Another post about wedding budget saving tricks coming at you!
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about wedding budget saving tricks to avoid, but it got to be so long I decided to split it into two. Because weddings are so pricey, there are a million ideas out there to save money on them. And, not all ideas are created equal. Some ideas will cost you more in the long run. And, others are huge time sucks and won’t enhance your wedding experience if you do them.
In an effort to save you money (and time), I’m sharing with you which budget saving ideas to avoid, and why. Because, let’s face it. We all want to save money on our wedding, but we want it to make sense. We still want amazing weddings, a great time planning them, and a budget we can afford.
7 More Wedding Budget Saving Tricks To Avoid!
This post is going to share more than just wedding budget saving tricks to avoid. It will also give you some alternatives to try out instead. The alternatives should actually save you money, without compromising on the quality of your wedding. Hopefully some of these ideas inspire you to try them out!
Let’s get into it!
1. ASKING AN HONORED GUEST TO BE YOUR “DAY OF COORDINATOR”
Oh boy. This is a biggie for me.
Look, I believe that every wedding does need a day of coordinator. And no, they don’t have to be a professional, and you don’t always have to pay them. It can be a guest. But it has to be the right guest.
Do not ask your mother, maid of honor, officiant, or anyone else who is close to the wedding to take on this role. It will not work out. Not for you, them, or your wedding. And, don’t ask someone who is just “there” to help, either. Again, it won’t work out. When in doubt, hire a professional, or read more from this post about picking the right day of coordinator for your wedding.
What Can Go Wrong
If you ask someone to have dual roles at your wedding, there is a risk that they will be overwhelmed, and that things can fall through the cracks. Vendors may not have proper direction; your vision may not be executed to perfection.
What To Do Instead
If you have a wedding guest who has no other role in your wedding, it may be okay to ask them to help direct vendors and step into this role. The guest should not be in the wedding. They should have some experience with event planning. There should be no expectation that they are with you getting ready, in family photos, etc. An alternative could be to hire a professional. If this appeals to you, check out this post and this one, too.
2. HIRING AN INEXPENSIVE VENDOR WHO YOU DON’T REALLY LIKE
You may find a wedding vendor that has a great reputation. Their reviews are stellar. Their social media is on point (are people still saying “on point”, by the way?). And their price is unbelievable.
However, you don’t like them. When you met with them, it wasn’t great. You didn’t jive. Maybe it’s you. Or it’s them. Either way, you’re thinking about hiring them based on everything else and are convincing yourself it will be okay. I’m here to tell you not to go for it.
What Can Go Wrong
The issue with hiring a wedding vendor who you don’t like is that working with them will take away from your wedding planning experience. It will frustrate you. It may keep you up at night. You won’t be looking forward to calls or meetings with them. It’s just not worth it.
What To Do Instead
Yes, of course, sometimes first impressions can be wrong. However, you should go with your gut. There are lots and lots of wedding vendors out there. If you don’t like one, find another who you do like.
3. DIY PROJECTS THAT YOU’VE NEVER ATTEMPTED BEFORE
Ahh, the DIY, or do-it-yourself projects. Even the least crafty of us start to feel motivated to tackle them when we get married. We convince ourselves that it will be super cute, and save money. Let me tell you, there are some risks here we need to consider before we get too deep.
I’m not saying to not go for it with DIY projects. Or that they can’t turn out very cool. I’m just saying that they can be a wedding budget saving trick that can absolutely backfire. The cost of materials, re-work, and blood, sweat, and tears involved may not be worth it. If you don’t have budget reserves, I suggest not doing any DIY you’re not completely confident in.
What Can Go Wrong
As alluded to above, DIY projects can cost you more than extra money. They can be frustrating. And, disappointing if they don’t turn out the way you want them to. You may have to create the same thing again, do more research, buy more materials. . . it can be a big undertaking to make even the smallest items.
What To Do Instead
If you have some extra money, time, and patience for DIY projects, and really want to try something, go for it. If not, there are options. Websites like Etsy have lots of professionals willing and able to sell their crafts. You may be able to ask a trusted, and handy, friend to help you out and guide you so you’re not winging a new project all on your own.
4. TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN DRESS ALTERATIONS
Oh boy. Are you crafty? Confident? Ready for a challenge? If so, you may be considering taking care of your own wedding dress alterations.
