Think In Season For Your Flowers And Food
Two words will lower both your catering and floral expenses: seasonal and local. When you buy what’s in season, you get food and flowers at the peak of their supply when the price is normally lower. Plus, when they’re locally grown they don’t need to be shipped halfway around the globe. So not only do you save money, but you also reduce your carbon footprint. Win-win.
What Is The Average Cost For A Small Wedding
The average cost of a wedding could cost anywhere from $24-33,000, with some states averaging more than others.
You may think that only applies to big weddings. But according to the averages, if you wanted to plan a wedding for 50 people in Colorado, thats already $200/person or $10,000!
Luckily these cheap wedding ideas will help your wedding look like it cost $30,000 for WAY less.
Read More From Holidappy
Intimate Wedding
www.weddingsonthefrenchriviera.com
A wedding should be about the two of you being united as one, and the closest people in your lives should be there to see it. It makes a ceremony even more meaningful when the people witnessing it care about you both. Ask yourself: who are the people who have always been and will always be part of our lives? They are the perfect guests for your wedding.
www.bridalbar.com
Read Also: What Wedding Band Looks Best With Solitaire
Victoria Hall Saltaire West Yorkshire Wedding Venues
For those who have never heard of Saltaire, it is a Victorian model village and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Shipley, West Yorkshire. And its truly beautiful.
Standing proudly within this picturesque model village is Victoria Hall a stunning Grade II Listed wedding venue which to our surprise, can be hired for just £1,500.
Many couples choose to hire the Grand Main Hall a wow-inducing space that boasts gorgeous architecture, a balcony, in-house bar and heaps of space ideal for dining and dancing.
Alternatively, choose between the Evans Room a bright space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens the York Room the largest room upstairs with views across Saltaire or the Glen Room our favourite thanks to its tall windows and stunning views.
The Pumping House Nottinghamshire
This Grade II-listed, red brick venue in Nottinghamshire is beautifully bright. The original chimney of the old Pumping House is still there and its set in six acres right in the heart of Sherwood Forest making a beautiful and distinctive backdrop for photos. It has two licensed civil ceremony rooms, the impressive Engine Hall or tranquil Ollerton Room for the wedding breakfast, plus rooms for drinks and more. Did we mention theres also 10 self-catering apartments to stay in?
Exclusive-use venue hire prices in 2021 start from £2,800 which includes lots of extras like event security, big LOVE letters, fully stocked and staffed bars, the cake stand and knife. Their delicious three-course menus start from £43.50pp plus VAT.
You May Like: Free Wedding Planning Spreadsheet
Combine Reception And Catering
Booking a reception venue that also caters can save money since youre not paying two separate vendors. For our wedding, the very fancy reception building cost $500 to book. They were able to offer this price since the bulk of their profits come from us using their catering services.
Keep in mind that some places have food and drink minimums, which is something to account for if youre having a small wedding or dont want to spend needlessly to reach that minimum.
Pick Flowers That Are In Season
Every flower has a “proper” season when they should be in bloom, but nowadays many are available all year round, because they’re being grown on the other side of the world, which makes them expensive! Every florist will be able to advise the best time of year for your favourite florals. Staying within season for your bouquets will save both hassle and money – and it’s way better for the environment!
Read Also: Address Wedding Invitations To Family
Find A Reception Hall That Is Flexible
This is key to a cheap wedding, for two big reasons:
Another potential cost saver is to find a reception hall that doesnt have a reputation as a wedding spot. We were married in an opera house . It was as nice as any other reception location Ive seen, with an outdoor terrace, gazebo, and spot along the river. But it wasnt known as a wedding hot spot. It was cheaper than most of the typical wedding reception locations, who will gouge you to no end.
We decided to have the ceremony on the gazebo and fit all the guests around us. Awesome!
Address Your Own Invitations
Paying for calligraphy is not cheap. If you must have calligraphy on your invites, consider buying a calligraphy pen and practicing until you get it right. It’s not that difficult. And only an expert would notice it wasn’t done by a professional. As a starting point, there are tons of tutorials online.
