10 Tips For Saving Money Planning Your Destination Wedding
A little careful trimming of the wedding budget can leave you with a lot more cash in your pocket to spend at your wedding castle while you are away.
Although a destination wedding and even a castle wedding may seem a more reasonably priced option than holding a fancy reception at home, these tips can trim you budget even more – without compromising on the specialness of your castle wedding.
These are our top 10 tips for saving a packet on your destination wedding – in no particular order:
1. Get married out of Season
Not only will your plane tickets costs be much less, but you are likely to get better deals in hotels at your destination.
2. Don’t get married on Saturday
In almost every country in the world, it’s the first day that books out and the most expensive day to marry. Pick a weekday and there are reductions to be had and the venue for both wedding and reception will be less busy.
3. Cut the Cake
Yes, really! Tiers of wedding cakes can cost a fortune – and you don’t want to be transporting the leftovers home after a week in the sun. Buy a nice cake in a cake shop or even a supermarket – if you are good at that sort of thing decorate it yourself, it doesn’t have to be elaborate, white frosting and fresh fruit is very pretty and effective.
photo credit: seanosh
Alternatively consider replacing the cake altogether with pretty individual cupcakes, they will cost a LOT less and your guests will love them!
4. Keep your wedding dress simple
“Elegant and Simple” – see how nicely those words go together? Avoid bridal shops altogether and look for a simple shift dress from an ordinary store. It’s amazing what you will find. Not only will you save on the purchase price, but it’ll be easier and cheaper to travel with and you may even get to wear it again. Or buy in a charity store.
5. Cut your lists!
You do not need to invite everyone you know, all your relatives and even your Dad’s work colleagues to your destination wedding, in the half hope that most will say no? Only ask those you really, really want to be there to share your day. Throw a simple party for those who could not make it to your destination wedding after you return from your honeymoon.
6. Ditch the Professional Photographer
Maybe you have a friend who is an amateur photograher, or you could give out cheap disposable cameras to the guests, then collect them later – hopefully there will be some good shots in there. With digital photography it’s even cheaper – a few friends taking hundreds of shots are sure to hit gold often enough for you to make up an excellent album.
7. Make Your Own Stationary
There are wonderful and relatively inexpensive kits available for this if you are not artistically inclined. Pick a theme or colour and stick with it throughout for a coordinated look. Think laterally – print a really good photo from you wedding multiple times and use as a postcard, writing on the back, for thank you cards.
8. Tell everyone you’re getting married…
.Or on honeymoon. You might get an upgrade on flights, better rooms in hotels, bottles of champagne orwine in restaurants, free entry to clubs.
9. …. but not the florist!
Keep your flowers simple – there is no need to have loads to make an impact. Single lilies laid on a table look as good as elaborate displays, a simple bouquet with lots of inexpensive greenery will keep the attention on the bride.
10. Avoid Wedding Stores!
As soon as something is for a wedding, it becomes expensive. You can often get the same or almost the same things for a fraction of the price elsewhere. For example fabric shops will have ribbon, beads, feathers and other decorative items.
Related Articles:
- The Everything Destination Wedding Book: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Away from Home
- The Wedding Reception
- Wedding Rehearsal Dinner Budget Tips
- Destination Wedding Planner: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Wedding from Afar
- Destination Weddings For Dummies
Tags: destination wedding, save money planning wedding, wedding budget ideas
