Wedding planning can be an exciting but stressful endeavor – especially if you’re on a tight budget. There are many things to consider as you plan, from the location and time to whether or not you should have live music or do your own catering. However, if you want to save money on your wedding, one of the easiest places to start is by choosing a good wedding planner who can guide you every step of the way, from hiring vendors to deciding on your menu and more. Here are some great tips on how to save money with good wedding planning.
Choose Your Card Stock Wisely
The paper used to print your card sets an initial tone for your wedding menu layouts—and yes, it’s a bit of a splurge. But you can save on costs with careful planning: First, pick traditional white or cream card stock over color, which is typically more expensive.
Then, when it comes to lettering (either in foil or non-foil), avoid all caps; they’re pricier than lowercase text. Finally, consider using simple fonts like Garamond or Times New Roman; they’re less expensive than novelty fonts like Bickham Script.
As far as sizes go, 5 x 7 inches and 4 x 6 inches are popular options that don’t cost much more than smaller cards. If you do choose a larger card size, stick with 5 x 7 and 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches so you won’t break your budget. Once printed, double-check that everything is centered and straight before sending them off to be cut.
Lastly, if your chosen printer offers it, ask about die cutting. It’s not cheap, but it will add dimension to your design without costing you any extra money. If You Do Choose Envelopes…: Envelopes also set an initial tone for your invitations, but keep in mind that choosing envelopes isn’t necessary if you opt for mailing tubes instead. If you decide to include envelopes, stick with traditional white ones; colored envelopes tend to cost more.
Skip the Envelope Liner
Skipping an envelope liner is one of those little money-saving steps that can add up to big savings in your bank account. It’s easy, too: Simply take out your current envelope liners and replace them with scrap paper before sending anything off.
The lining may be thin, but it makes a difference—and that’s why you don’t want to skip it! Without an envelope liner, envelopes can slip through machines more easily than if they were lined. So when you send out a wedding invitation or holiday card without a liner, there’s always a chance that it could get caught in transit and never make it to its intended recipient.
This can be particularly troublesome for RSVP cards; after all, you need to know how many people are coming so you can plan accordingly. If people lose their RSVP cards because they weren’t properly protected by a liner, then no response means no party.
And since we’re talking about catholic wedding programs, let’s not forget about postage costs. A single stamp can cost upwards of 50 cents these days (depending on where you live), which means that every time you send something via snail mail without a liner, you’re throwing away nearly half a dollar.
Direct Your Guests to Your Wedding Website
In a world of Facebook and Twitter, where you can communicate with your friends and family from pretty much anywhere in a matter of seconds, it’s still incredibly important to get your wedding website out there.
Your guests are more likely to find information on your wedding website than they are to scour your Facebook feed or search for an old email. Even if they do get in touch with you through another channel, having a centralized source of information is always helpful. If nothing else, make sure you have a contact form on your website that allows people to send messages directly to you.
This way, even if someone doesn’t know how to reach you by phone or text (which happens often at weddings), they can still get in touch with questions about logistics—and you don’t have to worry about missing any last-minute details.
Give Them Options: It might seem like a no-brainer, but one of the best ways to save money on your wedding is simply to give your guests multiple options for their travel and lodging accommodations. You don’t need to provide every single accommodation option available, but consider giving them choices between hotels or bed & breakfasts versus hostels or vacation rentals.
RSVP Postcards Are Fresh and Fun
When it comes to invitations, go traditional with RSVP postcards. Wedding guests can simply fill them out, mail them back and you’ll know exactly how many people will be there on your big day. It’s also a great way for guests to check if they are free for dinner, allowing for more last-minute invites.
If you have an email list of all your wedding guests, include that as well so that everyone has options. The One Thing You Should Never Skimp On: Food is one of those things where I think it’s okay to splurge. As long as you don’t go crazy, make sure to get a good caterer who knows what they are doing and can create delicious food at an affordable price. This may take some research and trial and error, but when you find someone who fits your style, book them. Have A Budget And Stick To It: This is probably one of my biggest pieces of advice. Whether you decide to do DIY projects or hire professionals (or both), make sure that you set aside enough money in your budget for each thing before even starting planning. Don’t forget about unexpected costs like permits or extra time for deliveries.