Also Check: Wedding Band That Goes With Solitaire
Wedding Venues On A Budget On Wineries
For more wedding venues on a budget, many couples find the open space of wineries to be ideal. Wine grapes always grow in the most ideal of climates, which ensures that youll have a gorgeous day in store for your I Do. Wineries always have generous indoor spaces with ample room for your ceremony and reception. They also have the benefit of barrel cellars which are perfect for artistically lit photo sessions.
Vineyards are often a staple within their community and have excellent connections with other local vendors. If youre looking to stretch your low cost wedding venues dollars a little further, coordinate with your winery to find the best deals on florists and caterers.
Switching gears as you move your guests from indoors to outdoors is a great change of pace and an excellent to keep the energy levels up, which is a benefit which is unique to wineries. Aside from sometimes being a little bit out of the way, there really are no cons to choosing a winery as your wedding venue.
Wondering if a winery isnt traditional enough? Well, it was good enough for Jesus. Thats right, the famous water into wine transformation happened at a wedding located in a vineyard.
Turn Barrels Into Tables
Want to make your wino friend happy? Give your wedding a vineyard feel with old wine barrels used as cocktail tables. Whats great about this idea is that the barrels work for almost any wedding theme and look great. If youre really committed to the idea, buy the wine barrel full and let your guests drink right from the source, it will surely be a conversation starter.
Recommended Reading: Becoming Ordained In Nj
Set Up A Photography And Videography Registry Or Fund
Youve heard of a wedding gift registry. Why not open a separate wedding media registry through which guests and apologetic no-shows can chip in toward your photography and videography costs?
Some high-end photography and videography studios offer this service directly, or you can go the DIY route and launch a crowdfunding campaign on a crowdfunding site like GoFundMe.
DIY registries or funds offer more control over contributions. For instance, you can expand them to include general wedding and post-wedding expenses. Theyre a straightforward option if an affordable honeymoon is a top priority.
Plus, if guests contribute to your media registry or fund in lieu of gifts, you dont have to devote as much energy to regifting, returning, or selling unwanted gifts online after the big day.
Cafes Restaurants And Bars
Renting out a private dining room at a coffee shop, bar or eatery or possibly the whole facility can be a budget-friendly option, depending on the guest list size and type of establishment. A full-service place will have food, tables, chairs, dishes and utensils in-house, which can save money compared with hiring outside vendors.
Recommended Reading: How To Address A Card To A Couple
Skip The Open Bar Offer Signature Cocktails Instead
If youre worried about bar costs busting your budget, consider offering a few signature cocktails instead of a full open bar. Do cocktail hour the savvy way by choosing a favorite drink of you and your partner to serve your guests. Alcohol costs can easily get out of control, so this is a great way to offer your guests libations without going overboard.
Do Diy Projects To Save Money
If youre looking for a way to save money on your wedding, consider tackling some do-it-yourself projects! Make your own decor, bake your own wedding cake, put together a DIY photo booth complete with props, or create personal wedding details yourself for less than buying new!
Don’t Miss: Randy Kleinfeld Married
Detroit Institute Of The Arts
Located in downtown Detroit, the Detroit Institute of the Arts was constructed in 1927. The early 1900s architecture still stands tall, beaming with historic charm throughout multiple beautiful spaces for a ceremony and reception. The Walter B. Ford Great Hall boasts gorgeous decor, with space for 300 seated guests, requiring a rental fee of $5,000. Other options on-site range from $500 to $4,000 and can be used on their own, or in addition to, the Great Hall.
Hold The Ceremony At Home Or Outdoors
According to The Knot, the average wedding venue costs $10,500, adding up to around a third of the total cost of the big day. While trimming the guest list can certainly help reduce this cost, another approach is to think outside the box with your venue.
You might consider hosting the wedding at someones home, particularly if they have a nice yard or plenty of space. If your guest list is small, thats much more feasible.
