Easy ways to save costs when planning a wedding

Savvy_Sue

TBagpuss said:

But yes, what colour the chair covers are, or if there are chair covers, doesn't matter unless it matters  (My sister and her fiancé were looking at wedding venues and one venue's manager asked them what their vision for seating was. My (now) BiL said "For there to be enough for everyone to sit down at the same time". Apparently that's the wrong answer! (they ended up having the reception in the village hall next to the church, where the arrangements for the chairs was (i) that we didn't mix blue and orange chairs at the same table and (ii) that the number of chairs at each table match the number of guests for that table)

I am rolling around at that account, and so much with your BIL! 

TBagpuss

Savvy_Sue said:

TBagpuss said:

But yes, what colour the chair covers are, or if there are chair covers, doesn't matter unless it matters  (My sister and her fiancé were looking at wedding venues and one venue's manager asked them what their vision for seating was. My (now) BiL said "For there to be enough for everyone to sit down at the same time". Apparently that's the wrong answer! (they ended up having the reception in the village hall next to the church, where the arrangements for the chairs was (i) that we didn't mix blue and orange chairs at the same table and (ii) that the number of chairs at each table match the number of guests for that table)

I am rolling around at that account, and so much with your BIL! 

Me too. (and to me it's funnier as of the two of them, he'd be far more likely to notice, and to care, about whether things match) My sister told me they only went to the venue because it was so cagey about giving them any costing information without the Grand Tour - they thought it was almost certainly out of their budget but since it wouldn't give them information without their visiting, they didn't feel guilty about wasting the venue's time with a  tour. They sad afterwards that there were *So* many things that the venue was trying to upsell, most of which it would never have crossed their minds might be things anyone would want or need ..

On the other end of the scale, a coworker of mine when I was younger went for the all out posh wedding - her dress alone was over £7,000 (and this was almost 20 years ago!). I can't remember if they had matching chair back covers but I expect so.. Which is fine, if that's what you want and you can afford it - I'm all for people spending their own money however they chose, but wouldn't be my choice!

I do think  more important the presentation of the day is to you, the more likely it is to disappoint, as there will almost always be something that doesn't go exactly according to plan, and it you have your heart set on evening being absolutely perfect from  presentation / image point of view, the one thing that isn't will spoil it for you, or at least leave you feeling disappointed that it wasn't exactly the way you pictured.
(I've never been married, but as a guest, my experience s that the decor and things aren't what you remember - certainly all the weddings which I've enjoyed the most have been pretty low key, lower budget ones!)  

bargainbetty

We found a lovely restaurant that did a two course menu on a fixed price, and when they suggested the same menu for an additional 25% per head I just pointed at the existing signage and asked sweetly why we couldn't have that deal. We got that deal. We also had a tiered wedding cake of chocolate sponge with cream and lemon sponge with lemon curd and had that as desserts, with simple ice creams or extras cream - everyone left stuffed to the gills and there was very little cake wastage too. 
Wedding dress from Selfridges partywear probably saved £1k at least!

If you don't want the expensive trinkets, don't have them. It you do, accept that you have to pay for them. 

Brie

Don't invite every cousin plus partner plus children as well as everyone who has ever worked with either of you and your parents and siblings and cousins.

My cousin's husband was there to do the flowers.  I invited about 3 people as did my soon to be other half.  There were about another 90 people there as I recall none of whom were really necessary. 

Siebrie

We had our wedding at the registry office (lovely old building), and reception and afternoon picknick at the local city farm. We had set it up as much as possible the day before, and the first 15 minutes at the reception were spent hanging up the decorations and laying the tables, with all the guests pitching in

A friend took pictures, another made some videoshots. An acquaintance cooked some dishes from husband's home country for the picknick, against a small fee.

We had an absolutely wonderful afternoon.

Misslayed

At the early planning stage we drew three columns on a sheet of paper (we're old school), headed 'Not bothered -me', non-negotional, not bothered-him. We agreed that anything put in the middle column would happen, the rest maybe/maybe not. The only things we had in the middle column were church ceremony (me), proper wedding cake (him!), live band (both) and proper honeymoon (both). We were both second time rounders, both widowed. I did all the flowers myself, it's not difficult, you just need the right tools (ie flower tape and pins) a You tube video and a practice run - when I discovered they could easily be done 48 hours in advance. A friend did the photographs, we hired a coach to take all our guests from the church to the venue and home afterwards, which was cheaper than the prices quoted for a fancy wedding car. We had a day full of joy (and rain), surrounded by our families and dear friends, finished off with a cracking never to be forgotten party. 

squirrelchops2

What I find is the case for a lot of weddings is the non thinking by the bride and groom about things such as logistics!

One couple chose their wedding to be on a Sunday ahead of a Bank Holiday - fine BUT the venue had another wedding on the Saturday. Nobody in the wedding party was local to the venue and of course the venue, all local B and Bs, Air B n Bs were already full from the Saturday wedding!! People ended up having to stay at more than one place or further afield so it was a real inconvenience for people. Then the bride was upset that quite a few people left early evening to go back to their accommodation as they hadn't been able to relax between the wedding breakfast and the evening do as they hadn't been able to go to their room or whatever and just have a sit down so they were ready to go home by 7!

This wedding was ok - nothing special to be honest, 1 in a line of probably 40 that the venue did each year so it was all pretty samey. Not one thing stuck out as being memorable and this would have cost a fair whack.

The weddings I do remember are ones where we had afternoon tea as a wedding breakfast, or the humanist one where the ceremony was in the woods and we sat on bales or the one where there was this fabulous comedy sketch and singing, the one where we all camped in motorhomes, yurts, tents whatever at the venue. All of these were considerably less  in cost than the first example. 

karenburton1305

Oh wow that's all such incredible advice - thank you so much everyone! This will definitely help her and I'll pass all the info on - loved the point about prioritising the things that will last beyond the day too!!! 

emmathomson

We are also planning a wedding for next summer in a small circle with family and friends. From this discussion I took a lot of good advice, it already needs to be implemented  Thanks!