Wedding on a budget!

Because you're getting married in October, you have three opportunities to get a bunch of things for a lower price: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Father's Day. This includes jewellery and accessories, bridal party gifts, and potentially outfits like his suit.

Your venue will determine a lot of whether you can save or need to splurge. If the space is smaller or has a distinct look, it takes less to decorate. If the space has a sound system available for entertainment to hook into, you can potentially pay less for a DJ if they don't need to lug in their own sound system. If your space rental also includes the meal, you won't need to hire an external caterer.

Explore pricing between different styles of reception. Instead of a standard multi-plated dinner, maybe you can opt for a buffet. If you aren't glued to the idea of an evening reception, lunch and brunch also work. For something more economical during the evening, a cocktail reception is a possibility.

A lot of things you think you will need new you may already have. Most gents have a white dress shirt and tie. If it's in good condition, that's something you can not spend extra money on. Same with shoes for the ladies.

For photos and video, not everyone needs every moment captured. If you prioritize just the ceremony, you can hire a team for shorter hours than the typical full day packages. If you aren't ever in two places at the same time, you may not need a second shooter.

Personally, the things I wouldn't skimp on are hair/makeup for the ladies, and the suit for the gents. Everyone is looking at you all day and your face will be immortalized in photos forever so having a makeup and hair team that can pull of a look you like that makes you feel great is key. A suit is a versatile and reusable garment (everyone needs at least one suit, even if the gent claims he will never wear a suit) and a cheap suit won't just look not so great, it won't be comfortable. You don't need to go all out for one, but if you're able to financially, I would try to at least get one that's all wool, tailored, and fitted over picking up a cheap one off the rack at a mall retailer like H&M.