I know that there’s a lot of pressure out there to spend all the money on all the things. Ignore it. This wedding is about a marriage and starting a marriage $50,000 in debt because of one night is not ideal.
 
That’s why I wanted to provide some alternatives. Even if you’re wedding is being paid for by someone else or without strict budget constraints, these are things to consider, because it never hurts to know a few ways to save money on your wedding.
 

1. Get married in the off-season.

Spring, summer and early fall are nutty therefore vendors and venues upcharge you like crazy. You can save thousands by just booking in late fall or winter. 
 

2. Get married on a non-Saturday. 

Again, vendors would be thrilled to book a Friday, Sunday or weekday wedding. It’ll be cheaper because there’s less competition. 
 

3. Elongate the engagement.

You can hit up more sales, save more money and take more time to find cheaper options or DIY more of the wedding if you spread out the time you have to do all this.
 
 
 

4. Purchase decorations at a thrift store.

When it comes to frames, candles, baskets, etc. you can find so much good stuff at thrift stores, dollar stores, Walmart, etc. No need to hit up Etsy for every purchase. 
 

5. Rent a house for the venue. 

Renting a fancy vacation home for a couple nights on the lake can make for a stuffing ceremony and reception venue PLUS it has rooms for you and others to stay in so you can save money on accommodations. 
 

 

6. Send out e-vites.

Not only can this save you like $1,000, it can also make the RSVP and chasing so much simpler because it can all feed directly into your digital guest list.
 

7. Keep it small.

Each person on your list can represent a pretty substantial amount of money, so it’s no surprise that the more cuts you make and the smaller you keep your guest list, the cheaper the wedding will be. 
 

8. Don’t do a dinner.

You can have an evening ceremony and serve appetizers or do a brunch. There are lots of ways to skimp out on a full meal and still provide your guests with enough of a base to soak up their alcohol and enjoy themselves.
 

 

9. Get creative with dinner, if you have it.

If you still want to do dinner, just make sure you’re not splurging on the steak and fish. Keep it simple, get creative and likely you’ll want a buffet-style option to save that $$$$$. 
 

10. Choose an alternative to a wedding cake (or skip it).

You can have a fake wedding cake or a small one to cut and then serve sheet cake. You can also skip it entirely and pick a different dessert (maybe a DIY candy bar or cupcakes). 
 

11. Serve beer & wine only. 

Having crazy cocktails and endless options make for a very expensive alcohol bill. Sticking to these two options is much cheaper. 

I’ll never advocate for a cash bar, but…..
 

12. DIY flowers, calligraphy, music, etc. 

Make your own bouquets or table arrangements, learn to do calligraphy, play music via a computer and playlist… most of these details can be scaled down or handmade and no one will know the difference!
 

 

13. Let your family & friends chip in.

People are going to ask to help AND people you know will have the perfect skills and talents to help you create your dream wedding. Let them pitch in by making your wedding cake or painting your thrifted decor pieces. This helps you manage your own time and save money. It’s also nice for these people to feel like they contributed to your big day. 
 

14. Buy non-wedding gowns. 

There are white bridesmaids dresses and formal gowns that are just as breathtaking as wedding gowns and a fraction of the price. 
 

15. Hit up the sales. 

I’d definitely take the opportunity to shop at sample sales and monitor stores you know you’ll want to purchase from (i.e. Michael’s or Home Depot). There are also sample sales for wedding dress designers that could be extremely helpful. My cousin also paid for a lot of her vendors and venue upfront which ended up saving her thousands, so if that’s a possibility for you it’s a great way to take chunks off your total spending amount. 
 

 

16. Skip things that don’t matter to you. 

If wedding favors or wedding programs don’t excite you… forget ’em. You don’t need every single thing this crazy industry makes you feel like are of the upmost importance. Ditch the useless stuff so you can save your budget for the things you really want (i.e. a Greece honeymoon or live band).
 

17. Save money on vendors your fiancé & you don’t care about.

I say this in all my posts, but vendors are where you just give thousands and thousands away. They’re totally worth it if having incredible photos or a floral wall is what your fiancé and you truly want. BUT if you care about one or two of them and don’t really care about the quality of the other vendors, then this is a great way to save. Pick a cheap DJ or wedding cake or DIY your invites… you don’t have to do it all big!
 

18. Take hand-me-downs from family/friends. 

If you’re in your 20’s or 30’s, you probably know about 1000000000 people who have gotten married in the two years. Could you borrow something from them like their vases or a veil? This is a great way to save plus I think it’s a nice idea to have so many “something borrowed’s” from your loved ones.

 

19. Don’t host a rehearsal dinner.

Run through the ceremony and call it a night OR just pay for the wedding parties dinner or drinks after. Don’t do a big thing with family and out-of-town guests and you’re bound to save big time.
 

 

20. Sell stuff afterwards!

From Facebook groups to eBay to Craigslist, there are so many ways to make major money from your wedding stuff afterwards. You can put this money right back in your account and you’ll feel much better when you check your credit card balance.