Tips for Budget Conscious Brides – Part 2

This is Part 2 in our 3 part series on saving money while getting the wedding you want. Why a series? Because trilogies are cool and too many tips at once can make you sick, like too much wedding cake in an hour. Read on our weary friend:

Transportation: A handsome new stretched limo can add a fun dynamic to your wedding. Instead of picking up everyone in your wedding party and taking them to the ceremony, then to the reception, you can save a bit of money and still enjoy the ride by renting it just for your send-off.

Reception Venue: Having your reception at a friend or family member’s home will save you the most money, by far. But, if that’s not a possibility because of guest count or you just don’t know anyone that can accommodate, look for venues that have a low minimum hour expectation, and then limit the total time for your reception. You don’t have to party until midnight to entertain your guests. Half your guests will leave after the formal dances are done anyway. You can make a rockin’ reception in just a few hours.

Catering: Feeding your guests can get expensive - period. A low end estimated cost for a catered dinner is around $30/per person plus tax & gratuity (18%) is approx $5,800 for 150 guests. To scale down the cost of food, you could have a late evening or early to mid-afternoon wedding so that it does not fall during a meal time, and just serve your guests hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

Reception Music:  Hiring a DJ that does an exceptional job at keeping guests entertained with music – no matter the age or background – and serving as your master of ceremonies is incredibly important. There are many people that do it, but few that do it well enough to get repeat or referral business. As with any hourly vendor, limiting the time of your reception can save you some money, but hiring the cheapest DJ is not a valid way to save money. With any DJ you hire, make sure to check references and ask for a sample of their work – either a recording, or to stop by an event and see them in action. Don’t expect to get to come to a wedding they’ll be at though – would you want a stranger at your wedding? It’s rare you’d get to tag along at a reception.

Photography: You will have your wedding photos forever, so choose your photographer wisely. Like hiring a DJ, the least expensive photographer isn’t always the best choice. Ask for referrals and look through their portfolio. Asking for custom package quotes and limiting the number of hours that you require them to be with you can save some money you can put into other areas of your wedding..

Look for Part 3 coming soon. And if you have any tips that you’ve used or like but don’t see here, please comment and share.