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7 Centerpieces is throwing its hat into the ring and laying out our wedding budget guide with these seven tips for saving money without sacrificing your dream wedding. Yes, no one ever likes to hear the dreaded “b” word. But no matter whether it’s large or small, almost everyone has a wedding budget. And while we know that there are TONS of materials providing endless tips on how to throw a budget-friendly wedding, we feel that the following tips are some of the best we’ve come across, especially if you are planning a wedding in Texas.
Wedding Budget Tip #1: Have your wedding on a day other than Saturday
Yes, we know you’ve heard it before, but it definitely bears repeating–having your wedding on a non-Saturday evening can save you tons of money. In fact, it’s such a money saver that I devoted an entire post to explaining it. Even a simple switch from Saturday night to Sunday night can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars! Most wedding venues offer deep discounts for these off days/times. In addition, many vendors will knock off a percentage of their normal pricing structure (up to 20%). It can also make it easier to get the vendors that you want because they will have more availability on other days. Thus, you can save money on numerous elements of a wedding when you consider a non-Saturday evening wedding.
Related Content: How to Save 50% on Your Wedding Costs with One Simple Hack
Wedding Budget Tip #2: Get Creative with your Wedding Venue
Venues that do not exist solely for the purpose of having social events (weddings, banquets, etc.) can sometimes be much cheaper than traditional wedding venues. Restaurants, historical structures, corporate clubs, and warehouses are all examples of these types of venues. Do you have a friend who owns a business where you can host it? This can also save you money on your wedding. Backyard weddings are another way to save money on your wedding in Texas. Since these venues do not use social events for their primary income source, they may offer better rates than traditional event venues. And this may be a wedding budget saver if you have your heart set on a Saturday evening wedding.
Related Content: 7 Things You Must Remember When Choosing a Wedding Venue
Wedding Budget Tip #3: Consider Getting Married in the “Low” Season
Vendors are also quick to give discounted rates during the “low” season. Low seasons vary by region of the country. In milder climates, the summers are usually high wedding season, leaving the fall and winter months as the “low” season. However, here in Texas, the heat can be unbearable in the summer, so the spring and fall months are usually high wedding season. In almost every region, January is a great month to get married as most vendors have just completed the holiday event season and there are very few events and/or weddings taking place. By opting to get married in an off month, you can easily save money on your wedding in Texas. Travel accommodations can also be cheaper for your guests during this off-season, as well.
Related Content: 8 Things to Remember when Having a Holiday Wedding
Wedding Budget Tip #4: Choose a Wedding Venue that Provides its Own Beauty
Choosing a beautifully designed venue not only looks better aesthetically, it can save you loads of money. You will not have to spend a lot of money on bringing in decorations. Wedding decorations can really take away from your budget without you even realizing it. All of the little things and the Pinterest board ideas can really add up! By choosing a venue that provides natural beauty or beauty in the design, you can simply rely on the natural beauty of the space rather than spending a fortune on wedding decorations. Outdoor weddings are great for providing natural beauty and scenery. But you don’t have to be limited to the outdoors. There are plenty of indoor spaces that have amazing views or architectural design elements that provide wonderful reception backdrops for your budget-friendly wedding.
Related Content: 7 Things You Must Remember If You’re Having an Outdoor Wedding
Wedding Budget Tip #5: Don’t be Afraid to Ask for a Discount!
Do not be afraid to ask for discounts when it comes to planning your budget-friendly wedding! If you fall in love with a vendor and they are out of your price range, contact them and tell them about your situation and your budget and ask if they are willing to work within your budget, especially if your wedding is in the low season or on a weeknight. For my own wedding, I received discounts off of my wedding dress, vintage car rental, and venue rental simply by asking (very nicely)! Asking for discounts can be an easy way to save money on your wedding in Texas.
Wedding Budget Tip #6: Create a Wedding Budget & Keep Track of Your Spending
Write out a wedding budget and keep track of all of your wedding expenses. The easiest way that a wedding budget can get out of control is when no one is keeping track of spending. Keep in mind that the little things, like smaller decor items and wedding party gifts, can really add up and should be tracked on your wedding budget. If you go over budget on a certain wedding expenses (you just HAD to have that Monique Lhullier gown!), then you can trim in another area to keep your wedding budget on track. There are tons of free wedding apps that can make tracking your wedding budget a breeze! Making sure that you are aware of what you are spending can help you stay in your budget for your wedding.
Related Content:
- 7 Most Dangerous Planning Mistakes Couples on a Budget Make
- 7 Wedding Planning Apps That Will Change Your Life!
Wedding Budget Tip #7: Renting can be Cheaper than Buying
When I got married (in 2010–you know, the ancient days), renting wedding attire outside of the groom and groomsmen’s attire was a difficult task. Not many companies offered rental items and those that did were a bit, shall we say “sketchy.” But times have drastically changed over the last decade. Now brides can rent a vast array of wedding attire from their very own wedding dress to their bridal accessories. And renting these items can provide a significant savings over buying. I only recommend buying an item for your wedding if it is something that is extremely important to you or if it is something that you can use again in the future. Renting items such as clothing, jewelry, shoes, and even decor can help you save money on your wedding. Below are some of the great renting options available for your wedding:
- Rent the Runway — great site for renting bridesmaid dresses with many stunning dresses clocking in under $50. This is a great way to save money on your wedding party attire, and even on your own clothing for bridal events and your rehearsal dinner.
- Adorn — rent real diamond jewelry for your special day! This is a much cheaper option for your wedding than buying new, and it will make you feel classic and beautiful!
- Vow to be Chic — another great site to rent bridesmaid dresses for your tribe. They have a lot of trendy options for bridesmaids attire that are budget-friendly.
- Borrowing Magnolia — this ingenious site allows brides to try on dresses at home and then choose to rent or buy them. This is the perfect way to save money on your wedding dress, and still get the experience of trying on wedding dresses.
- Happily Ever Borrowed — rent bridal accessories from headpieces, to veils, to clutches all on one site. The cost of wedding accessories can really add up, so this is a great way to save money and stick to your budget.
Happy Planning!