Here’s the thing. Almost every single wedding dress will need some sort of alterations. It might be a simple nip or snip, or it can be an elaborate bustle and transformation. Depending on your skill level, you may think that you can take care of the simple items in an effort to save a few bucks.
What Can Go Wrong
Look, at best your dress will look fine. At worst it will be so ruined you need to get a new one. And look at it this way. If you start reconstructing your wedding dress, and mess it up, you’ll have to hire someone to fix it anyway. So you might as well start with the professional.
What To Do Instead
When you create your wedding gown budget, factor in the cost of alterations. Just assume that you’ll need some. If you have questions about that, check out this post on wedding dress alterations. When in doubt, get the alterations from the place where you bought your dress. If you get your dress second hand, do some research about someone who can help you. Don’t mess with your dress unless you really know what you’re doing.
5. MAKING YOUR OWN DESSERT
Some people think that dessert is easy. That they have it covered. And, they could be right about that. However, it can also be a lot of work to create dessert, especially if you’re not a professional baker. Even if you have others helping you, making a dessert platter, cake, or cupcakes can be a lot of work, and money.
If you make your own dessert, you’ll need to buy ingredients, and serving containers or platters. You’ll also need time to actually create what you’d like to serve. Plus, there’s the storage and transportation of the dessert. Many desserts need to be kept cool before serving, and you may not be set up for that.
What Can Go Wrong
The worst case scenario with making your own dessert is that it doesn’t taste good. The best case is that it does taste good, but it was extra effort and money for you. The truth is that dessert doesn’t usually break the bank with a wedding. It’s typically quite affordable. Plus, bakers have insurance, experience, and if something goes wrong they have it covered.
What To Do Instead
My suggestion? Hire a professional. If this is really out of the question, ask a group of various family members or friends to help. Don’t leave it all to one person, unless you are 100% sure they know what they are doing. And, don’t take it on yourself. You’ll have a lot of stuff to take care of before your wedding.
6. SKIPPING GIVING GIFTS TO YOUR BRIDAL PARTY
Many people stress about what to give to their bridal party. It seems to be one of those wedding day expenses that creep up on you. Not only is it hard to figure out what to give everyone, but if you have a lot of people in your wedding the cost can add up. It can be very tempting to skip giving gifts to the wedding party altogether.
What Can Go Wrong
If you don’t give anything to your wedding party, nothing will actually go wrong. It’s not like your bridesmaids and groomsmen will misbehave on purpose because there was no token of thanks from you. However, they may make note of it. They could have hurt feelings. They could feel resentment that they supported you in your wedding and you didn’t show your appreciation. Bridesmaids and groomsmen do a lot for the people getting married, and a little gift can make everyone feel appreciated.
What To Do Instead
Instead of skipping gifts, go ahead and give your party something. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It can be a card. Or, a barbeque at your home. The gifts can be incredibly simple and sweet. If you need ideas, or more context, check out this post.
7. SKIP THE REGISTRY
I know skipping the registry doesn’t seem like wedding budget saving trick, but it is a strategy for some people. The thought is that if you don’t have a registry, your guests will automatically give you money. The honest truth? They won’t. Guests are all over the place with gifts. Some default to money. Others default to gifts. Some don’t give anything.
What Can Go Wrong
If you don’t have a registry, you will still get physical gifts. Only, your guests will assume what you want. They will be the ones picking out the gifts. And, their taste may not be the same as yours. You could end up with homemade oven mitts or white, furry picture frames (we received one at our wedding, and we had a registry). Some of these items may not be returnable. It’s not ideal.
What To Do Instead
If you want money for your wedding, register for it. You can do so at HoneyFund or Zola. Also, register for some physical items. Some guests will never gift money, and you want to be sure they give you something you’ll actually like and use. For more tips on creating a registry, check out this post.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Getting married can mean a lot of ideas thrown at you all the time. Some of these ideas are great. Some are terrible. Hopefully you are able to sift through ideas and tell which wedding budget saving tricks to avoid. If you can, you’ll save money, time, and energy in the long run. Happy wedding planning!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice
How To Make Your Courthouse Wedding Super Special
Pros & Cons Of Renting Your Wedding Dress
9 Reasons Why You Should Pay For Your Own Wedding
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