Two More Ways to Cut Wedding Costs

Smart Money lists ten ways to cut wedding costs. I've covered most of these previously, but there are a couple that I'd like to highlight. They are:

1) Slim down the invites -- The more you stuff into that wedding invitation envelope, the more you'll pay both in product costs and postage, cautions Summer Krecke, deputy editor of WeddingChannel.com. Streamline the contents by putting reception and ceremony information on the same card. Eliminate extras, like fancy liners and interior envelopes. And in lieu of including a map, send an email with a link to mapped-out directions or include the address of your wedding web site where guests can find the full details.

By lightening an invitation's total weight from two ounces to one (say, by eliminating the reception card, map insert and envelope liner), you'll save roughly 17 cents per invite in postage. Use response postcards instead of a card-and-envelope combination, and save another 15 cents apiece. For 150 mailed invitations, that's another $48 saved.

Here's a better, related idea: don't invite every person you've ever met, especially to the reception. At $30 or so per plate, each person is a very expensive part of a wedding's total costs. And a few extra people here and a few there can start to add up to some really big money. And odds are that the people on the fringes of your list don't really want to come anyway. ;-)

An alternative: have a pre- or post-wedding get-together at home a week or so before/after the wedding for more casual friends. This way they can still "celebrate" with you but in a way that's generally more comfortable for them and much less expensive for you.

10) Borrow from other brides -- The "something borrowed" part of traditional bridal attire is supposed to lend good fortune from an already happily married couple. So why stop at a borrowed pair of earrings or shoes? Talk to other recent brides about leftovers from their weddings, suggests Forden. Purchases like the ring bearer's pillow and reception wishing well (to stash cash gifts) are rarely reused and often linger in storage. Broaden your options by posting through a local Freecycle group, which encourages members to give away unwanted items. And if you feel comfortable doing so, speak with the bride that's using the ceremony or reception site right before or after you. You may be able to share decorations or other items and split the cost.

Love, love, love these ideas! Most people will probably bristle at the suggestion of using something "used" (especially from a stranger), but really, what's the big deal? Borrowing is a GREAT way to save some good money on a wedding. And, as we all know, saving a good amount on your wedding can significantly improve your finances.

Comments

$30 a plate, are you getting married at Burger King?

$30 a plate, are you getting married at Burger King?

[jdg]

Ours was $27 per person at the local Junior League 5 years ago. They did have cheaper options. Buffet, no alcohol.

[Heidi]

We're doing it for less than $20 a plate. This includes fruit, local artisnal cheese, bread and crackers spread prior to the ceremony. After the wedding we'll be serving dinner - a buffet including pork prepared three ways with six different sides (wanted enough sides to satisfy our veggie friends), and instead of a traditional wedding cake, we're having apple pie (made with local apples) with homemade ice cream. All for $18 per person (living in the middle of nowhere has its benefits - just goes to show how cheap it can be to buy local!).

Another money-saving tip: have the ceremony and wedding at the same site. We're forgoing the church wedding to get married outdoors (we'll save $600), while my sister had her actual reception at said church and saved the cost of renting a reception site.

[justin]

I never understood having a full service meal at a wedding. I guess I have never been to any "fancy" weddings, but when it is over, I just have never wanted to have to stay at a wedding for 3-4 hours.

My wife and I saved a tremendous amount on food by letting her extended family do the cooking. She has 5 aunts who delighted in cooking and serving. That way, they got to have a major part in the day without feeling slighted if one got a "bigger" role than the other. We paid for food costs and they did all the work. No worries about a caterer who was late or didn't care. This was family and they did a great job for us. And the food was homemade, much better than your average $20/plate caterer with frozen entrees and canned fruit.

[Lauren]

First of all, I gave a lot of our wedding extras (program papers, shoes, decorations) away on Freecycle so I like that idea.

Second, another way to save on postage is to get a regular-shaped invitation. The square ones cost more to mail than the rectangles do.

[katiela]

I like a lot of the ideas mentioned above, but I DO think it's tacky to have a pre- or post-wedding party for people who are not invited to the "real" wedding. It seems like gift-grubbing and it would offend me!