Money saving tips and timeline to save a venue?

I know a lot of people have given you some really good advice on here so far, but what are your top things on your "must have" list for your wedding that you won't compromise on? Whether it's an open bar, live band, or professional photography, I'd say spend more of your budget on what's most important to you and skimp on other small details.

View quoted message Thanks you for the advice! We’re looking at moving the date not on a long weekend to cut costs! Plus prioritize what we really want to spend money on!

Thanks for the advice! Never knew you can rent utensils out!

Looking at a venue that will offer cheapest by Plated. Ie. 21 dollars per person as opposed to 35 dollars per person depending on the Venue.

View quoted message Thanks for the tips. I like them all. Will keep this in mind.

My big day is in 2020 so roughly 26 months from now. I know I'll be expecting to pay more for venue ( it's the menu price they get you plus additional cost to using their site for ceremony and venue if you plan it to do it in 1 place) I prefer this so less travelling between 2 places and avoid any traffics. I just recently book my venue and get it done which gives me time to work around and stay within my budget. I'm doing a lot of Diy to cut cost. Also some venues charge you the same rate as either a Saturday or Friday and Sunday rate for long weekend which you don't really get to save much. Depends on how much you are willing to spend for the venue. Ask yourself what's your main priority? Place? Food? Price? Etc. For me I prefer all in 1 place because of the view and the food price.

Extra charges will depend when the stat actually is, but keep in mind that many companies and businesses sometimes stay open for the stat and close a different day that benefits the business more, so there is a good chance that you would be charged extra for a long weekend. Since you're trying to save some money costs, you may not want to go this route !

As for cutting costs, there are many bridal consignment stores with gorgeous second hand dresses, but you can only buy off the rack.

Adding greenery to your boquet is a good way to cut costs and a good way to make it "pop" with some flowers in there

Be open to self catering and look in to Costco or other wholesalers for good deals on food. If you're looking to feed lots of people, consider doing something like pulled pork sandwiches as they're quick, easy, and goes a long way! Self catering is more work, but definitely a good way to cut on costs.

Also, look at your rental companies for "plating packages". We got 2 plates, champagne flutes, water goblets, wine glasses, and cutlery for everyone for $2.25/head. Renting these separately was almost $5/head!!

View quoted message Thank you for taking the time to give me tips on pretty much all the big parts of the wedding! These are some amazing tips and I can definitely use all of these and apply them to our big day you’re amazing!

View quoted message Thank you for this! We have cut our guest list to about 80 people max and our wedding party will only be about 8. 4 bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen. We are rethinking our wedding date now and probably will go off wedding season to help with the costs!

View quoted message Thanks Stephanie! I like the idea of your Top 3’s! We will probably use that to help cut down on our costs.

Saving tips:

1. Don't get a long weekend or certain holiday date due to higher rates. Halloween or Christmas or New Years holidays may cost less since based on season.

2. Real flowers costs will be expensive since florists have a stating price. Rent to save the cost rather than keeping it after for reselling.

3. Purchases for centerpeices and Gift table will be expensive too. Rent vases and anything else needed and costs will be half. Peraonally, i had did do rentals for centerpeices, money box, floral balls and backdrop putting it together myself in one day.

4. Store purchases will build up in costs as to online shopping cuts down hundreds of dollars for the same items you may find. I saved over over $500 for small purchases online over Michaels craft store going nuts on their prices.

5. Invitations online tend to save you lots and allowing you to personalize it. Vistaprint was a great site and alerts you for site discounts to bring down the price. Wedding Invitations made by companies charge more for colour, material, choice of cover and addition inserts. Beware and compare what you like and how much you want to budget.

6. Wedding cake based pn how you choose to serve can depend what should be considered. Sweet table has many varieties and not everyone will want cake, go smaller or less tiers to avoid wastage and the cost will be efficent towards your budget. Plated service to your guests will help by knowing the cake will be only dessert served and go by the count. I had plated service, yet chose to go with alternative dessert too so that all guests got cake (family) and pasties (other gueats) with creme brulee dessert.

7. Organizing details binder will help to keep sections seperate knowing how how much you're spending and which vendor your contract is with. All information will be important if something happened during or after the day if you had to take that particular vendor to court. All emails should be included as well for communication purposes.

8. Day of Coordinator is helpful yet expensive. If you can get the wedding party if having any to help out with setting up your decor. The company isn't worth the cost as you can more savings to put towards anything you need more important.

I hope this information is a guide to see how save you money and to compare purchases vs. Rentals.

It may actually be more expensive to have it on the holiday Monday then the Saturday. I know our venue charges a premium if you have your wedding on a statutory holiday. That’s because they have to pay their staff more (time and a half I think). Other vendors like djs might also charge more if it’s a holiday.

As far as cutting costs the number one way to reduce costs is to reduce your guest list. So carefully consider everyone you invite, stay away from the people you aren’t close too but just feel obligated to invite. Also you don’t need to give everyone a plus one if it’s not in the budget.

Reducing the number of people in your wedding party also helps reduce costs (less gifts, less bouquets etc).

Keep decor simple. Choose a venue that doesn’t need much decorating. Don’t get a backdrop for the head table, stick with inexpensive items to decorate everywhere else. For example candles make a place look amazing but are really cheap. Instead of floral centeroeices you can do a bunch of candles and sprinkle flower petals.

We booked our venue a year in advance and there were only 2 Saturday's left in the summer (we were set on having a summer wedding).

As for saving tips, we determined our "top three" things of most importance to us, which was food, venue, photography and that is where we spent the majority of our money. The rest, we DIY'd, looked at buying second hand, or had others offer to do for us (flowers and signs are being done by friends who are just charging for the materials, not the labour!).

View quoted message Wow thank you for that insight! $30,000 is definitely pricey without everything else included 😭. And I was thinking of the artificial flowers as well and getting a second hand dress as it is discounted. We were trying to wed the same as our “dating” anniversary but we’re open to fall dates too. Thanks for the tips!

So far on my list I will be spending less on the dress, having artificial flowers (or growing my own), and getting the venue/food/alcohol from separate places rather than all together from the venue. Most venues (such as hotels, golf & country clubs, and ballrooms) give package deals - but this results in you HAVING to use their "executive" chefs that charge +$40 a plate and their bar at +$5 a drink. This means that for me and my FH that the usual amount we were quoted (without DJ, outfits, cake, and other stuff) was adding up to a starting price of $30,000!!!

If budget is a problem then I would stay away from long weekend - even when they are Monday's the venues I looked at in Manitoba would still charge a Saturday rate. I would recommend having it in the off season like I am (March/April and Oct./Nov.)

View quoted message No problem! Weddings are pricey!!! Anything that helps you save money!

View quoted message Thank you for the input! I’ll definitely consider that!

I saw on your profil you were considering May 22nd so I’m assuming that’s Victoria day? I wouldn’t worry too much about it being taken but sometimes you get discounts on the room rental by booking earlier rather than later! Just be aware of the fact some places take stat pay into consideration and charge more! (Ours did but we didn’t book a stat)