5 Ways to Save Money on Weddings

​If you’re like many Americans — or inhabitants of planet earth — you feel the pinch of massive inflation on your financial outlook. You may also be one of the lucky ones who finds a soul willing to spend the rest of their lives with you. One of you has popped the question, the celebration is upon you, and now the realization has hit that getting married is quite an expensive endeavor.
​
Now, you may take the quick and dirty route of heading to the local courthouse and just sealing the deal for under $200. But, that isn’t desirable by everyone. This pandemic has taken enough from us. You may not want it to take away the chance to have that special day. If you fall into the latter category, here are 5 easy ways to save money on your wedding!

---

1. Photography - A quality photographer is not going to be cheap. And a cheap photographer will rarely deliver quality in the end. If you aren’t ready to spend $1,000 or more, don’t fret. Phone cameras aren’t half bad now and you can get away with generic photos on the cheap if you have someone who’s willing to just take as many pictures as possible. We call this “the spray and pray” method.

2. Venue — If you aren’t ready to travel to a remote island, or pay for the biggest chapel in town, you can have a great time at a local hotel’s ballroom. Many have cheap rates and offer catering at discounted rates. If that’s still out of budget, this is where your families can come in clutch and turn this into just one big picnic!

3. Rings — The price of gold, silver, and diamonds has always presented challenges for young lovers. It’s time to talk with your parents or grandparents to see if there’s a family ring you may be able to borrow until you are financially ready to splurge on something just for you.

4. ​Wedding Party Size — This is what ended up saving us over $20K on our wedding. We decided to prioritize and narrow down our list to those we knew would be there regardless. Our wedding size went from just over 300 guests to 27 of our most beloved family and friends.

5. Wedding Cake — Traditionally, you would hire a cake maker to construct an elaborate cake made of multiple tiers that will indeed be destroyed by night’s end. Some folks choose to freeze that cake and have what remains on your first anniversary. However, those cakes can cost upwards of $2,000. Why not consider something adorable, with various flavors, that everyone would love? Petit-fours! I found these delicious gems at a friend’s wedding and they were delightful. My wife asked if they were more expensive than just going with a cake, to which she replied pennies on the dollar. One of the premier Petit four makers on the West Coast is Dragonfly Cakes and they have tons of options and flavors. They’ve been featured on the Rachel Ray show and are a hit on social media. Bite-sized, perfectly priced, and will definitely be a talking point at any wedding. Check them out at https://dragonflycakes.com/