Saving Money on Your Wedding { Tips & Ideas }

Weddings are not only one of the biggest days of your life, they are also one of the most expensive days of your life.  The average Southern California wedding is a whopping $27,000.  Some brides feel intimidated and automatically overwhelmed after getting engaged because of all the looming costs associated with their wedding plans.   We wanted to share some of our money saving ideas to help you get everything you want for your big day without having to spend as much.

1. Consider Off Season - We have gorgeous weather almost year round here in Southern California.  With that in mind, getting married in a "non wedding season" month such as December can save you some big bucks.  Venues, DJ's, and wedding officiants often have winter deals discounting their normal rates if you book with them.  Take advantage of that!  Its very unlikely that you will get deals that good for a summer wedding.




2. Weddings Aren't Just On Saturdays - Most people are surprised to hear this, but tons of places also discount for weddings that take place any other day but Saturday.  Vendors have no problem booking a Saturday wedding, but a Friday or Sunday wedding is harder to book which gives you some room to negotiate.



3. Do-It-Yourself - DIY brides are becoming more and more popular these days.  DIY brides can save tons of money by doing things on their own instead of paying for someone else to do it for them.  This can range anywhere from making your own wedding invitations to designing your own flowers.  The possibilities are endless.  Just make sure you have your wedding party help with anything they can so you don't get overwhelmed.


4. Signature Drinks - Serving alcohol at your wedding can get really expensive.  Instead, serve a "signature drink" to your guests to cut costs on alcohol.  Signature drinks are alcoholic drinks designed by the bride and groom that also relate to the bride and groom.  For example, if your name is Megan, serve a "Megarita" instead of a Margarita!  We love the idea of a signature drink because it saves you money & it also adds a fun element to the wedding. 




By using one or even all of these tips, you can really cut down some of the costs of your wedding.  Make sure to spend money where it counts & never use unprofessional vendors as a way to save money.  Just get creative & allow yourself plenty of time to find good deals and negotiate with vendors.  Happy planning!