Weddings are costly and every year brides and grooms find themselves faced with the stress of dealing with the wedding expenses. There are ways that couples can help cut down on spending in order to make their wedding more affordable. Just because you spend less does not mean you have to sacrifice style or quality either. Below are five ways that you can cut costs for your special day.
Check Out Thrift Shops
Thrift shops are a great way to save money when planning a wedding. Many times, when other brides and grooms are done with their wedding decorations or attire, they will donate them to thrift shops. If you start looking early enough and are flexible, you may be able to find a great deal on a wedding dress, bridesmaids dresses or even flowers and other decorations.
Advertise Online
Sites like Craigslist and Freecycle have become a way for people to trade things across the nation. Often, people who no longer have need of their old items will advertise them for free to the first person who wants them. Advertising on sites like this online can help you collect items at no cost for your bog day. Someone may be able to donate a wedding dress or perhaps some decorations matching your chosen colors.
Get a Sponsor
As weird as it may sound, there are companies that may be willing to donate certain items for your wedding in exchange for advertisement at the ceremony or reception. Asking local bakeries or party rental shops if they can donate their services can't hurt and for your effort you may receive a free wedding cake or chair rental for your event.
Rent Instead of Buy
There are many things that you can rent for your wedding and that can save you a lot of money over having to purchase the items outright. For instance, wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, decorations and even flowers are all things that can be rented for a fraction of the purchase price. This can save you a bundle in the long run and won't compromise your memory of your special day in any way.
Use the Skills of Friends and Family Members
Many people have friends and family members with talents they didn't even know about. Maybe you have an aunt whose favorite hobby is photography or a cousin with a full DJ set up in his garage. Ask around and between your family and friends, you may find individuals who can pitch in and help cut costs by doing important tasks for you on the wedding day.
Planning a wedding on a low budget can be quite a task, but you can still get a big bang for fewer bucks when you know where to look. The five tips above can help you get more for your money and have a beautiful wedding without spending a fortune.
