I decided to begin a series on CDTA entitled Budget Bride Guide, where I will tackle some questions that I've received via email. To start this off, the most frequently asked question is "How to save money on a venue?"
Before looking for a venue, draft up a guests list so that you'll have a rough idea as to how many people will be in attendance. Using this information will help tremendously in picking a venue to accommodate your guests. Keep in mind that a larger guests list would mean a larger venue hence a higher fee. So, if possible, trim your guests list in order to scale back on cost. Now, let's get to saving!
1- Church wedding? If so, find out if your place of worship has an attached or affiliated hall or ballroom big enough to accommodate your guests. Why? They almost always costs way less than hotels and banquet halls.
2- Choose a date during off-peak wedding season which is between November and April. Why? Spring and summer are the most coveted seasons for weddings which hikes the higher costs of renting venues.
3- Don't hold your wedding on a Saturday. Consider Friday or Sunday which is also off peak and less expensive.
4- Choose venues that specialize in weddings-whether destination or local. They more often then none, offer all-inclusive reasonable packages consisting of cake, food, flowers, decorations, and more!
5- In the military or part of a club or professional association? Use that status to score a low fee location. Some military sites can be rented inexpensively by veterans and current members of the armed forces.
6- Select a reception site that allows you to bring your own alcohol and caterer. Many sites will mandate that you use an affiliated caterer for your event. Chances are, the caterers on the list are more pricey then ones you would have chosen for yourself. Therefore, inflating your overall venue costs. Throw in an open bar and you may exceed your budget. Being able to hire your own catering vendors helps scale down on the overall costs. This also pertains to alcohol. You can save a lot of money by purchasing your own alcohol from liquidators instead of using theirs which will have a significantly higher markup.
Have more tips to add, comment below. Have a budget bride question, email me!
Before looking for a venue, draft up a guests list so that you'll have a rough idea as to how many people will be in attendance. Using this information will help tremendously in picking a venue to accommodate your guests. Keep in mind that a larger guests list would mean a larger venue hence a higher fee. So, if possible, trim your guests list in order to scale back on cost. Now, let's get to saving!
1- Church wedding? If so, find out if your place of worship has an attached or affiliated hall or ballroom big enough to accommodate your guests. Why? They almost always costs way less than hotels and banquet halls.
2- Choose a date during off-peak wedding season which is between November and April. Why? Spring and summer are the most coveted seasons for weddings which hikes the higher costs of renting venues.
3- Don't hold your wedding on a Saturday. Consider Friday or Sunday which is also off peak and less expensive.
4- Choose venues that specialize in weddings-whether destination or local. They more often then none, offer all-inclusive reasonable packages consisting of cake, food, flowers, decorations, and more!
5- In the military or part of a club or professional association? Use that status to score a low fee location. Some military sites can be rented inexpensively by veterans and current members of the armed forces.
6- Select a reception site that allows you to bring your own alcohol and caterer. Many sites will mandate that you use an affiliated caterer for your event. Chances are, the caterers on the list are more pricey then ones you would have chosen for yourself. Therefore, inflating your overall venue costs. Throw in an open bar and you may exceed your budget. Being able to hire your own catering vendors helps scale down on the overall costs. This also pertains to alcohol. You can save a lot of money by purchasing your own alcohol from liquidators instead of using theirs which will have a significantly higher markup.
Have more tips to add, comment below. Have a budget bride question, email me!
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