Top Five Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding Day
If you didn’t already know, weddings are expensive! But I’m here to help you out. Here is a list of some small yet effective ways you can save money on your special day!
Also if we haven’t met, Hi, I’m Shayla— a Cincinnati Wedding + Elopement Photographer who has photographed countless weddings + elopements in the Cincinnati area! Get to know me more HERE.
1. HAVE YOUR WEDDING ON A WEEKDAY
If you’re not set on having your wedding on a Friday or Saturday, look into doing it on a weekday! Most venues provide a lower cost for weekdays (sometimes Sundays!) and also during the offseason (Dec-April).
2. MAKE YOUR OWN INVITES + SAVE THE DATES
There’s honestly no reason to spend hundreds on dollars on invitations or save the dates, unless that’s something you’re willing to splurge on! I recommend going on etsy.com and looking up invite templates that you can customize. Or you can head on over to one of my favorite editing websites, canva.com to create your custom invites and save the dates. This is what I used for my own elopement! There are SO many fonts, colors and designs you can choose from. It’s honestly so much fun creating something that’s personalized to you and your love story.
3. LOOK INTO NON TRADITIONAL VENUES
Finding your perfect wedding or elopement venue can be one of the most stressful decisions during your planning process. Many popular venues are raising their rates, which make it even harder to stick to your budget. This is why it might be best for you to start looking into non-traditional venues!
Trust me on this. Here’s a list of a few that could fit your needs in the Cincinnati area—
A local park shelter/lodge space
Rent out an Airbnb that allows wedding ceremonies (this is what I did!)
4. FORGET THE WEDDING FAVORS
TBH, no one will remember your wedding favors 10 years down the road. The longer I shoot weddings, the more I realize how many couples are forfeiting the wedding favors. And it saves you SO much money! Instead of fretting about the favors, maybe set up a photo booth or create a fun drink list instead. Give them an experience to remember, not a gift!
5. SKIP THE DJ!
Alright ya’ll, let me be real. Some of the BEST weddings and elopements I’ve attending didn’t have a DJ. Instead, they created a custom spotify playlist for their day. You can always hire a friend to be in control of the playlist during the reception. And when you’re sending out your save the dates, ask your guests which songs they want played at your reception! You can then add these to your playlist and make it fun for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, I love DJ’s! But if you’re trying to cut the cost down, it’s just something to think about!
