Trying to plan a wedding on a budget? Here’s 5 tips that could save you £10,000
How to plan your perfect wedding on a budget
Expert tips on how to plan a perfect wedding on a budget
With more proposals taking place between December and February than any other time of the year, wedding planning season is certainly upon us.
However, with the cost of living reaching a 40-year high and the cost of tying the knot increasing by £1,385 in 2023 it’s no surprise that couples are eschewing an ‘all bells-and-whistles’ extravaganza for more budget-friendly, intimate occasions.
Whilst budget is a top priority in wedding planning for 2023, couples will still be doing everything they can to pull off their big day without compromising too much on their vision.
To uncover money-saving hacks when it comes to wedding planning, we spoke to wedding planner Emma Jordan and engagement ring expert, Claire Beatson, from ethical jeweller, Nightingale, to discover how couples can cut their wedding costs by up to £10,000 without compromising on creativity, style and individuality.
- Swap out your bubbly
Although champagne receptions are steeped in tradition, they are often expensive and a largely forgettable part of the day. Whilst a good entry-level bottle of champagne will cost you £33, the same quality Prosecco will only set you back £16. By making this small break from tradition and swapping out your type of bubbly, you could save £850.*
Don’t feel bad about not following every tradition for your big day, as Emma explains: “More and more couples are ripping up the wedding rule book and following their own traditions. Don’t feel like you have to have it all!”
- Utilise your nearest and dearest
When drafting your unique wedding budget, look for roles that friends and family can fill. For example, if you are lucky enough to know a professional baker or even an amateur cake-maker that is keen to show off their skills at your nuptials, you could save up to £300.**
Engagement ring expert Claire Beatson recommends, “If you can utilise family and friends around certain areas of your wedding; don’t be afraid to ask! It’s a great way to have people close to you involved in the wedding in some way too and they likely won’t charge full price.”
3. Consider a smaller venue
Venue hire is by far the biggest cost you’ll encounter when planning your wedding with couples spending an average of £7,600 on the location. With Pinterest finding a huge increase in searches for ‘eco-friendly wedding ideas’ and ‘forest wedding ceremony ideas’, it’s no surprise that couples are looking to size-down and pare back the expected glitz and glamour of a traditional wedding and save a huge amount of money.
One of these measures is opting for a smaller, yet just as romantic, venue. Emma suggests considering village halls for your garden wedding, “Most village halls have beautiful interiors and are very much a blank canvas for you to work your magic on. The best part is that they don’t cost the Earth.”
4. Opt for a mid-week wedding
Although it’s tempting to envision clear skies and balmy evenings for your summer wedding, planning your nuptials for off-season can be a sure-fire way to stay inside your budget. The October – April months can also lend to unique colour-schemes, rare floral opportunities and creative decor designs. What’s more is that you could save up to £1,200.***
Emma explains, “Lots of venues offer a discounted rate for having the wedding out of season or in the week. Because of this, mid-week weddings are becoming more and more popular. Additionally, autumn is a beautiful time to get married – think of the beautiful outdoor settings you could choose with orange and rust coloured leaves adorning the trees.”
5. Choose a DJ over a full band
Sure, there’s nothing better than live music but with issues such as venue acoustics, intricate set-up and dodgy guitar solos, opting for a single DJ that can play all your fave classics can save you stress and money. Whilst the average cost of a traditional four-piece band is between £1,000 to £1,500 a DJ will only set you back between £200 and £800.****
*Cost of drinks based on this data, using this calculator for a wedding party of 100.
**Average cost of a wedding cake in 2021
