When we started planning for our "big day" we both knew we didn't want to go overboard on our budget. Neither one of us could ever imagine spending obscene amounts of money on just one day. That being said, we also knew we wanted to have a day to remember, something special, something that was ours, and something that people would remember. There are things in the budget that you don't really need, and there are other spots in the budget that you really shouldn't skimp on. Here's my list of the things you can cut or cut back on, and things where you're money should be spent.
Food/Drink: You're on the verge of feeding a fairly large amount of people (anything over 20 is large considering you're footing the bill. I'm not saying 20 is a large wedding, however, it's a lot of people to pay for) Don't go cheap on the food, don't try to cook it yourself, or hire someone you know. That puts a huge amount of pressure on everyone involved. Leave it to the professionals. They are pros for a reason, they've studied the art of fine food, and they cook for large amounts of people all the time. One way to keep the costs low (and very easy to predict once you have your final count) is to pick items on the menu that all cost the same thing. Pick a meat, and chicken plate that are both $15.00 rather than a steak that's $20, and a chicken that's $16. This way no matter what entree people select, you'll have a round about idea of what you'll be spending. It's also wise to choose a more common cut of beef. Rather than ordering prime rib for everyone...why not pick a 6oz sirloin (it's about 5 dollars cheaper).
In regards to your drinks...There are so many options for your bar. Personally I think cash bars are tacky (gasp) or insert eye roll here, I don't like the idea of making my guests pay for drinks. If you can't afford a hosted bar, then by no means should you put yourself in a situation where you're going to be in debt forever to pay your bar tab, but if you can host your bar...it's a nice treat for you guest. If you're scared people will take advantage of an open bar (they most likely will) there are a few options to keep costs low. You can offer drink tickets. Pay for each of your guests to have 2 drinks on you. Your catering company will put "drink tickets" at there place setting and they may use those at the bar to pay for their drinks. Once their tickets are gone, then they can pay for the rest of their drinks. Chances are some people will get drink tickets from the non drinkers and will still get away with not paying for a single drink.
Another option for your bar is to host beer and wine only, and make it a cash bar for all mixed drinks. This way you're still covering people, and if they want other beverages then they can pay for it themselves. The final options is to host the bar but pay based on consumption rather than pay per person. If you know you have a mixed crowed of drinkers and non drinkers, pay per drink rather than per head. This way you aren't paying 20 bucks for people that aren't going to drink anything. **warning*** If you know your wedding will have lots of drinkers...pay per head, otherwise if you pay based on consumption you could really shoot yourself in the foot and end up owing a lot more, than if you just paid per person.
Photography: Don't go cheap on your pictures. This is the one thing you'll have forever, you'll look back on these for the rest of your life. Don't let your Aunt Sally who takes pictures as a hobby do your wedding pictures. You can save money by hiring a photographer that will give you the rights to your pictures, and will give them to you on a disk. If you have your photographer make you albums you'll be paying upwards of $600.00 for a photo album...when you could make one yourself on shutterfly. Find a photographer that will edit, and photo shop, and change the color on your pictures, and then give you the CD. These photographers are everywhere!!
**On that note, don't waste your money on the disposable cameras on the tables. You'll end up with inappropriate pictures, and half of them won't turn out. People get picture happy when they get drunk, and they tend to take horrible pictures once they have consumed too much!
Chair Covers and Linens: Some people will disagree with me on this one, but I believe everyone should spend the money on chair covers. Banquet chairs are some of the ugliest chairs on the planet (I don't know who designs them, but they should be unemployed) Chair covers are a great way to transform your entire venue for a few hundred dollars. You can save money by agreeing to put them on yourself (If your rental company will allow that) you can also save by not getting a sash to tie around the chair. I have always said the one place I will not compromise is chair covers...lucky for me Aaron completely agrees! You can also save money by using the catering companies linens. Yes it would be nice to have floor length linens in different colors, with runners down the table, but if it's going to stretch you, don't do it!
Favors: Don't buy your wedding guests expensive favors. I hate to break it to you, but 9 times out of 10 they forget them at the end of the night, or they find them useless and leave them behind, for you to have 100 extra (insert favor here). A way to leave your guests with a little gift of appreciation is to make a donation to a favorite charity. The charity will send you little cards with information on them about the organization and you can place those at all of your tables, or treat them to a little snack. We're hosting a candy buffet. Giant jars of all of our favorite candy with little take home boxes. Something that is much cheaper, and most people will enjoy the candy. A lot of catering companies will make special deserts for you too. You can have cookies with your monogram wrapped up and at each setting. These types of things will get used, or taken. Many Mommies and Daddies take things like that home for the kiddos, who didn't attend the wedding! Everyone wins!
Menus: Don't make them, don't waste you time or money. The food isn't going to change whether they have a menu in front of them or not, so don't tempt people, by showing them all of the main entree selections again. They'll try to change their order. Nothing is more annoying to a server than when a guest says "can i get the chicken instead?" "no, no you can't you pre ordered, so you get what you get" They had a chance to see a menu, when they RSVP'd. Plus it's a free meal, suck it up! Menus end up being a waste of space, and you'll be sad at the end of the night to see all your hard work, crinkled up, spilled on, and left to be forgotten.
That's all for now, there are more budget saving tips coming!
<3 Karissa
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