Wedding Budget Hacks: 12 Smart Ways to Cut Costs Without Sacrificing Style

While the list of ways to spend your wedding budget seems endless, not every expenditure is worth its cost.Some make your wedding more memorable, more practical, or more unique; others help to make the experience more streamlined and relaxed for your guests; still others are wasted on goods that probably can't be noticed wasting your money and negat ing you care f ully planned spending dec isions.

But how do you know what expenses are worthwhile and which should be skipped?

— PRINTED SAVE-THE-DATE CARDS —

Mailed save-the-dates might be the most exciting way to show your family and friends a preview of the special occasion, but a digital save-the-date—that also carries a link to your wedding website—is indeed a more economical as well as connected choice. “You’ll save on printing and postage costs. Plus your potential guests will get more lead time about your plans," says Florida wedding planner Amanda Carter. “Once you get the save-the-date out to your guests, you can go further with it to use the online space as a means of obtaining from them knowledge which will save you time, money and perhaps more importantly, future worry!"

Carter also recommends that couples consider ditching printed RSVP cards as a cost-cutting measure; “rather through their website.” This allows you to use the money saved on printed save-the-dates and RSVP cards to upgrade the rest of your invitation package with thicker paper, high quality inks, a custom illustration, or more thought ful touches.

Welcome Packets

Packages of pretzels and custom lip balm or honor bars are rarely worth the time, money they’ll be spent coming up with them. “I promise you that no one misses welcome bags,” Carter says. “Yes, they can be super cute, but they can also be expensive. Not just the items themselves cost less but delivery fees at a hotel for the entire bag stack up quickly. These bags take an obscene amount of time–and unless you give a bigshot gift, quite frankly people don’t regard them.”

If you’re passionate about greeting your guests in style, says event planner Laura Mitchell, “Go for one big, meaningful, personal gift rather than two dozen small favors. Tag this single present with the timeline and you’re done.” More Mitchell clients that a jeweler is to two-part take an artfully painted ring-dish (which matches invite colors) wrap them up in smooth paper and give these gifts out free of charge: “They were very well received,” she explains. “The price tag was not nearly like feeding an unknown. box full of unidentified snacks, poverty’s drinks, and so on.”

If you can do without material goods, spend your money instead on making it easy for guests to make it from the hotel where they stay to your event venue. “Preplanned shuttles or ride-share vouchers are what it’s all about now,” shareing Carter=len Carter.

Additional Signage

One welcoming sign at the entry to your ceremony area, one sign for each guest at dinner instead of customary individual place cards, or one consolidated bar drinks display might provide a pleasant touch of charm to your occasion. Do not, however, go around plastering announcements on walls everywhere with your budget dedicated that way. “The more the strigns, the merrier,” notes Mitchell. “If you're not at a venue where people are confused by skedding all the time, there is no need for announcement posters and arrow signage up every two feet.” Carter thinks so, too: “Give signs that you have to give. Ask yourself, ‘Will anyone be lost without this information?’ If the answer is no, just say no. Use the dollars instead to hold your guest guide that much research trip and the difference--have a digital paper over.”

Ceremony Booklets

By the time most of your guests are taking their seats for the ceremony, they have been to at least one wedding. That being the case, you do not need pander with elaborate and intricate ceremony programs to tell them what's next. “Unless you are a true paper enthusiast, ditch the program,” says Jason Wright, an event planner. “Almost everyone throws these away so they have very little lasting value. Instead, either hang a handsome ceremony sign at the entrance for people to see when they show up, or make sure your officiant covers in an engaging manner what you otherwise would have printed.”

Bar Enhancements

Top-shelf liquors, specialty drinks garnished thoughtfully in chic clear glassware, fresh muddled mint beverages in copper mugs—forget them all. “Don't upgrade your bar,” says Carter. “Nobody will notice.” People who come to the bar ask for „vodka soda, please.“ instead. So stock your bar with what you need for menus of the classics that everyone expects, and do other things with your money.

Supercharged Cocktail Hours

The time between your ceremony and reception cannot last no longer than an hour, and it should not require a lavish... “It's called cocktail hour for a reason: It is One hour,” says Carter. “Stretching it out another half hour or 45 minutes usually doesn't make sense at all.”

An Abundance of Cakes

Every wedding planner, server, and busser knows: Most of the cutup cake goes uneaten or get thrown away. “Unless yours is the rare wedding where the cake is being served as its own course while guests are still seated, or virtually every time it is wasted away with its silver server once guests take off for the dance floor,” says Mitchell. Instead go for a small dessert that can be served as the main attraction of a mixed platter.

Gift Bag

Like welcome bags, this is one of the easiest things to cut from your budget. “Favors are totally unnecessary,” says Mitchell. “No one is going to miss a box you get from Omaha or a tin of Godiva-taste chocolates!” The focus should be on guest experience, instead--and adding something to cocktail hour or getting an extra bartender at that time if there are long lines. His advice for couples is the same: “Unless it is something that one can pop in their mouth shortly after the wedding or on next day people do not mind leaving your party empty-handed,” Wright says.

Sparkler Send-Offs

The modern tradition of sparkler send-offs began fading in popularity a while back. Perhaps it is time for your team to come up with something more creative and memorable than the usual sparklers? “Sparklers have had their day!” says Mitchell. “The send-off is super annoying as a guest, and, as a planner, the thought of corralling drunk guests for you to get your one picture kissing with sparklers isn't the way to go. Do one last song and then lead your guests out with the band, second-line style.”

A Next-Day Brunch

At a destination wedding, a morning-after brunch can provide respite for many of those who shared in--and were enspirited by--the night before's events. But if the majority of guests (or if you’re getting married locally) are heading back early Shut it all down. Then “Careful with a big brunch the next day! Read the room and check what actually makes the most sense,” says Mitchell. “Our solution is easier and always appreciated: Have send-off grab-and-go in the hotel lobby with to-go coffees, waters, and wrapped-up egg sandwiches. And then have lunch at home any time you choose, anywhere you like, with those nearest to you on this earth--three people are comfortable as long as it’s really good stuff.”