You have probably read a lot of posts and seen enough videos about how to save on the ‘big ticket’ items like the venue, food, alcohol, etc., and have not seen many posts that do not talk about the other items. As important as those bigger ticket items are to save money on, there are many other places to save money that can really add up. Budget matters in every aspect of the wedding, not just the venue, food, and music. I remember being very frustrated that blogs and other articles only talked about the big ticket items. So I wanted to share with others the lessons that I have learned from my own wedding that I never saw discussed. The best part is you can still have a very formal and classy wedding (what I had) without having to pay the cost, and it is more sustainable. I easily saved over $10,000 for my small wedding by saving money in these areas. For bigger weddings, I can see how this amount can very easily grow.

I also noticed that a lot of people put way too much pressure on one day. It is one day that starts the beginning of your beautiful marriage, it is not your entire marriage though. It is supposed to be a fun celebration, not the most important day of your life; as the most important day is always today. It is okay to be budget conscious when planning your wedding. After all, it is your wedding, not your family or anyone else’s wedding.

1. Flowers-Bouquet/Boutonnières

Nothing says you have to have flowers at your wedding. It is the cultural tradition, but that is it. If you like flowers though and want them at your wedding (as most of us do), there are several ways to save with having flowers:

First, do them yourself. If you hire a florist or anyone else, part of the money they charge is just the time they are spending on you and your bridesmaids’ bouquets. They also up-charge how much the flowers cost. If you do real flowers, find them wholesale, at a farmers market, or straight from the flower farm (if you live nearby). These are much cheaper ways to find real flowers. And if you do make your own bouquets, you can also have your bridesmaids help and it can become a bouquet party. It is great girl time, and can be a chance for the bridesmaids who don’t really know each other to connect.

The number of flowers per bouquet can really add up also. People will tell you that your bouquet has to be bigger than your bridesmaids. No one noticed at my wedding that I only had three more flowers in my bouquet. Our bouquets were practically identical. Also, people will say that you need a ton of flowers for the bouquet- this is simply not true. I did smaller bouquets, and I had a lot of compliments on them. Its all about the design, not about the type of flowers or the size.

You can also save by not having boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen. I know my husband was not crazy about the idea of boutonnieres, and I knew a few others would be thankful if I went without making them wear boutonnieres, so I decided to cut the cost with omitting them. That also saved quite a bit of money.

2. Real vs. Fake Flowers

Another way to save a ton of money on flowers is fake flowers. There are a lot of fake flowers out there that look super nice, and even realistic. People will most likely not walk up to your bouquet to check if it is real or fake. They will most likely forget about it and just enjoy the ceremony and reception. Fake flowers will also last a lot longer, and you do not have to worry about drying them out to preserve them after the wedding. Fake flowers can fit into a shadow box for keepsake; or you can also reuse them as your centerpiece at home, whether on your dining room or hallway table, or on your bedroom dresser. You may also be able to get them on sale depending when and where you are shopping for them. Because they are fake and do not need much care, you have more time to shop around and shop sales. This can cut the cost of your bouquets by over half (I personally saved over $300). You can also donate them or send them to a nursing home afterwards for someone else to enjoy.

3. Table Décor

An easy way to save money is on table décor. The simpler the table décor, the better when it comes to saving some money, and even living more sustainably. Most people will not remember what all of the décor looked like; just the conversations, people, and what kind of time they had. Also, people may be reaching across the table to share a photo on their phone, etc. so it is good to have a table décor that is not too tall, or blocks people from seeing/talking to each other.

You can use the bouquets you and your bridesmaids made as the centerpieces. You can lay them down in the center of the table in a fashionable way, or have empty vases/holders in the center of each table; and as they enter in, they can set their bouquets in the center of each table. The vases can be from family and friends, thrift stores, or found on sale from craft stores to help save more money. You can even make your own out of cans/recycled containers decorated with ribbon or fabric. If you do not want to use the bouquets, tealight and votive candles can also be great for a centerpiece, and are cost effective. You do not have to have a fancy candle holder either for this. Stores have big packages of tealight candles for super cheap. Just make sure you are not creating too much of a fire hazard with this one, and that the venue will allow an open flame. LED Candles can also be a great option to use if you already have them around your home.

