When you dream about your wedding, chances are you don’t dream about the price tag. There’s a reason for that. According to the latest Real Weddings study from The Knot, the average wedding in the U.S. costs an average of $33,900 in 2019. That hefty cost stems from expenses like engagement rings, the ceremony, and the reception.
The good news is that many couples are becoming more and more thrifty to save money during their wedding celebrations. If you and your partner are looking to save yourselves from falling into debt, here are a few ways you can still make your wedding a bash without bashing your budget.
1. Use a wedding planning app
For some couples, the conflict that emerges during the planning stages of your wedding can actually be enough to break off an engagement. Fortunately, today’s couples are especially good at communicating with one another, and the national divorce rate has actually dropped down to 40% in recent years. Still, if you’re looking to take some of the pressure off without splurging on a wedding planner, you can monitor all of your wedding planning details all in one place with The Knot’s Wedding Planner App.
This app lets you connect to local vendors, manage your guest list, and more. Just make sure that you have all your details and information backed up to the Cloud. Certain apps like TikTok and Fortnite have recently faced bans from Apple App stores and Google Play, and you don’t want your information to suddenly disappear should something with your app go awry.
2. Go nontraditional with your venue
You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a grand hall to make your nuptials feel unique. In fact, you can actually save a lot of money while still scoring a magical venue by going the nontraditional route. Check out local places that match you and your partner’s vibes for the wedding and ask for reservation costs. You can even rent out a house on Airbnb. Just make sure to consider the costs for lighting, drinks, catering, etc.
3. Repurpose your wedding flowers
Wedding flowers can get expensive if you’re not careful, especially when you want flowers that are out of season. In fact, the average cost of wedding flowers in the U.S. is typically around $1,500 with most couples spending anywhere from $700 to $2,500. That can be a sizable chunk of your wedding budget. Fortunately, you can save a lot on your wedding flowers simply by reusing them. The flowers that you use along the aisle can easily be picked up and moved to the dining tables. Don’t be afraid to get crafty. Ask your florist how you can reuse your ceremony flowers throughout the wedding and reception.
4. Reach out to local photographers
The rates for wedding photographers vary, especially when it comes to their years in the business. The more experience they have behind the camera, the more expensive they’ll be. While you shouldn’t sacrifice your wedding photos to save some cash, you also don’t have to spend a small fortune to get some good shots. Make sure to check out local photographers or up-and-coming photographers that have a lot of talent but might not have as wide an audience as more popular photographers.
5. Borrow your jewelry
If you’re looking for “something borrowed” for your wedding ceremony for good luck, consider borrowing your wedding jewelry. You can either rent your jewelry online from websites such as Adorn or you can borrow jewelry from friends and family members. Borrowing your jewelry can help to take you and your partner hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Planning your wedding can be overwhelming. However, with a few tips and tricks, you can feel confident and you and your partner will stay under budget so you can focus on celebrating each other and enjoying your special day rather than sweating over debts.