Strategy: Have the wedding and reception at a friend or family members property Savings: $10,500
Another approach is to see if you can use a public park for the wedding and utilize any structures the parks and recreation department may have for a reception. Many such departments have nice older houses near parks that can be used for events like this. Contacting local parks services in my area found that such venues were available with a range of $1,000 to $4,000, though there would be some additional costs to help set up some services. While there will still be a notable cost involved for this, its often significantly lower than paying for a full-service venue.
Strategy: Have the wedding and reception at a park Savings: $6,500
Also Check: Officiating Weddings In California
Colehayes Park Devon Wedding Venues
Colehayes Park is a secluded Grade II Listed Georgian mansion standing in 20 acres of countryside in the heart of beautiful Devon.
This cheap but magnificent wedding venue is designed to suit any style indoors or outdoors whether youre dreaming of classic and traditional, bohemian, country rustic or festival chic, this spectacular venue has seen it all.
Stroll around the grounds and stop for photographs beside the lake this venue and its grounds are made to be photographed.
The venue itself can sleep 80+ guests which is ideal for holding post and pre-celebrations all under one roof.
Exclusive use venue prices range from £2,995 £5,642.
Accessorise With Family Heirlooms
Like lots of our real wedding brides, you can bring a borrowed element into your bridal look with parents’ or grandparents’ jewellery and accessories. Your ‘something borrowed’ can save you a few hundred euro, and give your bridal look a unique and sentimental twist, too!
Photo by Simple Tapestry via One Fab Day
Also Check: Wedding Checklist Google Sheets
Think Off Season For Your Wedding Date
Who says “Saturday in June” wedding couples have more fun? The wedding off-season typically runs November to March, so if you’re on a budget you’ll get the most bang for your buck by hosting your big day during this timeframe. Consider having your celebration in December and you may be surprised at how much your venue will shave off the regular rental fee. Just be sure to have a contingency plan in place for inclement weather!
Save Money On Wedding Venues Near You
-
Have the ceremony and reception at the same place. Chertoff suggests picking a venue that can host both, like a legion hall or a church with a hall attached, so that you wont have to pay two rental fees or for transportation between locations.
-
Negotiate. Bertino says venues that charge a minimum food cost and room rental fee sometimes will waive the fee if you ask.
-
Trim the guest list. With fewer guests, you could get a smaller space.
-
Choose an off-peak time. Pick a month, day of the week or time of day thats not in high demand and you may get a break on the price. Consider a Thursday brunch instead of a Saturday dinner.
-
Approach blank spaces carefully. Locations that require you to bring everything in yourself like tables, chairs and audio equipment can get expensive. Calculate how much it would cost to rent or buy everything you need versus choosing a place that provides the basics.
-
Pay with a credit card. Depending on the type of card you have, you might earn cash back, rewards or travel points that you can put toward the honeymoon or recouping some of the costs. Use cards responsibly, and dont spend more than you can afford to repay.
-
Take your time. Thoroughly research options and compare prices to find a venue you love that fits into your budget.
About the author:Lauren Schwahn is a personal finance writer at NerdWallet. Her work has been featured by USA Today and The Associated Press. Read more
Also Check: What Wedding Band Looks Best With Solitaire
Moorlands Inn West Yorkshire Wedding Venues
The Moorlands is a unique two-for-one wedding venue that offers both The Marquee and The Loft as optional wedding spaces for your special day.
The Marquee boasts floor to ceiling windows and breathtaking views over rolling fields whereas The Moorlands Loft is the idyllic space for more intimate weddings and offers beautiful exposed brickwork and original beams.
Elegant décor such as stylish chandeliers and soft ceiling drapes adorn both the Marquee and Loft. The interiors have been designed with simple sophistication in mind to enable you to dress your wedding venue in any style.
Just a short drive from Halifax, this wedding venue could be yours from between £150 £2,500 depending on the space you choose and how much of your wedding day youd like to organise yourself.
