Most wedding âmoney savingâ advice is either obvious (âskip the ice sculptureâ) or impractical (âjust have fewer guestsâ). Here are 50 strategies that actually work, organized by category.
Venue & timing
1. Get married on a Friday or Sunday. Most venues offer 15-30% discounts for non-Saturday weddings. Your guests will adjust.
2. Choose an off-season date. November through March (excluding NYE) is off-peak in most markets. Vendors are hungrier for bookings and more negotiable.
3. Book a restaurant private dining room. Built-in catering, bar, furniture, and staff. Often cheaper than a traditional venue + separate caterer.
4. Consider a morning wedding with brunch. Brunch catering costs 20-30% less than dinner service, and mimosas are cheaper than a full bar.
5. Use a public park or garden. Permit fees are usually $100-$500 versus $5,000+ for a private venue. Youâll need a backup rain plan.
6. Skip the separate ceremony venue. Having everything in one location eliminates transportation costs and additional rental fees.
7. Book a venue that includes basics. Tables, chairs, linens, and a coordinator included in the rental fee can save $2,000-$5,000 in separate rentals.
Food & drink
8. Choose buffet over plated. Same quality food, 15-25% less cost due to reduced staffing needs.
9. Do beer, wine, and one signature cocktail. Full open bar is the biggest bar expense. This approach covers 90% of preferences.
10. BYOB where allowed. Buying wholesale from Costco or Total Wine and hiring separate bartenders can save 30-50% on bar costs. Return unopened bottles.
11. Skip the late-night snack station. Pizza at midnight is fun but adds $800-$1,500. If you must, one option is enough.
12. Choose chicken or vegetarian over beef. The protein choice alone swings per-person cost by $15-$30.
13. Reduce passed appetizers. During cocktail hour, 3 options is plenty. Each additional one adds $3-$5 per person.
14. Negotiate the cake cutting fee. Some caterers charge $1-$3 per slice to serve a cake from an outside bakery. Ask to waive it or include it in the package.
15. Get a small display cake and sheet cakes in the back. A two-tier cake for photos, with sheet cakes cut in the kitchen. Nobody can tell the difference, saves $200-$500.
Photography & video
16. Reduce coverage hours. Start photography at the ceremony, not 4 hours before. Save $400-$800.
17. Skip the album from your photographer. Order one through Artifact Uprising or Shutterfly later for a fraction of the cost.
18. Hire a newer photographer with a strong portfolio. 1-2 years of wedding experience at 40-60% of established rates.
19. Get a highlight film only. Skip the full documentary edit from your videographer. The 5-minute highlight is what youâll actually rewatch.
20. Do a âfirst lookâ to consolidate photo time. Shooting portraits before the ceremony means less total hours needed.
Flowers & decor
21. Use greenery as your base. Eucalyptus and ferns are dramatically cheaper than flowers and create a lush, full look.
22. Choose in-season blooms. Ask your florist whatâs naturally available during your wedding month.
23. Repurpose ceremony flowers at the reception. Move aisle or altar arrangements to the reception space during cocktail hour.
24. Use candles instead of flowers for some centerpieces. Pillar candles and votives on mirrors create atmosphere at a fraction of the floral cost.
25. Buy bulk flowers from Costco or a flower market. DIY arrangements with a few friends the day before. Watch YouTube tutorials for technique.
26. Skip the elaborate ceremony arch. A beautiful natural backdrop or simple draped fabric costs far less than a full floral installation.
Attire & beauty
27. Buy a sample or off-the-rack dress. Bridal sample sales offer 40-60% off. BHLDN and Luluâs have affordable options that look high-end.
28. Sell your dress after. Stillwhite and Poshmark make it easy to recoup 30-50% of the cost.
29. DIY bridesmaid hair and makeup. Offer it as an option, not a requirement. Many bridesmaids are skilled with their own styling.
30. Skip hair accessories from bridal shops. Etsy and Amazon have identical pieces for 70% less.
31. Do your own makeup trial. Practice at home with YouTube tutorials before deciding if you need a professional.
Music & entertainment
32. Use a Bluetooth speaker for the ceremony. A curated Spotify playlist through a good portable speaker works perfectly for processional, recessional, and prelude music.
33. Hire a DJ for reception only. Skip cocktail hour coverage and use a playlist instead.
34. Ask your DJ to skip uplighting. Saves $300-$800 if your venue already has decent ambiance.
35. Book a small ensemble for cocktail hour, DJ for reception. A duo or trio costs $500-$1,000 versus $3,000+ for a full band.
Stationery & details
36. Go digital for save-the-dates. Paperless Post, Withjoy, or even a well-designed email. Save $200-$400.
37. Use a wedding website for all info. RSVPs, registry, accommodations, and FAQs on your website means less printed material.
38. Print invitations through Minted, Zola, or Vistaprint. Beautiful designs at a fraction of custom letterpress prices.
39. Skip printed programs. Most guests donât read them. A sign with the wedding party names at the ceremony entrance works just as well.
40. Use a QR code for the menu instead of individual printed menus at each place setting.
Planning & logistics
41. Negotiate everything. Vendor prices arenât always fixed. Ask about off-peak discounts, package customization, or waived fees.
42. Hire a day-of coordinator instead of a full planner. You do the planning; they execute it. Saves $2,000-$10,000.
43. Cut the guest list ruthlessly. Every person costs $100-$200 all-in. Removing 20 people saves $2,000-$4,000.
44. Skip favors. Most end up abandoned at the table. If you must, edible favors (cookies, local honey) are cheap and appreciated.
45. Use Spotify for ceremony and cocktail playlists. Reserved the DJ for when you actually need them â the dance floor.
46. Ask friends to photograph the getting-ready process. Save professional coverage for the ceremony and reception.
47. Set a firm budget and track spending. Overspending creeps in when you lose track. A simple spreadsheet prevents âjust $200 moreâ from happening 15 times.
48. Book vendors who include travel in their rates. A vendor 30 miles away who charges $100 travel fee eats into your savings.
49. Pay cash or debit when possible. Avoid credit card interest on wedding expenses if you canât pay the balance monthly.
50. Budget for tips early. A surprise $1,500 in vendor tips at the end hurts. Plan for it from day one with our free wedding tip calculator.
Want to know exactly how much to set aside for vendor tips? Use our wedding tip calculator â it covers all 18 vendor types and generates a printable checklist.