You’ve researched wedding venues and are left with some questions like:
“How can I save money on my wedding venue?’
“Why is this so expensive?”
“HOW MUCH do I have to pay for alcohol?!”
There are a million other questions you’re hit with during the process of wedding planning but I’m here to let you in on a little secret – you’re not alone! Every bride has some sort of question or dilemma when they are planning their wedding! In fact, some of them go through the entire wedding planning process and miss ways they can save a TON of money. But, that won’t be you, so let’s jump into my tips on how you can book a budget-friendly wedding and still look like a million bucks walking down the aisle!
Alcohol
Do you want an open bar? Do you want to have a per-person drink limit? Will your guests have to pay for their own alcohol? When you’re negotiating the inevitable alcohol pricing, try to find a venue that will allow you to bring your own alcohol. If you can purchase booze over the time of your engagement (i.e. buying a bottle a week / month), you can save yourself a ton of money by controlling your costs and how much your guests drink. I have been to weddings where the bride and groom purchased enough alcohol to have an open bar! When the wedding was over, they were able to return the unopened bottles and get a refund. You’ll need to check with your state to see what restrictions there may be. You can click this link to view some major retailer regulations along with an overview of each state.
Friday Wedding, Anyone?
Another great way to save a pile of cash is to choose a non-traditional day or month to get married at your venue. Find out the “off season” times at your venue and pick a day of the week, like Friday, to say your vows. Another option is to have an earlier wedding, a bride I know had a brunch wedding on a Saturday morning which saved her over $1,000!
If you do decide to plan your wedding on a non-traditional day/month, don’t be afraid to ask or extras! A lot of the time, venues are eager to add in some value add-ons that you won’t have to pay for! One bride I worked with was able to get a beautiful ceiling package at no additional cost to her, which she was ecstatic about. You never know what you can receive from your venue! When they do go above and beyond, a great way to say thank you is by reviewing and referring friends to their venue as well.
I hope these tips help you manage your budget a little better so that you can have the wedding you’ve always wanted without going broke! Don’t be afraid to ask for other things, the worst they can say is no! This is your day and you should never walk away from a meeting feeling like you aren’t getting the most out of what you’re paying for.
Until next time!
Jen
Owner, Weddings Made to Order
weddingsmto.com
