How to Save Money on Your Big Day

If you've ever Googled the average cost of weddings in the US, you won't be shocked to find out that it's over $33,000! Now, if you're anything like me, you definitely don't have that kind of dough lying around, which is why I have some tips for you on ways to keep your wedding costs as low as possible without compromising the beauty of your big day.

1) Be mindful of "on-season" and "off-season" months.

I'm sure everyone knows that June is one of the most popular and expensive months to get married, but not everyone knows that the next most popular months are February, September, and December. Everyone wants to get married when the weather is nice and not too hot or cold, and in a lot of the country, that means June and September. Valentine's Day and Christmas make February and December the next most popular months to get married, which also means they are more expensive - venues cost more and vendors charge more. If you opt to get married in one of the less popular months, it'll save you a big chunk of money.

2) Choose the day of the week wisely.

This goes along the lines of the previous point. Saturday is the most popular day to get married because it is the most convenient for guests. But unfortunately, that also means that vendors and venues are more booked up and will charge more for their services. If you choose Friday or Sunday, that will save you a significant amount of money, without the inconvenience of asking guests to take off work in the middle of the week.

3) Don't invite everyone and their mother.

It's easy to get carried away with your guest list because you have a lot of relatives or friends who you think would like to be there for your big day. If you consider how much it costs for each guest (average $40 per person, and that's just catering), it will make it easier to whittle down the list. A good rule to follow is if you haven't talked to them in over a year, don't invite them. However, if you can't imagine your big day without them, then by all means, add them to the list!

4) Don't go overboard on food.

On the subject of reception food, there are different options for the type of dining you want to offer. three- or four-course meals cost so much more per person than a buffet would. You could do a standard buffet or even "Build-a-Meal" with different stations that allow people to pick and choose different parts of their meal. It will cut down the cost, while also giving the guests more freedom with their food. And people won't think any less of you for going with that option. I can think of quite a few people who would quite excited to learn that a wedding they're attending will have a taco bar at the reception.

5) Opt for a dessert table.

Wedding cakes can cost hundreds of dollars, and there is almost always a ton leftover. Some people just don't like cake in general, and who realistically likes the taste of fondant? No one, that's who. So you can please more people and save a ton of money by having a dessert table instead. Cupcakes, individual tarts, cookies, pies, etc. These are all much cheaper than a wedding cake, and you'll likely have something that appeals to each person. These can be ordered from a bakery or made by a friend or relative. You can still order a small cake for the cake cutting so you're able to get those precious photos, but it will end up a lot cheaper than a 7-tier cake that people won't eat.

6) Have the ceremony and reception at the same venue.

Booking the ceremony at one venue and the reception at another often ends up costing much more than doing it all in one place. Sometimes venues will give you a discounted rate if you book both with them. If you have them in separate venues, you have to factor in the cost of transportation to get from one to the other and the cost of chair (and other item) rentals in each place, which can make a big difference. By booking them at the same venue, you can cut down on the number of chairs you need to rent (just have each guest carry their chair from the ceremony to their spot at the reception tables). It will also cut out a lot of time in between the ceremony and reception because you won't have to travel anywhere. This is great because if you keep the guests waiting for too long before the reception actually starts, you'll just end up with a room full of hangry people, and no one wants that.

7) Skip the favors.

While having a tiny bag of candies with a special note on it for each person sounds absolutely adorable, people really don't care that much about favors, and often forget (or don't want) to bring them home. That means you'll have a ton of favors left over that you spent money (and probably time) on, and you don't want to deal with that or waste your money. If you really want to have favors for your guests, look for cheaper options and go for something that people will actually want (sure, a monogrammed golf ball is cute, but most people probably won't want to take it home).

Weddings can be really expensive, but they don't have to cost an arm and a leg. Just look for little ways here and there to cut down on costs, and the savings will add up. You can do it!