Ways to Save On Your Big Day
I recently came across this article in the Sault Star that gave some tips on how to save on your wedding day. It states that in a 2008 online survey by Wedding Bells Magazine of more than 2000 brides, the average costs of weddings are $19,038 CAD. Obviously this depends on the number of guests that you have, but I’m not too surprised by it. I know for a fact that I’m over that average! *sigh*
Anyways, here’s the article if you’re interested in reading it.
Catherine Lash, owner and creative director of The Wedding Co., whose company held the Wedding Show in Toronto earlier this month said one of the biggest costs of any wedding is food and drink.
By downsizing your guest list by 50 people, you’ve actually eliminated a huge amount of money on both catering and decor, Lash said.
“It’s not an easy way because it’s very difficult not to invite a lot of people to a wedding, but I think you have to decide what your cutoff point is.”
Lash recommends couples select the thing that means the most to them and decide on other areas where they’ll cut back.
“If you’re foodies, really go for a great menu,” she said. “That person might go, ‘I’m going to buy the $500 dress because I don’t care, but the food is really key.”’
That’s the mindset of Christina Cheng as she prepares for her August nuptials in her hometown of Vancouver.
Cheng, 29, who works for a pharmaceutical company in Thousand Oaks, Calif., near Los Angeles, will have about 150 guests at her wedding.
“I think one of the more important things we want to spend money on is the food and the drinks, something for our guests, because a lot of them are flying in to the city to celebrate with us,” said Cheng, whose fiance hails from Michigan. “We weren’t going to skimp too much on that, but it was going to be more like the details, the decorations, the flowers and things like that.”
There are things many consider wedding essentials — like photography — that are difficult to scrimp on.
Lash, who worked as a wedding photographer for a decade, suggests if you find a company you like, ask if they have a junior photographer with fewer years of experience.
“Chances are, if it’s with a company that’s been in business for a while, (in) the postproduction you’re going to get the same quality and the same service and that’s key.”
When you go to see any vendor, whether it’s a photographer, videographer or DJ, opt for a lower-priced package as you can always upgrade, said Darsi Pizzolato of Frugal- Bride.com .
Looking to save money on flowers? Consider opting for silk flowers instead of fresh, Pizzolato suggests.
“You have the centrepiece game, somebody at the table wins it, they get to take it home, but what do they have after a week? They have a vase,” she said.
“Sure, they can use the vase later, but if it’s a beautiful centrepiece they can keep the flowers and everything after.”
Some of the do-it-yourself craft ideas are priceless, Lash said.
At the Wedding Show, they brought in the idea of origami, creating crane placecard holders which double as a take-home item.
Tennis fans may opt to put tennis balls at place settings with names inscribed, or buy racket-shaped moulds and make homemade chocolates as gifts, Lash said.
“If you make something for your wedding and give it to each guest that will mean more to them than just going out and buying a cheap present. To actually make something with their hands, they will love it.”
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