Top Tips – Saving For A Wedding

Your wedding day is a significant milestone in your life, filled with love, joy, and memories to last a lifetime. However, your wedding is a significant financial commitment and saving for a wedding can be quite daunting. Planning and budgeting for a wedding can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and the right tools, you can save for your wedding. According to Bridebook, the average UK wedding costs over £19,000* (excluding your honeymoon) In this blog post, I will explore some top tips for saving for your wedding.

Setting your wedding budget

Before you start saving, you need to establish a realistic wedding budget. This budget will be the foundation for your entire wedding planning process. Firstly, you should define your priorities and discuss with your partner which aspects of the wedding are most important to you both. This could be the perfect wedding venue, the photography, the entertainment or something else entirely. You can use online savings calculators (such as calculator.me) to help you gain a clear picture of how much you need to save each month to reach your savings goal. Research average wedding costs in the town/city/location you want to get married in, as this will give you a rough idea of what to expect with regards to costs.

Additionally, creating a detailed budget should be a priority when saving for a wedding. You can break this down into categories such as venue, food, flowers, clothing, entertainment, etc. Allocate a specific amount to each category based on your research.

 

Create a wedding savings account and begin saving ASAP

The perfect day doesn’t requite lots of money/spending. As mentioned above, it’s important to consider what you can actually afford when saving for a wedding. Once you’ve agreed your budget and know how much you can afford to set aside each month, do some research into savings accounts and find the best account offer available so you can maximise the interest. Having a dedicated account will also make it easier to track your progress and deter you from dipping into the savings for other purposes.

6 Money Saving Tips For Your Wedding

1. DIY your decorations

I am useless with regards to crafting, but if you are creative enough then it might be worth considering whether you are able to DIY your decorations (if you have the time to do so). There are plenty of blog posts, guides and YouTube tutorials showing you how to create your own bouquets, centrepieces, etc. You may be able to ask friends and family for help with this also.

 

2. Set up a FREE wedding website

Instead of posting out save the dates and/or invites, save on printing and postage costs by registering with one of the many free wedding websites. You can create a personalised website so your guests can find all of the information they need in one place. Of course, they are also able to RSVP. There are many popular options, but my favourite is WithJoy because it’s free and user-friendly.

 

3. Consider your wedding date and the time of year

If you are prepared to get married throughout late autumn, winter or spring (in the UK), you are more likely to find cheaper deals and prices. If you decide to have your wedding on a week day, this can also help to cut costs. Family and friends usually won’t mind booking the day off work either. This also means you will have an increased chance of securing your desired date/location.

 

4. Consider talented friends and family members

Some relatives and friends may have specialisms they work in, such as photography, so they may offer to do it as a wedding gift to you both or perhaps they will agree to offer the service at a reduced rate.

 

5. Buy a pre-loved wedding dress

Explore charity shops, vintage stores and second-hand marketplaces as these can be a great option for finding wedding décor, attire and accessories.

 

6. Limit the guest list

This is a tough one, but we have been realistic with what we can afford for our wedding. We have really trimmed down the guest list, due to our budget. Invite those who truly share in your happiness.

 

In conclusion, saving for a wedding is big task, but with research and careful planning, you will hopefully reach your savings goal. Setting a realistic budget, creating a savings plan, and staying committed to your goals will ensure that you have a memorable wedding day without the burden of excessive debt. Remember, it’s not just about the big day itself. It’s also about building a strong financial foundation for your future together as a married couple.