It’s no surprise that weddings cost a lot of money. And while there are some really creative and clever ways to save LOTS, there are also some money saving ideas that can totally backfire!
In this episode, I’m listing a few ways that you might be tempted to save money that can backfire on you. The outcome will depend largely on your priorities and the things you want to focus on, so not all of these scenarios will be a total disaster – but they might be!
Idea #1: DIY everything
I always recommend that couples really consider how much DIY they want to do. 10 years ago, Pinterest weddings were all about the DIY element and we were told that it would help us save money… but at what cost. Unless you are a DIY Queen, with lots of experience, resources and space to store items, you may end up spending more on gathering the items than you would if you chose to buy or hire things from the pros. In addition, DIY projects can cause stress – in an already stressful time.
Do this instead: Choose a few manageable items to DIY and stick with those. Then, either let the pros cover the rest, or simply omit a few things from your wedding ensemble.
Idea #2: Doing things on the cheap
If your budget is tight, it can be so tempting to do all the things you want to do… but cheaply. The danger here is that you’ll create an experience that you and your guests won’t love. Food with cheaper cuts of meat, music by a pub band instead of a wedding band. Sure, it might not be a total disaster, but there are ways to have an incredible wedding even if your budget is tight.
Do this instead: If your priority is your guest list, then consider having a longer engagement and give yourself some more time to save. Other options include having a smaller guest list and spreading the ‘per head’ count across a smaller number. Another way to save money is by choosing an offpeak date!
Idea #3: Repurposing your flowers
Couples can spend a hefty fee on their wedding flowers – and if flowers and decor are a big priority for you, then why not! But if you simply can’t afford the flowers you want… don’t be tempted to repurpose flowers. Here’s the scenario I’m talking about: Your bridesmaids walk down the aisle with beautiful bouquets, and then right before the reception dinner, you pop those bouquets into vases and use them as centrepieces. The flowers will wilt and not look as pretty as you want!
Do this instead: Repurpose the right flowers. For example, the arrangements at the entrance to your ceremony location can be moved to the entrance to your reception hall. Your ceremony backdrop could be used as a photobooth backdrop! The arrangement on the altar could be used on the head table.
Idea #4: Asking your friends
If you can’t afford the wedding suppliers of your dreams, you may be tempted to ask your friends and family to do everything instead. This could end up being an actual disaster and I have witnessed this myself. An amateur photographer whose batteries die midway through the day… food cooked by friends and family not heated correctly and giving people food poisoning… music provided by a Spotify playlist, where guests end up going up to the laptop and changing the song whenever they want to.
Do this instead: Focus on the most important items and get the professionals involved. Ask for discounts, see if there are items in a package that you don’t need and if it’ll affect the cost to ditch those. If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no!
An idea that WILL work: Use one thing for multiple purposes
This is my ultimate favourite money-saving tip that won’t backfire! There are some things that can be used for multiple purposes:
- Serve your cake as dessert.
- Photobooth printouts could serve as a guest book and a wedding favour.
- Your magician or entertainer could be your MC.
