My best friend is getting married this October, and I’m her Maid of Honor. We’ve been planning and budgeting for the last six months, and found a (relatively) cheap venue for both the wedding and reception. For the entire weekend, it was about $1800, including tables, chairs, and decorations. Her entire wedding will cost her less than $5,000. In any other situation, $5,000 is a LOT of money– that’s a few months of a mortgage, an entire used car, an amazing vacation, or a small down payment on a home. But, in wedding terms, it’s not actually that much. The average cost of an American wedding is about $20,000. $20,000! That’s more than some people make in an entire year!
If you are getting married soon and want it to be the most magical day of your life, but also are working on a much more realistic budget, don’t despair. There are plenty of ways to save. Don’t feel like you need to rent out a historical home, or a fancy hotel ballroom, or a luxury beach side pavilion just to say your vows. The number one cost behind weddings are the venues: most people expect to drop between 2k and 10k on them. To save that money, it pays to be on the lookout for cheaper places. Remember, all that matters at the end of the day is that you are married to the love of your life. The bells and whistles mean nothing. For some great tips on saving money on a wedding venue (and being able to put that money toward your life together in the future), read this post by Casey Slide at the Money Crashers Blog:
-Don’t get married on a Saturday; this is the most common day and venues hike up their prices
-Consider non-traditional venues that do not typically host weddings: Get creative. Consider a bed & breakfast, a public park, or an art gallery for your reception.
-Choose one venue for both the ceremony and the reception
-Get married in the morning, or off season.
-Get married in your (or a family member/friend’s) backyard.
Photo Credit: Lindsey Child
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