At Manor By The Lake, we realise that, although it may not be the most inspiring aspect of planning a wedding, setting the right budget before you begin is extremely important as it can affect the decisions and choices you make about every part of your wedding. A small budget doesn’t mean you should have to compromise on quality though.
Here at Manor By The Lake, we have collated 5 simple ways to save money on your wedding without having to settle for second best!
1. Set the budget
We know that setting a budget isn’t quite as exciting as shopping for your wedding dress, deciding on a theme or choosing your shoes. However, it’s an important decision that will have a big influence on all of those things so it’s the job that needs to be done before anything else.
Once the budget is set you’ll be able to dedicate more time and energy to the fun parts of planning your wedding!
2. Shop around
Weddings are a huge industry and there is plenty of choice when shopping for dresses, cakes, photographers and everything thing else that goes into creating your perfect day. This also means that there is a lot of competition out there with shops and suppliers becoming skilled at persuading you to buy their particular product or service.
Make sure you spend some time shopping around to ensure that you are getting the right product for you for the best price.
3. Don’t be afraid to negotiate
Many wedding providers will be willing to do a deal on the price of their venue, service or product as long as you are reasonable and realistic. Although some costs are fixed, such as church or registry office fees, there is a chance that everything else can be negotiated.
Some providers also add a premium for weddings so it can be beneficial to try and get an event quote and then mention it’s a wedding once you have agreed on a price.
4. Ask friends and family for help
Think about whether you know anyone who might be able to offer their skills or services for your big day. Perhaps you have a friend who makes a great cake? Or a family member who loves arts and crafts and can make your invitations or table decorations?
Friends and family love to be involved so including them in your wedding preparations with these meaningful handmade touches will make your wedding more personal and save money in the process too!
5. Get creative
There are lots of ways that you can get creative with your planning to help save money.
Get creative with – the wedding date. Choosing a midweek wedding can save money on venues and other services that the average wedding requires. Ask about the different Collections and special offers that we have here at Manor By The Lake or consider a cancelled or last-minute date as these can provide huge savings too.
Get creative with – your wedding theme. Vintage weddings, using second-hand mix and match items, are a great way to achieve a stylish, eclectic wedding theme and save money at the same time.
Get creative with – wedding items. Why not get really creative and make your own table decorations, invitations and wedding favours? Suits, wedding dresses and jewellery can also be hired or purchased second hand, for reasonable prices, which means you can save money without having to compromise on quality.
Get creative with – your expectations. It’s important to keep your budget in mind when planning your wedding and to set achievable goals and expectations. Just because you don’t have an ‘A-list’ budget doesn’t mean you can’t have a fantastic wedding.
Have fun thinking about the simple ways to make your wedding memorable and unique. This could be adding meaningful handmade elements to the tables instead of wedding favours, a BBQ or Hog Roast instead of a formal dinner or a tower of cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake…the options are endless!
For more advice on all things wedding-related, why not give our knowledgeable wedding planners a call today. And while you’re at it, you could arrange a private tour of our stunning country Manor house. Give us a call on 01242 245 071 or email [email protected] to find out more about Manor By The Lake.