OK, first off...you're engaged! CONGRATULATIONS!!! This is a big step! Soak it up!
Live it up! Have fun throwing around your new titles, before jumping into all the wedding planning, Fiancés. ;)
When you're ready, let's SAVE YOU SOME MONEY!
In truth, saving money is all about your
mindset; you don't need to have everything.
In fact you shouldn't! Hear me out for a minute...
A lot of the traditional items you think you may need, aren't really necessities nowadays, and a lot of things that get blown up all over social media, are honestly a complete waste of money (and time, if you're DIY-ing).
A good question to ask yourself, while making all of these difficult wedding decisions, is: "What will this saved money do for me?" Well, good question! You could put it towards buying your new home or if you wanted to get "Fancy like Applebee's on a date night" you could put it towards your dream honeymoon. Either way, you'll be putting money towards two special occasions, as opposed to one. What a fun way to start a marriage!
...And now, without further ado, 6 WEDDING ITEMS YOU DON'T NEED:
1) Aisle Runner
By simply splitting your chairs down the middle, you've just created your aisle. You don't need that luxury rug or vintage carpet to make your ceremony look dreamy.
Sometimes the beauty is in the natural elements: sand, stone, etc. Use it!
2) Wedding Favors
It's true! Ask any wedding planner. It's probably safe to say that roughly
75 - 85% of your guests, will forget their wedding favors and then they get sent to permanent storage, AKA the trash bin.
DO NOT purchase or make wedding favors if you are on a budget.
An alternative solution, if wedding favors are a MUST for you, is to bake or buy cookies in bulk! They will get eaten and they don't have to cost you "an arm and a leg".
3) Printed Programs & Wedding Menus
As beautiful as they may be, you don't need them. These will cost you a pretty penny
because they will need to be customized; custom means pricey!
4) Guest Book
You absolutely do not need this. Most nice guest books cost anywhere $50 - $150. Hey!
A penny saved, is a penny saved and honestly, in this day in age, no one really tends to look back at a book of old signatures.
If you absolutely cannot spare the idea of not having a guest book, my suggestion is to have your guests sign a mirror or a framed picture that can be reused as décor in your new home. It's a little more practical and it will continuously remind you of your special day.
5) Wedding Gifts to Each Other
Excuse me?! Yup, you heard me! Just because a lot of people are doing it,
doesn't mean you have to. Don't feel pressured to follow trends or traditions that don't speak to you. Do what's right for you.
If you're trying to keep it budget-friendly, THAT'S OK and honestly, THAT'S SMART! Sweetheart gifts, although beautiful, can be pretty costly, and if you're trying to save a pretty penny, I recommend ditching the gifts and opting for something simple and sweet; a heartfelt letter will never disappoint and what an amazing keepsake it will be!
6) Too Many Guests
There is a reason why Elopements and Micro Weddings became a thing...you know, aside from the world shutting down in 2020, resulting in zero-to-small gatherings up until recently. Weddings are expensive and that is mostly proven by the number of guests you add.
Think about it:
100 guests equates to: 100 plates, 100 forks, 100 knives, 100 spoons, 100 sets of drinkware, 100 chairs, 100 meals, and so on and so forth...Now imagine if your wedding guest count is 200, 300 or 400+. All that being said, again, do what you want to do. Don't think I'm trying to talk you out of living your giant wedding dreams...but, you did click on this blog to try and save a little money... so keep the numbers in mind when deciding how you want to spend your wedding budget.
And that concludes: 6 Wedding Items You Don't Need.
Hope this helps! HAPPY WEDDING PLANNING!
Sincerely,
Maile
*Links that may be helpful: Wedding Planning . Farmhouse Tables . Wedding Florals