Weddings are so expensive. It feels like the wedding costs just keep adding up. Fortunately there are some things that your guests just won’t care about, and you might be able to cut more costs than you think. This post will go over 10 wedding costs that you can cut, that your guests will NOT care about.
1. Save The Dates
It’s nice to show off your engagement photos and sometimes necessary to inform your out of town guests of your wedding day details, but you could save on this cost and do a wedding website instead. It’s a great way to display your engagement photos and give them all the details without the cost of the paper save the dates. Plus you’ll save on the cost of stamps too. I did my wedding website through Minted, and it was FREE.
2. So Much Dessert
With cocktail hour, dinner and an open bar, the last thing your guests are going to be ready for is dessert. For some of your guests, once the dance floor opens up you won’t be able to get them off. The majority of your guests will probably skip the dessert. Save yourself some money and skip the dessert too. You don’t have to skip it entirely, just order significantly less than your guest count. We did assorted desserts and had leftovers for DAYS.
3. Favors
You put all the work into picking out wedding favors and they’re being left at the table at the end of the night. Don’t go crazy with this expense. Choose something affordable or double dip and use your desserts as a wedding favor. Leave cute little bags or to-go boxes by the dessert tables and have your guests take what they want. Check out my digital download for a dessert sign. You could even pre fill the bags with a thank you note to really make it look like a wedding favor.
You could forego favors altogether and donate to a charity of your choice on your guests behalf as well.
4. Brunch
It’s a nice gesture but you just hosted a wedding, you don’t also need to host a brunch. When people travel out of town, they expect to make food accommodations for themselves. Planning a brunch is nice but you’ll quickly run up a bill of $1,000 when you could skip this cost and use it for your honeymoon. This is probably the biggest of the wedding costs you can cut.
5. Fancy Chairs
During my wedding planning, I was adamant that I get chair rentals for my reception instead of using banquet chairs, but after getting quotes for chairs I quickly reconsidered. When everyone’s sitting down for dinner no one will care what your chairs look like. If you’re worried about what they will look like in pictures, don’t. There will be guests sitting in them, you won’t even see them and you’ll be so mad to have spent so much on an unnecessary cost.
6. Aisle Flowers
Your wedding florist can do just about everything. They’ll ask you exactly what flower arrangements you need, from bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, cake flowers, welcome sign flowers, table centerpieces, and aisle flowers. Lining your chairs for your ceremony isn’t necessary. You could skip this cost.
7. Menu Cards
If your guests preselected their dinner on the invitation, you certainly don’t need a menu card. If you’re doing something like a buffet or family style dinner service and your guests have no idea what’s on the menu, a menu card might be necessary; however you can save some money and get away with ordering 1 menu card per table instead of 1 per guest.
8. Programs
Wedding stationary adds up quickly. Programs are not necessary. Again, use your wedding website to introduce your bridal party and include any details that you would use on a wedding program.
If you’re wanting menu cards, programs or any wedding stationary for that matter, digital downloads are a significant wedding cost savings. Check out my Etsy Shop of digital downloads to save you on wedding stationary.
9. Welcome Bags
Welcome hotel bags are the new thing. They’re super cute, super thoughtful and super fun to make, but they are pretty costly. It’s such a nice gesture but keep in mind this expense will probably creep up on you in your last month before the wedding. If you do want to do welcome bags, I suggest buying things in bulk throughout the year.
10. Expensive Shoes
I’m sure everyone has seen a bride on the dance floor at their wedding barefoot or in their slippers. Designer shoes would sure be a waste of a purchase. Definitely choose comfort over style here. Your gown will be covering them, you’ll be wearing them for such a short period of time and probably for just a day. Skip the designer wedding shoe options.
As a former bride there are many things on this list that I wish I could go back and change. So many of these wedding costs can be cut. Most of these things actually. Take it from me and I’m sure many other brides that you ask that the majority of the things on this list your guests won’t care about.
For more wedding savings advice, check out my post on wedding budgeting.