Decorations from your home used to decorate the table can be another great method to saving money. I used LED candles I had around the house, and once again, did not need many candles. Less looked cleaner, more elegant in the space. I only had to buy a table runner for decoration. I found a table runner that I could use for my dining table on special occasions, not just the wedding; which made it a more cost effective and sustainable choice.

4. Other Décor

The whole space does not need to be covered in decorations. Most people will not remember the décor anyways, and the table décor dresses up the space enough.

The bistro lights tend to cost extra, so see if you are allowed to bring your own bistro, Christmas, or globe lights and hang those instead, or skip the lights all together. Every venue I looked at wanted about $150 for their bistro lights to be hung up for one night. That is super expensive for a few hours, and I am not convinced all of them took down the bistro lights in between weddings. If you skip the lights and have lighted table décor, that can make the space look even more romantic or magical.

5. Upgraded Options

Many venues offer upgraded chairs, linens, tableware, and the list goes on. This is also an easy place to blow through your budget; and an easy place to realize that the upgraded offers do not matter. Most guests will not really notice or care as long as they have a plate to eat off of. They will be happy to be at your wedding, celebrating the day with you, and enjoying the company of others also celebrating with you, not what upgraded options you added (if any) to your wedding.

6. Time of Day

I learned real quick in my own wedding, that the time of day does matter. Dinner costs more than brunch or lunch, and find out those costs before you sign with the venue. One of the venues I was looking at, that was originally too expensive for dinner, became completely affordable with brunch or lunch. It was a difference of about $300 per person/plate. With 40 people, that becomes an easy difference of $12,000 just for the time of day and lunch versus dinner. With bigger weddings, that savings quickly becomes so much more! If you do not mind having your wedding earlier in the day, it can really save you a tremendous amount money.

7. Number of People

Many people like to have big weddings, and then later in life wish they had not invited so many people. I have heard a lot about how many of those people at the wedding are no longer in the bride and groom’s life, how the cost of all of the people made them go over their budget, and how some people did not really respect the bride and groom. While no wedding is perfect in this, I noticed having a small wedding really helped mitigate some of this. Who is really in your life day in and day out? Who can you really lean on and has been there for you? Who made a difference to you and challenged you to better your life? Invite only those people. You do not need to invite a town of people to make your marriage legitimate. Smaller weddings save a lot of money; and when it is more intimate, you can talk to each person, thank everyone for coming more easily, and the people there have more meaningful conversations. It becomes more like a close family celebration, not an overwhelming event.

Most of the people at my wedding did not know each other, and it was a small wedding of under 20 people. I received several comments afterwards that new connections and friendships were made, and everyone told me that really enjoyed it.

8. Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses

A lot of wedding dresses are very expensive and are only be worn once, making the cost per wear crazy expensive. It costs extra money on top of the dress to put it in a beautiful shadow box that will ultimately end up lost in the closet or attic. To keep the cost down, there are several tricks that can help.

Look for a dress you can dye and wear again for another formal event. I did this for my dress and noticed that the dresses I could re-purpose for another formal event were cheaper than the classic, ‘Cinderella’ type wedding ball gowns. I also found that mine was a lot more comfortable than the traditional dresses. I spent $170 on mine, and it fit for our black-tux/very formal wedding, and I could still re-purpose for a future event.

You could also find a wedding dress second hand and alter it. Some people do not mind finding a dress from the thrift store and re-purposing it to make the dress fit them and their needs. If you or a family member is good at sewing or are very innovative, this is a great way to save a lot of money while getting to be creative for your wedding and placing your own stamp on your dress.

