Save Money on Your Wedding Reception
The average cost of a wedding in the United States is well over $20,000. But if you’re planning your big day, don’t let that number scare you! There are plenty of creative methods to implement budget wedding reception ideas without sacrificing what matters most to you.
So start off your wedding planning right by making the most cost-effective decision. Here are 15 ways to do just that.
It’s no secret that Saturdays take the cake for the most popular day of the week to get married. According to The Knot 2017 Real Weddings Study, 7 in 10 weddings take place on a Saturday. Saturday weddings remain popular for obvious reasons: They give out-of-town guests enough buffer time to travel to and from the wedding location, and provide everyone a chance to recuperate on Sunday. But being a highly sought after day of the week does have its downsides. The easiest way to guarantee higher wedding vendor rates is to choose a Saturday during peak wedding season (typically between May and October, during which nearly 80 percent of couples say "I do").
2. Avoid guest list bloat.
Although you might be tempted to throw everyone you know on your guest list, that isn’t always a great idea. With each addition you make, you’re adding additional costs while also making your wedding less intimate. To a degree, this was a trap we fell into with our own wedding – our guest list grew and grew to the point where we invited people that we didn’t know well simply because we felt obligated. To save as much as you can, try inviting fewer people and making the event more intimate. Start by whittling your list down by 20%, then another 20%. Then see if you’re happy with it.
3. Consider Non-Traditional Venues
While glamorous venues like ballrooms, castles, and historic theatres are stunning reception venue choices, they are not cheap choices. Many inexpensive wedding locations have plenty of potential for a reception - they may just need a little extra decorating to ensure you've created a cheap yet classy wedding reception.
4. B.Y.O.B.
Alcohol is a big expense when it comes to a lot of weddings, and it’s also a big variable you can play around with to cut costs. Instead of opting for a full open bar, for instance, you can save money offering just beer and local El Dorado wine, or a free cocktail hour followed by a cash bar. If you do rent a function hall, ask if they’ll let you supply your own alcohol instead of using the venue’s, which can be a big money-saver. Look for a discount liquor store in your area, and stock up on the basics: red and white wine and a few types of beer at the very least. If you want to offer a full bar, pick up the standard liquors like vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey, plus a few mixers and soft drinks like sodas and juice.
5. Choose One Venue Instead of Two
Many locations have the ability to be both a ceremony and reception venue, which means you don’t have to pay two separate location fees. For example, many churches have a hall that is available for such occasions. A few years ago, I went to a beautiful wedding at a retreat house in the mountains that served as both a ceremony and reception site. Tip: Guests love when they do not have to drive from the ceremony to get to the reception!
6. Have a Morning Wedding
Although it may be tricky for a bride to get herself ready bright and early, having a morning wedding can save a lot of money. Serving brunch or lunch at the reception is much cheaper than serving a dinner. Plus, you will have more time to spend with your new spouse on your actual wedding day.
7. Use Your Negotiation Skills
Try to get offers from many different locations and use that information to your advantage. Also, make sure you don’t mention that you want the venue for a wedding until after you get quoted a price for the party. Some locations will jack up the price when they hear the word “wedding.”
8. Ask to Pay in Full for a Discount
Typically, you are required to provide a down payment when you book a venue for a wedding and then pay the rest later. Ask if you can get a discount if you pay in full when you book (but make sure you get a contract with a reimbursement plan to protect yourself in the event that something goes wrong).
9. Get Married Off-Season
Summer is wedding season. Although it may be more convenient for families with children to attend the wedding during the summer when the weather is nice and sunny, consider an off-season month, such as November or January, to cut your costs. This will also save you money when you book your honeymoon.
10. Have a Small Reception and a Party Later
If you keep your wedding and reception to about 50 people or less, you can save a lot of money. Invite close friends and family and then when you get back from your honeymoon, throw a casual (and inexpensive) party to celebrate with the rest of your friends.
11. Limit Your Photographer's Hours.
Save money by shaving off some of the time your photographer and videographer are present, Naylor and Cain suggest. You’ll likely want them there for the ceremony, but you might not need footage of the end-of-reception dancing.
12. Get Married in Your Backyard
Renting a building or function hall for your ceremony and reception can be very expensive. Instead, consider using your own home (or the home of a parent) for your ceremony, or perhaps a public park with a beautiful view. In each case, you can also have your reception outdoors, creating a picturesque, memorable ceremony while eliminating the cost of renting a venue.
13. Shorten the Reception
Some venues will charge you by the hour. To shave off some cost, consider shortening the reception by one hour. Many guests won’t even notice since they leave receptions early. This will also save you money in other areas, such as with the photographer, videographer, DJ, or band.
14. Don’t Over-rent Space
Make sure that the space you rent is appropriate for the number of guests that you will have. Do not even look at venues that accommodate 300 guests when you will only expect 100.
15. Find Somewhere New
Another one of my tactics in saving money on my own wedding was to use a newly-opened venue. New venues might offer lower prices as they are attempting to build up a good reputation and gain some new business.
