7 ways to save money on your wedding

(NC) Between venues, flowers, food and entertainment, weddings can be expensive.  

“An important first step is creating a wedding budget with your partner so you both know the parameters of your spending,” says Zeina Ismail, AVP and Product Group Owner, Shopping and Buying, TD Everyday Banking.  

“Your wedding budget should be realistic and reflect your personal circumstances. Once you have a clear number in mind, you can start saving and working towards your goal.” 

But even when you have a figure down on paper, it can become easy to overspend. That’s why finding creative ways to cut wedding costs can be helpful when trying to stick to budget or trim down expenses. 

Here are seven tips on how to save money while still having an unforgettable wedding: 

1. Consider less popular dates. Typically, warmer-weather months and Saturdays are most popular for weddings, which usually makes them more expensive. If you’re looking to score a bit of a deal at a venue, consider a winter or weekday wedding.
2. Limit your guest list. Venues and caterers often charge per head, meaning the fewer guests you have, the cheaper your food and drink costs will be, depending on the venue. Make sure to discuss rates and minimum counts with the event manager at your venue, and be prepared to adjust your plans or even venue if the numbers aren’t working out.  
3. Don’t overorder invitations. When mailing out invitations, you’ll need to budget for printing costs, envelopes and stamps. One tactic to consider is sending invitations by household, not to each individual guest. This can help you save money by only printing the amount you need, by accounting for couples and families. 
4. Create a wedding website and collect RSVPs online. Wedding websites are an efficient—and often free—way to share details about your big day. Include your wedding website on your invites and ask guests to RSVP online. That way, you won’t need to pay for physical cards or their return postage. 
5. Shop secondhand. Does your friend have some extra candle holders from her wedding last year?  Don’t overlook reusing things you and your loved ones already have. Search local buy-and-sell groups on social media for deals, too. 
6. Skip the champagne. Offering guests a glass of bubbly for toasts can balloon your beverage bill. Instead, allow guests to select their own option at the bar and cheers with their drink of choice. 
7. Get a small wedding cake. Big cakes can be pricey. If you want to have the tradition of cutting into a wedding cake, consider ordering a small, decorative cake for you and your spouse to cut, and then serve a larger, more affordable sheet cake for your guests. 

It doesn’t take spending a fortune to create wedding memories you and your guests will treasure. Sometimes, all you need is the size and kind of wedding that works for your vision as well as your budget, to start happily ever after on the right financial footing.