A wedding is an extremely important milestone and an occasion worth celebrating in style. However, it can also be one of the most costly events in a couple’s life, coming right after buying a home. The average cost of a wedding in Australia is between $36,000 and $48,000.It’s no wonder the wedding industry is worth $4.3 billion annually to the Australian economy.
However, just because a wedding can easily reach stratospheric costs, it doesn’t mean that it has to. There are plenty of ways to organise a memorable wedding for well below the average Australian affair. With some simple planning and consideration of key factors, you can celebrate the best day of your lives on a budget.
Type of event and venue
Consider the type of event that you’d like to hold. Nowadays, many couples like to be creative and hold wedding brunches rather than dinners, or wedding picnics rather than night time receptions. This can have a profound impact on the eventual cost as more casual daytime venues can be significantly cheaper than their formal evening counterparts. In fact, the same venue will have much more economical pricing during the daylight hours for the same type of event.
Invitations
It is easy to caught up in the intricacies of invitations. The key advice here is to not overthink it. An invitation should be clear and explain when and where the event is – it does not need to be overly extravagant. Online options are economical, and it’s never been easier to find inspiration online to design and make your own.
Decorations
With so many talented creatives around, you no longer need to rely on expensive decoration packages from wedding venues. Sites like Etsy are great for bargain hunting and also importantly, for DIY inspiration. Try your hand and creating your own, sourcing cheap materials online.
Guest list
Most weddings and events are charged on a per guest basis. It therefore goes without saying that the less people you have, the less it will cost overall. Really thinking about who is important to you is a great way to reflect on this special time and ensure a function that is memorable and meaningful for all involved. Sometimes smaller, more intimate weddings are much more emotional and special, allowing you to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest. Consider making some rules that will make it easier for you to cut down the guest list – like only inviting people you have both known for a few years.
Day of the week
The rule of thumb here is to not get married on a Saturday. This alone will save you significant amounts of money. Mid week weddings tend to be much cheaper than Friday or Saturday weddings due to demand and the requirement for a venue to be compensated for closing on a peak night. Furthermore, the time of year is also important, as an off peak wedding is also much cheaper than a peak wedding. Simply waiting a few weeks can mean the weather is similar, but the prices are far less.
Dresses
Heirloom dresses can save significant amounts of money and add genuine sentiment to a wedding. Second hand gowns are also a great option – they’ll only have been worn once, but will save you a huge amount. When it comes to bridesmaids, don’t worry about one style, allow them to pick their own, sticking to a general theme.
Bar tab
Implementing an open bar can quickly increase the cost of a wedding. Some packages have a fixed cost and others allow you to pay per drink. Think about your guests, their habits and sheer numbers when making this decision. Capping your bar tab and then reverting to self payment is also another option which will usually coincide with the party kicking up a gear. Most of the time, guests won’t mind.
Photographer
This can be one of the most expensive items and there are ways to save. For example, having your photographer at the ceremony only can save you lots, as they won’t need to be present at the reception or edit and develop those additional photos. The ceremony is the most important part of the day, so why not enlist a professional for that and let everyone else capture memories at the reception?
Flowers
Flowers are a large part of weddings but they are also extremely expensive. Keeping your flowers simple will allow you to do most of the work and even go to the flower markets yourself. Fake flowers are also a great option as most people won’t even know the difference.
Music
These days it is extremely easy to create a playlist of your favourite tracks and let them play from an iPod or laptop. The need for a DJ is no longer what it used to be and there are plenty of resources online for top wedding playlists.
Overall, there are so many ways to save on the cost of a wedding. It is easy to plan a wedding for less than $10,000. All it takes is some careful planning, prioritising and responsible, rational decision making. The best day of your life can be memorable no matter what the budget is. After all, what’s important is that you are celebrating your union amongst those that are nearest and dearest to you.