So start off your wedding planning right by making the most cost-effective decision. Here are 15 ways to do just that.
Wedding Venues on a Budget
1. Don’t Get Married on a SaturdayIt’s no secret that Saturdays take the cake for the most popular day of the week to get married. According to The Knot 2017 Real Weddings Study, 7 in 10 weddings take place on a Saturday. Saturday weddings remain popular for obvious reasons: They give out-of-town guests enough buffer time to travel to and from the wedding location, and provide everyone a chance to recuperate on Sunday. But being a highly sought after day of the week does have its downsides. The easiest way to guarantee higher wedding vendor rates is to choose a Saturday during peak wedding season (typically between May and October, during which nearly 80 percent of couples say "I do").
2. Avoid guest list bloat.
Although you might be tempted to throw everyone you know on your guest list, that isn’t always a great idea. With each addition you make, you’re adding additional costs while also making your wedding less intimate. To a degree, this was a trap we fell into with our own wedding – our guest list grew and grew to the point where we invited people that we didn’t know well simply because we felt obligated. To save as much as you can, try inviting fewer people and making the event more intimate. Start by whittling your list down by 20%, then another 20%. Then see if you’re happy with it.
3. Consider Non-Traditional Venues
While glamorous venues like ballrooms, castles, and historic theatres are stunning reception venue choices, they are not cheap choices. Many inexpensive wedding locations have plenty of potential for a reception - they may just need a little extra decorating to ensure you've created a cheap yet classy wedding reception.
4. B.Y.O.B.
Alcohol is a big expense when it comes to a lot of weddings, and it’s also a big variable you can play around with to cut costs. Instead of opting for a full open bar, for instance, you can save money offering just beer and local El Dorado wine, or a free cocktail hour followed by a cash bar. If you do rent a function hall, ask if they’ll let you supply your own alcohol instead of using the venue’s, which can be a big money-saver. Look for a discount liquor store in your area, and stock up on the basics: red and white wine and a few types of beer at the very least. If you want to offer a full bar, pick up the standard liquors like vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey, plus a few mixers and soft drinks like sodas and juice.
5. Choose One Venue Instead of Two
Many locations have the ability to be both a ceremony and reception venue, which means you don’t have to pay two separate location fees. For example, many churches have a hall that is available for such occasions. A few years ago, I went to a beautiful wedding at a retreat house in the mountains that served as both a ceremony and reception site. Tip: Guests love when they do not have to drive from the ceremony to get to the reception!
6. Have a Morning Wedding
Although it may be tricky for a bride to get herself ready bright and early, having a morning wedding can save a lot of money. Serving brunch or lunch at the reception is much cheaper than serving a dinner. Plus, you will have more time to spend with your new spouse on your actual wedding day.
7. Use Your Negotiation Skills
Try to get offers from many different locations and use that information to your advantage. Also, make sure you don’t mention that you want the venue for a wedding until after you get quoted a price for the party. Some locations will jack up the price when they hear the word “wedding.”
8. Ask to Pay in Full for a Discount
Typically, you are required to provide a down payment when you book a venue for a wedding and then pay the rest later. Ask if you can get a discount if you pay in full when you book (but make sure you get a contract with a reimbursement plan to protect yourself in the event that something goes wrong).
9. Get Married Off-Season
Summer is wedding season. Although it may be more convenient for families with children to attend the wedding during the summer when the weather is nice and sunny, consider an off-season month, such as November or January, to cut your costs. This will also save you money when you book your honeymoon.
10. Have a Small Reception and a Party Later
If you keep your wedding and reception to about 50 people or less, you can save a lot of money. Invite close friends and family and then when you get back from your honeymoon, throw a casual (and inexpensive) party to celebrate with the rest of your friends.
11. Limit Your Photographer's Hours.
Save money by shaving off some of the time your photographer and videographer are present, Naylor and Cain suggest. You’ll likely want them there for the ceremony, but you might not need footage of the end-of-reception dancing.
12. Get Married in Your Backyard
Renting a building or function hall for your ceremony and reception can be very expensive. Instead, consider using your own home (or the home of a parent) for your ceremony, or perhaps a public park with a beautiful view. In each case, you can also have your reception outdoors, creating a picturesque, memorable ceremony while eliminating the cost of renting a venue.
13. Shorten the Reception
Some venues will charge you by the hour. To shave off some cost, consider shortening the reception by one hour. Many guests won’t even notice since they leave receptions early. This will also save you money in other areas, such as with the photographer, videographer, DJ, or band.
14. Don’t Over-rent Space
Make sure that the space you rent is appropriate for the number of guests that you will have. Do not even look at venues that accommodate 300 guests when you will only expect 100.
15. Find Somewhere New
Another one of my tactics in saving money on my own wedding was to use a newly-opened venue. New venues might offer lower prices as they are attempting to build up a good reputation and gain some new business.
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