How to Save on Wedding Costs

Did you know that the cost of the average wedding in the U.S. is $28,000*? Fortunately, it doesn't have to be this way. With careful planning, prioritizing what's important to you and your spouse-to-be, and following some of the cost-cutting tips outlined here, you can have the wedding you desire and your budget.

Choose your number one priority.

Most couples-to-be have some fantastical dreams about their wedding day. Maybe it's an enormous wall of flowers that will be outrageously beautiful and make guests' eyes pop. Perhaps an elaborate, custom-made wedding gown will turn you into a vision. Or maybe it's a wedding aisle filled with hundreds of floating candles. 

Whatever your dream, it probably costs a pretty penny to fulfill. To avoid debt for your special day, choose the one item for your wedding that is most important to you at almost any cost. Trim costs in other places to leave extra room in your budget for your numero uno, and if you start to feel like going overboard in another area, remind yourself that this part of your wedding will be just like you've dreamed. 

Skip the invites

Snail mail is so last millennium. Bring your wedding up to date and tighten your budget by creating a cost-free e-invite that includes all the wedding details and an option to RSVP through an embedded link. You'll be doing your wallet, and the environment, a favor!

Choose a nontraditional venue. 

A typical venue can take the giant bite out of a wedding budget. Make your wedding extra-special and save on costs simultaneously by choosing an out-of-the-box venue, like an art gallery, your favorite upscale restaurant, or even atop a scenic lookout point. Just make sure to factor in the cost of amenities you may need to rent for your location, such as lights, tents, silverware and flatware, and portable bathrooms. 

Skip the rehearsal dinner.

Yes, you can get married without the rehearsal dinner! Wouldn't you rather skip the practice round and put that money toward something lasting value? If you feel like you need a rehearsal to ensure everything goes smoothly, ask the officiator and the bridal and groom's party members to practice the ceremony only in a short, no-food run-through. 

Choose a non-bridal gown. 

Everything on your list becomes more expensive when you tack on the word "wedding." Save on one of these expenses by purchasing a gown not designed exclusively for a wedding. Any floor-length white gown you pick up in a department store or boutique will do, and you can always add embellishments to dress it up a bit. You'll still save a fortune on the cost of your bridal gown. 

Limit your guest count.

Each person at your reception counts. So many parts of your wedding, from the catering to the bar to the cake, cost more with every added person. Keep your wedding intimate by only inviting guests who will add absolute joy to your special day. You can limit the plus-ones, specify that the reception is adults-only, or restrict the guest list to people currently in your life instead of inviting every old friend and acquaintance. Trimming 20 guests from your list can easily save you a thousand dollars. 

Get flowers from florists' overstock. 

If you're getting married during a busy wedding season when florists have events several times a week, you may be able to get your flowers at a fraction of the usual cost — or no cost at all. Ask floral designers about the excess inventory they need to get rid of before it goes bad. They may be more than happy to have you take these blooms off their hands for a low price or even for free. 

You can also save on the cost of flowers by sticking to in-season and locally-grown blooms only. As a bonus, flowers that didn't have to travel for hours or days to get to your wedding will look fresher and more vibrant. 

Rethink your cake

Every tier on that creamy cake will cost you. Consider a shorter or narrower cake for pictures and cutting, and have the caterer serve a frosted sheet cake so there's enough for all your guests. You can save a few hundred bucks by opting for a nontraditional dessert, like your favorite pie or warm brownies with store-bought ice cream.