Between walking down the aisle to your having your first dance, your wedding day is something you’ll never forget. And while every bride dreams of a lavish wedding, not all of us have celebrity style budgets to fund them, so being financially creative in the planning of and saving for your big day is going to be important.
So to help kickstart your wedding planning, we’ve rounded up some of the money-savvy ways brides and grooms are using to slash the cost of their big day and some tips on how to boost your savings stash in the months leading up to the wedding.
Ways to Bring down the Cost of Your Wedding
Buck the Saturday Wedding Trend
Vendors know that Saturday is the more popular day to get married and the price of venues will reflect this. So if you think it won’t be an issue for your friends and family, why not get married on a Friday or Sunday instead? You’ll have the same venue, food and atmosphere, but you’ll be able to put the savings you’ll make on the venue towards another wedding expense.
Dump Spring for Autumn
Spring is also known to be the most popular time of year to get married, so another money saving tactic being used by money-savvy couples is booking the venue during shoulder seasons when competition and the prices aren’t as high.
Say Yes to the Rental or Opt for a Pre-Loved Gown
Thanks to the rise of designer dress hire websites, many trendy (and wallet conscious) brides are now ditching commercially produced gowns and are instead choosing to walk down the aisle in high end rented designer threads. If it’s good enough for your hubby-to-be to hire a tux, surely this could be an option for you as well to save some dollars?
Buying a second-hand or ethical wedding dress is another option to consider. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be doing your bit towards sustainability.
Say Goodbye to Tradition
Give your wedding a modern spin by ditching the expensive traditional tiered fruit cake for a trendy cupcake tower. Not only are cupcakes a great party pleaser, but you’ll be able to choose from a range of flavours you know your guests will love.
Pick Seasonal Blooms
No matter if you love lilies or sunflowers, if they are out of season when it’s time for you to walk down the aisle, you’re going to have to pay top dollar. Do your wallet a favour by choosing flowers that are in season for your bouquet. Not only will they look great but seasonal flowers are at their most fragrant, which will give your wedding a fresh and lively feel.
Dress by One Day Bridal
Keep Options Limited
From choosing to have a child-free wedding to limiting the drink and food options, there are a range of ways that you can bring down the cost of the reception while still making it an event to remember for yourself and your guests.
Quirky Ways to Grow Your Wedding Savings
Start a Wedding Jar
For many loved-up couples, it’ll soon become impossible to go a day without talking about your wedding. But to make things a little more fun and to help kick off the savings fund, start a ‘Wedding Jar’. Just like the swear jar, every time you or your partner mentions the word ‘wedding’, you have to add $5 to the jar. You’ll be surprised at how fast that jar will fill up!
Cheat on the Gym with the Great Outdoors
Every bride wants to be in the best shape possible for their big day, but with fitness classes costing at least $30 a week, that’s money you could be putting towards your wedding. Ditch the gym for great outdoors and if you’re stumped on frugal ways to get fit for your wedding, Youtube is a great (and free) resource to start with. From yoga to circuit training and even Afrobeats dance workouts, you’ll be able to find a training style that works best for you.
Say ‘I Do’ to Lower Interest
It’s not uncommon to pay for a few wedding expenses using your credit card, but you don’t want to still be paying off wedding debt long after you’ve tossed the bouquet. If you are going opt for putting some of your costs on credit, make sure you’re on a low interest credit card with an interest rate below 13% and a high number of interest free days. The less money you pay in interest the more money you’ll have to put towards your wedding.
Jilt Your Vice
Every bride’s worst nightmare is being jilted at the altar, but getting cold feet on your favourite vice is a great way to growing your savings stash. Whether it’s your online shopping addiction, weekly Sunday brunch or a daily latte, giving up a vice for a short set period can make a big difference to your budget.
Sell Your Junk
As the saying goes, ‘another man’s trash is another man’s treasure’. So while your junk pile might not look like much to you, to someone else, it may be worth a fortune. In fact, according to Gumtree, the average person can make around $4,200 just by selling their old junk! Anything from clothes to books to electronics are fair game so one weekend, get your camera out and get online.
Get a Side Gig
If you’re a dog lover or just like to keep busy on the weekends, why not try your hand at a side hustle? You could earn hundreds of dollars just by walking someone’s dog, helping someone move house or even renting out your car.
Kirsty Lamont is a Director and money expert at financial comparison website mozo.com.au. She’s keen to share money tips with Aussies at all stages of their lives from newlyweds, to busy mums, to those planning their retirement and help Aussies whip their finances into shape by comparing financial products and finding a better deal.