Budget Wedding: Keep It Simple and Save Money!

Let’s face it, planning a wedding and saving money usually don’t go hand in hand. From booking the venue to sourcing party favours for your guests, money plays a vital role in the success of your big day. Beware that seemingly small budget can spiral out of control. If you need some tips on how to plan a budget wedding, read on.

According to Easy Weddings Australian Wedding Survey 2016, Aussies spent on average $30,985 on their wedding days. If you don’t have a cool $30k lying around, don’t worry just yet! There are plenty of ways to reduce that final figure. Here is some helpful tips I’ve learnt from some of our own brides to apply to your budget wedding.

Reduce the size of your wedding party
So it’s your dream to have your three besties, sister, cousin and nail technician standing with you at the altar. If you’ve done your research you’ll know having a large wedding party means more money spent on hair, makeup, dresses, shoes, gifts and accessories. For those who can’t possibly see themselves with a smaller wedding party. Maybe suggest the idea of splitting the costs with your bridesmaids. I’m sure most of them will be willing to pitch in, even if it’s just for the dress and shoes.
Swap single serve dishes for share plates
The traditional entree, main, dessert menu can certainly set you back a pretty penny, especially for those planning on having a rather sizeable wedding.Consider serving tapas style dishes that each table can share. This usually makes things easier for the catering company and might also encourage your guests to interact with one another.

Embrace the digital age
As much as we all enjoy receiving a wedding invite in the mail wouldn’t it be much easier if you could send your response digitally? Even if you’re not the most tech-savvy bride or groom there are a ton of paperless invitation ideas that are of little or no cost.Think outside the facebook invite box and create a free webpage via WIX or Squarespace where guests can RSVP and access the details of your wedding including venue location, accommodation options as well as your gift registry.

Reduce your guest list
Now I know not all couples can dream of a small 20 guest garden wedding. By reducing your guest list by as little as 10 people, you’ll be amazed at how much you can save. A way to help narrow down your guest list is by creating an A and B list of guests you want to invite. The A-list is people who are absolute must invites while the B are people you could potentially live without inviting. You could also consider making the wedding child-free. While they might not eat or drink as much as adult guests, the addition of separate menus and entertainment can definitely bump up the price of your reception. A key thing to keep in mind is weddings aren’t about showing people how financially comfortable you are. It’s about bringing together loved ones to celebrate your lifelong commitment to one another.

Remember research is important to save money.

All the best with your budget wedding! This year, Leah and Lyn will be focusing on further establishing the Hello Lovers brand, Wedding Dress Accessories and Plus Size Wedding Dresses. Every future bride needs her wedding shoes and wedding bags in check, too. You’ll find Leah S Designs Wedding Dresses in Hallam (just 30 minutes from Melbourne CBD) and a range of stockists around Australia. With labels you won’t see anywhere else and a size range from 4 to 38, no woman is left out. No matter your shape or size. To stay up to date and read lovely reviews from happy brides, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Read more about the designer Leah Ann Sukroo here.