Getting Creative to Cut Costs
How to slash your budgets without slashing style
Budget weddings may sound like an oxymoron to some, but brides today, like the rest of Americans facing uncertainty in this somber economy, are looking for ways to cut corners here and there. They may not be giving up their plans for a fantasy wedding, but they’re trimming the extras or looking for ways to achieve the “wow” factor without the “ouch” factor.
They still have to contend with a significant cash outlay. The average cost of a wedding nationwide in 2008 is $28,704, which marks drop – $28 – for the first time in years, according to The Wedding Report, a nuptial-focused research firm.
“Our normal wedding we do is around $80,000, but I just booked one for $20,000,” says Melody Walker, a wedding events planner based in Mission Viejo, Calif., who’s been doing more weddings for $20,000 or less in the last couple years.
Walker said she’s employing little tricks of the nuptial trade to help her brides stretch their dollars. With food and beverages eating up most of the budget, Walker suggests scheduling the event at an off-peak time, whether it’s a Friday or Sunday or opting for brunch or lunch instead of dinner. Even getting married in the off-season, say January through March or in November, can lead to significant cost savings compared to a wedding in May or June. Brides will even find that vendors are open to a little haggling then.
“Venues will work with you and be more flexible on pricing so they can fill their space,” she said.
Getting creative with the bar and moderating the liquor selection also can rein in costs, Walker said. Couples can keep the open bar but limit the hours they serve alcohol or restrict what they offer to beer, wine and a signature cocktail. Some venues even let couples bring in their own alcohol.
Invitations are a harder sell these days at Alegra’s Bridal, which operates a store in Austin, Texas and four Web sites. The stationery specialist has had to increase advertising this year to keep its numbers steady, says owner Nancy Owen. Customers still appreciate the fancy extras, such as ribbons, liners and interior envelopes that can more than double the cost of the invite to $7 each, she says. But lose the bulk and the price comes down.
Friends and family can also ratchet up the cost of the wedding. If brides and grooms can keep their attendant count down without offending anyone, they can save on gifts, flowers and corsages, just one more way to streamline the planning.
“Simplifying a wedding not only saves money but also takes lot of stress off of you,” Walker says.
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