Say “I Don’t” to Debt: How to Cut Your Wedding Costs This Summer

It’s midsummer in Canada, and love is in the air. Wedding season is in full swing as happy couples from coast to coast say “I do”.  And while the big day is all about family, friends, and fond memories, it’s also laced with expenses that can clean out a wallet faster than Uncle Ted’s Moonwalk cleans out the dance floor. According to WeddingBells.ca, the average Canadian wedding checks in at a whopping $31,685!

Money problems are one of the leading causes of relationship stress, and planning a wedding can take its toll on any couple – mentally and financially. All is not lost, though, because there are plenty of ways you can trim your wedding costs from the invites to the flowers to the entertainment.

 

So whether you just got engaged, your planning is already under way, or you’re taking mental notes for the distant future, read on to find out what cost-saving measures you can take to make sure your big day doesn’t break the bank.

 

 

According to WeddingBells.ca, 65% of Canadian couples getting married walk down the aisle between June and September, with a quarter of Canadian weddings happening in August. You can trim a substantial amount off your budget simply by scheduling your wedding during the off-peak season. Wedding vendors don’t get as much business outside of wedding season, and will therefore be much more open to negotiating a better price.

 

What’s more, Saturday is the most popular day of the week for weddings, so if you opt for any other day of the week you’ll be sure to cut costs as well. Simply changing the date and time – say, a winter wedding on a Friday instead of a summer wedding on a Saturday – will be sure to save you big bucks on your big day.

 

 

As much as it might hurt to hear, other people aren’t nearly as invested in your wedding invitations as you are. While pretty paper, fancy embossing and perfect calligraphy might make your heart flutter, a lot of those invites aren’t going to get more than a passing one-over.

 

You can save a good deal of money by skipping the expensive custom-made invitations and rolling up your sleeves for some DIY. Why not try your hand at wedding invitation software? It’s easy to use and will help personalize your invites without costing an arm and a leg.

 

There’s also an almost never-ending selection of free or low-cost wedding invitation templates online for the downloading. Check out Amazon’s wide selection of DIY wedding invitation kits, or paperstyle.com’s Wedding Invite section.

 

If you want to get even more hands-on with your invites, and you’ve got a bit of design skill to work with, why not whip up your own in Adobe Publisher or Photoshop? Treat it like a design project and get your lucky guy or lady involved – you’ll spend the quality time together being creative, while saving money!

 

 

Wedding venues can be a real money-drain, typically accounting for half of the total cost of a wedding. If you ditch the swanky, expensive venues, you can save a ton and let yourself splurge on other elements like food or entertainment. Getting married in your own home can be just as lovely as booking the fanciest site, and won’t come with the headache-inducing price tag.

 

If you simply must opt for a separate venue but still want to keep costs low, hold the ceremony and reception in the same location to save money on transportation and decorations. Speaking of decoration, why not opt for an already-adorned area, like a decorated facility or a garden – there’s no nicer decoration than nature itself!

 

 

Ah, the wedding dress – arguably the most critical purchase of the entire nuptial affair. Whether you opt for the classic white gown or go for more offbeat attire, there’s no reason you have to break the bank finding the perfect dress for your perfect day.

 

If you see the word “consignment” and wince a bit, you’ve got the wrong idea about the bridal consignment shop phenomenon. Yes, some of the gowns have been gently worn, but many of them are there because the bride never actually wore them – either she found a gown she liked better, the wedding didn’t happen, or myriad other reasons left her with an unwanted wedding dress. You can find designer gowns up to 80% off at a consignment boutique – what budget-focused bride can say no to that?     

 

If you’re a totally plugged-in bride-to-be, why not search for your perfect dress online? EBay and similar sites offer huge savings on wedding gowns, both new and gently used, and sites like davidsbridal.ca and ca-dresses.com offer new, designer gowns at discounted prices. If your heart’s set on buying from a bridal store, ask if they have any discontinued dresses.

 

 

A five-tiered gold lattice wedding cake might be absolutely divine, but the damage it will do on your wallet won’t be. Opt for three-tiers instead, but ask the baker to make the bottom two tiers faux slabs – that way, you’ll have the illusion of a multi-tiered cake without spending a ton. You and your bride or groom can cut into this first tier, then serve personalized cupcakes for your guests.

 

Skip the fancy cake topper and go for fresh fruit or flowers instead, or forgo the cake altogether and offer your guests a delicious dessert buffet.

 

 

Book a DJ exclusively for dinner and dancing, that way you only need a live band for the cocktail reception. Or, hire one musician for both the ceremony and the reception. If you simply must have a live rock band or cello soloists, hire music students instead of seasoned professionals – just hold a brief audition beforehand so you can get a feel for their performance level.

 

If you don’t mind taking the music into your own hands, skip the DJ altogether and use playlists from your iPod or laptop.