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TOP 5 WAYS TO SAVE

As a wedding coordinator/floral designer, the number one question I get from brides is, “How can I save money?” After all, it is my job to save them money. Believe it or not, I get asked this question no matter what the wedding budget is…..in fact, some of the biggest budgets I have worked with, still want to know that they are getting a good deal.  So, I have compiled a list of ways to cut corners…..that no one will ever know about!

1.       DESIGNER DON’T: Every bride starts out saying that they have always dreamt about walking down the aisle in a designer dress…..well, in my opinion, this is the BIGGEST budget mistake that a bride can make. Don’t get me wrong…..the dress is one of the most important elements to the design of a wedding….that being said, your dress needs to be a reflection of you, and the type/theme of your wedding….and the Label should be the last thing you look at. The best advice that I can give concerning your dress and budget is….Set your MAX budget….and DO NOT TRY ON DRESSES OUT OF YOUR PRICE RANGE!!!! Also, if you are utilizing a wedding planner/coordinator…..they should know where and when all of the bridal sales take place….thus getting you your dream dress for less! I was able to score a bride her dream dress ($3,500.00) for $700.00! Yes, that is 75% off…..you are not reading that wrong!

2.       HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER: I talk to brides all the time that say they would love to have a wedding planner…..but that they cannot afford one! Then I smile and say…. “How can you afford not to have one?” What I mean by this, is that unless you have the time and resources to plan your wedding like it is your FULL-TIME JOB, then you have no way of knowing what is out there in the wedding world! (Trust me…..it is so much information that it could possibly make your head explode, or so I have been told!) So, as you search for the perfect person/team of people to assist you in planning your wedding, be sure and ask this question: “If I hire you, what can you do to save me money?” If they can’t answer this question…..RUN!

3.       Can I make that a COMBO Please? There are a ton of wedding vendors out there that offer more than one service! For example….I started out only planning/coordinating weddings, later I ventured out and trained as a floral designer. Therefore, I can design, plan, and coordinate a complete wedding! Another good example is that many event rental places will offer invitations, floral design, and planning services as well…..anytime you offer to use more than one service, it will give you bargaining power. Who can say no to getting more for less?

4.       IT’S ALL ABOUT TIMING: The time of day that you have your wedding determines the cost of one of the biggest aspects of your wedding day! The FOOD! If you have a wedding around a meal time, your guests are going to expect a meal. If they don’t get one…..THEY WILL LEAVE! I cannot even begin to tell you how many weddings that I have been to where they are serving cheese and crackers, fruit, and tiny sandwiches at dinner time. Then you have a bride and groom wondering why their reception is cleared out within an hour. If you don’t have the money to serve a heavy menu or a meal, then have your wedding in the afternoon or plan a late evening dessert reception!

5.       NON-SATURDAY Weddings: This tip is self-explanatory. Plan to have your wedding on any day other than Saturday. The most typical alternative to the Saturday wedding is a Friday evening or a Sunday afternoon wedding. Most venues will rent out their space at a discount rate on these days. I have seen brides save up to 50% on their venue rental fees for non-Saturday weddings.