Having a wedding is usually not very cheap. In fact, it’s probably one of the biggest expenses of your behind (usually behind buying a house and schooling).
While the national average cost for a whole wedding is a little less than $30,000, I’m sure that if you are reading this blog that you probably want to spend way less than the average.
Usually the wedding reception is the most expensive part of a wedding. Here are my tips to save as much money as you can.
Skip the fancy meal.
For me, I love having delicious BBQ at a wedding. Usually caterers don’t have the best food, but it’s impossible to mess up BBQ. I know someone who spent over $100 per plate on her venue’s caterer and the food was not good at all. It’s crazy to think about how some places charge so much!
Skip the open bar.
I know, I know. A lot of people are against skipping the open bar. However, if it’s not in the budget, then it’s not in the budget. Or, you could ask your caterer if there is a cheaper option out there, such as you supplying all the wine and having your guests buy other drinks that they are interested in.
If you still want to supply alcohol but don’t want to pay crazy costs, then you may want to look into having a wedding reception where you can (legally) serve your own alcohol. You may be able to hire a private bartending company, or hire a bartender and you supply all the alcohol yourself. These two choices are usually significantly cheaper than using a caterer’s bar service.
Have a brunch instead of a dinner.
Wedding brunches are becoming more and more popular. You won’t have to supply as much alcohol as a night-time wedding, and food is usually lighter during the day and more affordable. This may be the perfect option for you if you are looking for a daytime wedding at your favorite wedding location.
Have a Friday or Sunday wedding reception.
If you still want a “normal” wedding and don’t want to eliminate anything such as open bar, then I really recommend that you look into having a Friday or Sunday wedding. However, always think about your guests though. If you have a lot of out-of-town guests, then you may be asking them to take too many days off from work by having a Friday or Sunday wedding.
How much was your wedding reception? Did you go over budget?
Image via Flickr by cfccreates
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