KISS your Way to an Inexpensive Wedding

In a previous article I wrote about getting married and having a reception on a shoestring. This does not mean you have to cut everything you really wanted out of your  wedding. It is your day and it should be a memorable occasion. At the same time, it doesn’t have to cost you a king’s ransom!

The average North American wedding and reception cost the couple—or whoever pays for it—between $20,000 and $33,000 on their wedding. In 2011, the average cost of a wedding was  $27,021. That figure doesn’t even include any costs for a honeymoon.

So where do these expenses come from? I spoke with a wedding planner who shared with me her basic planning checklist:

Attire & Accessories

• Dress Accessories
• Headpiece and/or Veil
• Tuxedo/suit/other Accessories
• Tuxedo/suit/other Rent/purchase
• Wedding Dresses

Beauty & Spa

• Hair Service
• Makeup Service
• Manicure & Pedicure

Entertainment

• DJ
• Live Band
• Musician/s, Soloist, or Ensemble

Flowers & Decorations

• Boutonnieres, Corsages
• Bridal Bouquet
• Bridesmaid Bouquets
• Ceremony Decorations
• Ceremony Flower Arrangements
• Flower Girl Flowers
• Flower Petals
• Reception Decorations
• Reception Flower Arrangements
• Reception Table Centerpieces

Invitations

• Ceremony Programs
• Engagement Announcements
• Guest Book
• Invitations & Reply Cards
• Postage
• Reception Menus
• Save the Date Cards
• Table Name and Escort/place Cards
• Thank You Cards

Gifts & Favors

• Gift/s for Attendants
• Gift/s for Parents
• Tips (for all services)
• Wedding Favors

Jewelry

• Engagement Ring
• Wedding Bands

Photography & Video

• Digital or Photo CD/DVD
• Engagement Session
• Prints and/or Enlargements
• Traditional Leather Bound Album
• Wedding Photographer
• Wedding Videographer

Planner/Consultant

• A La Carte Services
• Day of Coordinator
• For Getting Started
• Full Service
• Month of Direction

Transportation

• Limo Rental
• Other Transportation

Venue, Catering & Rentals

• Ceremony Accessories
• Ceremony Location
• Ceremony Officiator
• Hotel Room for After Reception
• Reception Accessories
• Reception Bar Service
• Reception Food Service
• Reception Location
• Reception Rentals
• Rehearsal Dinner
• Wedding Cake/dessert

So having armed yourself with knowledge, your  job is to pare down or erase those things that aren’t important. Some of them will be completely important—or done differently and much more frugally (for example: wedding photos, an economical dress, less elaborate flowers). Some will fit the category: nice BUT not deal breakers. Finally you have those  items which ARE important to you. Best advice: Choose the items  that are important and cut (or out) those that are not.

Lots of couples spend only a few thousand dollars but they usually have smaller weddings and not in a city location where everything is more expensive. (A wedding at the most expensive location in North American—Manhattan—will cost upwards of $65,000.)

Venues that allow you to bring in your own food vendors or caterers and your own alcohol offer significant savings. Examples are: a community hall or a bed and breakfast or a backyard or garden wedding.

You can also reduce wedding reception costs by limiting the bar to punch or the couple’s favourite drink or two drink tickets per guest or wine on the table but a cash bar. Since the bar is the largest expense at most weddings this can easily allow the couple to add guests to their list if that is a priority for them.

In the end, weddings are NOT (or should not) be about keeping up with the Joneses. The wedding and reception should be about celebrating with the couple and sharing their special  day in the way THEY want.

As with speech making and many other activities, advice for organizing an economical but nice wedding is: Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!