Wedding season is upon us across the country, and parents of the bride are collectively wincing at the thought of the bill. Did you know that the average wedding cost in the US is $25,200? That’s nearly half of the average income in the US, which can seem a little outrageous. Instead of going crazy for your once-in-a-lifetime event, you can slash your costs and save money on your wedding planning with these simple tips.
Think Small First
Statistically, most of us have about 200 people in our immediate circle of friends. So if you’re inviting for the bride, groom, and their parents, you’re at 800 people or more. If you’re hosting a sit-down event, $30 a plate is pretty standard. Before you know it, you’ll almost get to that total cost on food alone.
Instead of thinking big, consider thinking small. This is your special day, so you really only need to share it with your special family and friends. Thanks to Facebook, everyone you know can see the pictures online, so there’s no need to invite the whole gang. Just as parents tell their children to only invite their favorite friends to their birthday parties, you can save yourself a lot of money if you follow the same advice for your wedding.
Enlist Volunteers
When you get married, many people want to help and get in on the action, but no one’s sure what to do. Make people feel useful by giving them roles in your party. If your aunt is a chef and caterer, ask if she’ll cater the wedding. What about Cousin Jim who runs a DJ business, your co-worker who moonlights as a photographer, or your friend the florist? These people who already care about you will likely offer you a discount and may just provide their services as a wedding gift.
If you’re hosting the wedding yourself and need to do your own setup and take down, ask friends to help with all of that as well. Perhaps the bridal party can have a little fun setting things up before hand, and then you can get the teenagers (who won’t be drinking) to help clean up afterwards.
A word to the wise: If you do get friends and family to volunteer to help out in certain aspects of the wedding, be sure to thank them in some special way, above and beyond a simple thank you. They may love you, but that special gesture will go a long way.
Rent … Everything
This might be the smartest advice you’ll receive for wedding planning, and it will save you a ton of money. Think of everything that’s used just once for a wedding: gowns and tuxes for the bridal party; tables, chairs, and linens; centerpieces and decorations. Most of these items are available to rent or borrow for a fraction of the cost it would take to buy everything.
If you are having the reception at your home or in a rented hall, you can rent almost everything you’ll need to make it a success. For an outdoor wedding, remember to rent a canopy for the ceremony and reception, lighting, and a dance floor. You may even want to throw in a projector and inflatable movie screen to run highlights of the couples from childhood to the wedding.
White Knight Party Rentals has all of the wedding rental items you need to make your big day a success while saving you money. Contact us at 602-277-2789 to speak with one of our entertainment planners.