Finding a formal dress that isn’t a wedding dress is another option. If you want a more non-traditional wedding, this is a great option. The color blue used to be the color for purity, not white; so if you want an old-school, not today’s traditional dress, you can look for a blue one. You can also pick your favorite color to wear on your special day. (Just have your bridesmaids wear a different, but complimentary color).

If it is summertime, find a shorter dress. They are less expensive than full length dresses, normally don’t need hemming (which saves some money), and allow for you to stay cooler in warmer weather.

For your bridesmaids to save money also, you can have them pick the same color/complementary colors and different styles. This will allow more freedom for them to find sales on their dresses. I happened to help my maid of honor find her dress on sale, and she is good at sewing, so she was able to alter it herself. This saved her a couple hundred dollars. If the dresses are not full length, that can also save them some money. They do not have to go to a bridal shop either. I have seen many gorgeous dresses at department stores that would work for weddings and cost less.

9. Shoes

If you have a long dress, less dressy shoes are super easy to get away with. Even if you have a shorter dress, do not fall for having to look for expensive stilettos to finish the look. Find shoes that you can stand, walk around, and dance for hours in. And most importantly, look for shoes that you will wear again and again. Look for sales in the shoe store, or even look in your closet for something more comfortable that compliments the dress. Using shoes you already have not only save you money, but is also more sustainable.

I still get compliments every time I wear my wedding shoes. People are pleasantly surprised to find out they are my wedding shoes, and tell me they wish they thought of buying cute, comfy shoes instead of the classic, uncomfortable heels that many people wear. Some even ask me where I bought them and if they come in different colors. My shoes had a small heel and came with soles that I could walk for miles in. My feet never hurt after my wedding, and I did not even think about it during. Good, comfortable shoes can make a real difference.

10. Jewelry

Just like the dress, jewelry does not need to be overly expensive. Costume jewelry has come so far in looking like the expensive jewelry, and it can be hard to tell the difference between the costume jewelry and the real thing. I have included a photo below of costume and real gemstone earrings, and it is hard to tell which one is fake. If you really want the real thing, instead of diamonds on gold/white gold, look for other gemstones on sterling silver. It looks just as nice, and is a lot cheaper than diamonds and gold. Make sure the real jewelry comes with a lifetime warranty that covers up to and including lost stones and other parts. (You should not have to pay extra for the warranty if it is from a good jeweler).

You can also ask your mom, aunt, or another family member if they still have any jewelry from their wedding or is special to them and wear that. Then it is free, and you have a special piece of jewelry to wear on your special day. My grandmother had left a beautiful ring for me, and the bracelet I found for about $12 (costume jewelry).

11. Nails

Getting a manicure and pedicure with all of your favorite girl friends can be fun and expensive. Painting your own nails can save you $40-100 per person easy, depending upon where you go for nails, and if you get a manicure, pedicure, or both. If you need to stay on budget, this is an easy way to save a bit of money that will definitely add up with other ways to save. I painted my nails with a pearl white nail polish that cost less than $5. It came out nice, saved me a lot of money, and is perfect for winter and Christmas time too. I have also seen people paint with just a clear topcoat, and that looks super classy also.

Your bridesmaids and you can have a nail painting party the night before. Everyone can pick a bold, fun color for a nontraditional look, pick a color that matches their dress, or go with a more muted, classic color for a more traditional look. It is also another chance for everyone to be able to connect and bond.

12. Hair & Makeup

Hair and Makeup is an easy way to save big for the special day. So much money is spent when makeup artists and hairstylists come in for just a couple of hours. They do not know anyone, anything about each person’s skin and hair, and they are making their best guess as to what they think will look good and stay on each person. I have even seen where if the bridesmaids’ hair and makeup are not done well, this can take away from the bride in the photos.

For makeup, I will point to Kate Middleton’s wedding look as a perfect example. She did her own makeup, and it came out perfectly. Pick a natural look that you can do yourself (you do not need a lot more makeup than you usually wear), and do not overdo it. If you do more or different makeup that you are not used to, no matter how ‘natural’ or ‘good’ it looks to anyone else, you will not like your photos in time, if at all.

