Nobody wants to look cheap on their wedding day – after all, it’s one of the most important days of our lives. At the same time, lashing out enough money to feed a small country, or making wedding-related debt that takes years to go away doesn’t make any sense.
You and your partner will have a lot of costs setting up house after the wedding, and if you already have debts, reducing rather than increasing them is a high priority.
The great news is that you can have a magical, romantic, and above all, luxurious wedding for a fraction of the price others think you paid – provided you play your cards right.
1. Get Gorgeous Wedding Jewellery for Less
Wedding and engagement rings can cost a small fortune. Still, those rings are meant to last a lifetime and getting paste stones isn’t for you. That diamond is forever! Hot tip: our select diamond engagement ring jeweller based in Toronto may have the answers. They have access to wholesale diamonds, and they’ll even custom-make the ring you want – all without the costs you’d associate with a typical retail jewellery store. Check it out and get better diamonds and more personalized service than you’d get elsewhere.
Speaking of rings, don’t miss these Gift Ideas For Ring Bearer.
2. Use Your Smarts When Picking a Venue
A beautiful, romantic wedding venue can be yours without the astronomical costs most people would pay. It will take a little thought and you may have to call in a few favours, but it’s worth a little extra legwork. Think about the people you know, both socially and professionally. Maybe you know someone who has a lovely beach house, a farm in the countryside or a beautiful garden. If you don’t, just put the word out that you’re looking for a great venue and see what friends and family come up with. You could be in luck.
You can also try approaching restaurateurs or hoteliers you hardly know. A friend of mine was able to get a wedding venue at a fabulous country hotel with mountain views and every facility you could dream of free of charge simply by promising to use the cash bar. They even allowed her family to supply wines and bubbly they’d bought at retail prices.
3. Get an Amazing Dress for Less
Let’s get real. As soon as you add the tag “wedding” to a dress, it’s going to cost more. Avoid the fancy wedding boutiques and look for a home-based dressmaker who is willing to make something stunning for less. As an even cheaper alternative shop any off-the-peg white dress you like and “Dress it up” with a few basic alterations. Voila! Wedding dress!
Renting is an option, but wedding dress rentals are often ridiculously pricey. Would a friend be willing to lend or sell you her wedding dress? That’s a low to no price option right there – or go online and see what ebay has to offer. You may be in for a pleasant surprise.
4. Don’t get Fed up Over Catering Costs
Most of us don’t expect much from a wedding banquet. What you get is quite often overpriced food that isn’t even particularly nice to eat. I’ve seen some amazing cost-cutters that really work and leave everyone feeling well-satisfied. Get friends to cater a BBQ, lay on a table with delicious breads, cheeses and fresh fruit, or opt for an afternoon wedding (between meals) with just a few snack platters for people to sample and enjoy.
As for the cake, nothing says you have to go for the traditional, heavy, and expensive fruitcake dressed up in marzipan for your wedding. You’ll save a lot if you go for an alternative option: carrot cake cupcakes are a good example.
Great Weddings Can be Inexpensive Too
Sure, you’re going to spend on your wedding. The point is that you won’t spend more than you can afford. It’s going to be great, and nobody will ever guess how little you paid to make it happen. Your wedding is the main celebration, but in the months and years to come, you won’t be looking back with regret at the expense you incurred. Now that’s something to smile about!
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