Here's a list of the five ways to cut wedding costs that you might not have thought about. Read up, and get ready to spend smart!
image by: Dior Pink Bridal Studio
It’s not breaking news—we’ve said it in wedding planning a hundred times—that (most) weddings cost a lot of money. The cost of weddings can be one of the biggest stressors of wedding planning. But any wedding planner worth his or her salt will also tell you that, with a few smart moves and some ground-laying decisions, you can still throw an incredible, memorable wedding that guests will rave about for years while sticking to a reasonable budget.
Perhaps the most important step you can take in planning your beautiful, budget wedding is to decide which 2 or 3 parts of the wedding experience are most important to you and your partner. Whether it’s a gourmet meal, a killer live band, or a really incredible venue with a view, determine your top handful of priorities and put the majority of your budget towards those areas. Then, let go of the other stuff—we promise neither you nor your guests will miss it. For other smart moves you can take to stick to your wedding budget, we’ve compiled a list of the five ways to cut wedding costs that you might not have thought about. Read up, and get ready to spend smart!
Shrink Your Guest List
This is basic math, friends. The higher the number of guests you have to invite, seat, feed, serve drinks, transport, or provide with little extras like favors or welcome bags, the higher your wedding costs will climb. If you want to include all of those amenities I just mentioned in your wedding weekend (i.e. printed invitations, food, alcohol, transportation, ceremony seating, reception tables and chairs, décor for all those tables, wedding favors, and welcome bags), then do your best to keep your Guest List as streamlined as possible.
Here’s a good tip: if you wouldn’t normally treat this person to a very expensive dinner (the average cost of a wedding per head is currently around RM25), then consider leaving them off. Although these decisions can be tough, remember that you can throw a nicer party for a smaller number of really important people, or host a more forgettable evening for a large group of people that you won’t even get to really spend time with. Don’t forget to use Royal Indian Wedding Online to help you to search and manage your pricing, whatever its size—it’ll be one of the easiest parts of your planning, we promise.
Book a Full-Service Venue
The average cost of renting a venue for your ceremony and/or reception is over RM12,000 - RM20,000 and that’s just the rental fee alone. Imagine adding in additional costs for catering, services, equipment rentals (think tables, chairs, linens, glassware, etc.), and a day-of coordinator…as you can imagine, the total figure can be really overwhelming. That's why full-service venues that offer a package deal for all of the above services can actually be cost-saving in the end.
While the combined sum may still leave you with sticker shock, a full-service venue that comes equipped with all the equipment, staffing, food and drink, and planning expertise you need can save you in the long run—we’re talking savings for your sanity as well as your wallet. Cutting the number of vendors you need to hire in half? That’s (almost) priceless.
Decoration by SVN Creation
Pro tip: to get started with your hunt for the perfect venue, be sure to visit Royal Indian Wedding Online's Venue Directory to search for venues (as well as all those other vendors you still need to check off your list) by location, type, or price range that fit your wedding budget.
Rethink the Plated Entrée
Speaking of smaller meals, there are other ways to approach your wedding meal beyond plated dinner entrées, which tend to be the most expensive catering option. Sit down with your caterer and discuss some alternative ways to feed your guests that might cut down your catering bill: opt for a cocktail-style reception with plenty of heavy hors d’oeuvres (which can help lower table and chair rental costs), or go for interactive and/or DIY food stations that will keep guests both entertained and well-fed.
Still, really wed (word play!) to the idea of a seated dinner? Consider serving your wedding meal buffet-style, which cuts waitstaff (and your final invoice) in half.
Is that your wallet we hear sighing a note of relief? We hope so. If you follow some of these tips for how to cut costs, you can still throw the stylish, cohesive wedding of your dreams while sticking to your wedding budget. Now that’s a cause for celebration (but your enduring love and devotion is also totally worthwhile).