You can have your bridesmaids do theirs too. If you want them to wear more or less makeup than you, or you want a certain style, let them know. Give them a bit of time to get the correct makeup and practice at home before your big day. You can even have a mini party to all get together and practice or learn how to apply makeup in the way you want it. I personally started practicing about a month before the big day to get good at applying makeup and find the best color for me.

When it comes to hair, pick a more simple, not overly extravagant hairstyle. If you have a hairstyle you love how you look in and is simple, chances are, you will love that look for years to come. It is part of your signature style. You probably know best how to style your hair in that way and make it stay. For me, I cannot beat the big, loose, fall out curls. I did that with a fancy, yet elegant headband, and it looked amazing, but natural. It ended up being a windy day, but the hairstyle was simple enough that as the curls came out, it still looked well done and like a blowout hairstyle instead. Keeping in mind the weather, simpler hairstyles will help you enjoy your photos for years to come.

For your bridesmaids, also keep it simple. You can even have them all do the same hairstyle, and as long as it is fairly simple, they should be able to do their own hair. I helped my matron of honor do her hairstyle and it looked beautiful on her!

13. Weight Loss Programs

I haven’t come across one of us ladies yet who did not want to loose weight, or change something on our body before the wedding. Take it from me, who is a personal trainer: instead of just wanting to loose weight for the wedding, focus on loosing it for life. Make adjustments that are truly sustainable for 20+ years, not 20 weeks. It is healthier for your body, and you deserve to not yo-yo diet and gain all the weight back and then some right after your big day. Also, your about-to-be spouse chose you with how you look right now. It means he thinks you are already beautiful just as you are. Own that and be happy with where you are today, while working on a healthier body for tomorrow and years to come.

This also means that you do not need to spend a ton of money on fad diets, expensive gyms that offer all of the latest, or work yourself to death on any workout machine. You can save money by working out at home (like push ups, or walking around the neighborhood or where you work). There are many online videos and blogs to help get you started if you are not sure where to start. (Do your homework on a reputable online fitness coach and read/watch what they have to say with critical thinking in mind). Fitness and healthy eating do not need to be expensive or go to any extremes to work and help you see results.

14. Transportation

It is easy to want to drive in a limo or a fancy car and make an impression, or have an extra few minutes of feeling luxurious. The extra cost though can really add up, and does not add much to the wedding. You will remember what you drive in more than anyone else, and it is not truly part of the wedding. Not renting a limo or fancy car is an easy place to save money by just using your vehicle.

15. Wedding Planners

Depending on your venue, you may need a “Day-of-Coordinator/Month-of-Coordinator.” If so, really do some research on prices and see what the planning companies offer. Do not be afraid to contact them and ask if you can get a coordinator for cheaper if you take care of XYZ, or if they can do a custom quote for you with what you are looking for from them. As important as price and budgeting are, this is one where what they are offering may also be worth the price. They should not be above their competitors price wise though. Their reviews and how they respond when you reach out with questions should say a lot about that company.

If your venue does not need one, that is a place where you can definitely save a few grand. You may have a family member who is really good at keeping everyone in line, on time, and where they are supposed to be at that time. You may want to ask that family member if they can help take on this role. If not, do some homework on whether or not a wedding planner is right for you as every wedding is different. If you choose one though, negotiate a better price for you, as they can normally do better than what they show online.

Conclusion

There are a number of ways to cut costs and save on your wedding. You can still make your wedding beyond special without going over your budget, and even be more sustainable. Remember this wedding is a one day (normally a few hours) celebration event for you and your spouse, and does not define your lifetime with anyone. You do not need to break the bank or try to show off how extravagant of a wedding you can plan. Every little bit saved adds up quickly to a lot of money saved. Just remember: It is your special day! Make it to what fits you and your budget. It is just one day, and does not define your lifetime with your spouse.

If you have any additional tips, please feel free to comment below and let me know where you have saved on your wedding!