – for gowns, gifts and accessories.

The Wedding Reception

As you’ll probably spend at least 40% of your total wedding budget on your wedding reception, advance research and planning is vital to avoid a major budget blow-out. The overall price you can expect to pay for catering will depend on the menu you select, food preparation, the equipment required and the number of staff you’ll need.

Comparing the cost of wedding venues and different catering options can be confusing and time consuming as the packages venues offer vary considerably. Some include everything, while others have separate room-hire costs and, in the case of hiring a marquee, everything is itemized down to the last chair and spoon.

Most often, the decision you make comes down to your budget. To help you work out what that is, first establish the maximum amount you want to spend on your wedding reception. Then, work out the total all-inclusive figure you can spend per head. For example, if you have $8,000 to spend on a reception with 90 guests, you’ll be spending around $88 per head.

Next, compare wedding packages. The easiest way is to add up all the costs involved. Factor in everything, including the average menu price, all beverages and corkage costs, plus venue-hire fees and furniture. For marquee weddings, also include toilets, lighting and flooring, crockery, cutlery and linen hire, and anything else. Now divide each final figure by your total number of guests and you’ll have your cost per head. Then, you will be able to tell whether you can afford that package.

There are various ways of cutting costs, if you need to. For example, go for cheaper ingredients, such as chicken instead of seafood, or change the menu options, say from a set menu to a buffet, if it works out to be less expensive. Have your wedding reception as a less costly breakfast rather than a dinner, or hold your wedding on a weekday, instead of the more popular weekend. Just remember to consider all your options carefully before booking a wedding venue and paying out a deposit.