Top 10 Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding Reception
Following are 10 tips to help couples save money on their wedding receptions.
1. GUEST NUMBERS
Minimise the number of guests you intend to invite. Trimming guest lists is easier said than done but considerable savings can be made if you keep your wedding invitees to family and close friends. If, as a couple, you have had little or nothing to do with old friends or are unlikely in the future to have much to do with them, then maybe you shouldn't invite them. Inviting 10 less guests can create savings upwards of $1000. Whatsmore a smaller more intimate wedding can often be more enjoyable for all concerned.
2. THE TIMING OF YOUR WEDDING
Consider having the reception on a Sunday or Friday. Saturdays are the most popular choice and as such venues often charge a premium for Saturday weddings. Your guests will also tend to drink less alcohol at a Sunday wedding which would create savings if you are paying for drinks by consumption.
Avoid peak periods such as October to December and March/April. Some venues offer off peak discounts.
3. RECEPTION DURATION
Most wedding receptions run for 6 hours. Considerable savings can be made by reducing the reception duration. I have sung at wedding receptions of only 4 hours (usually day time) and with careful planning shorter receptions can be equally enjoyable for your guests.
4. DRINKS
If your family and friends are not big drinkers consider paying for beverages by consumption if the option is available. You may also consider running a cash bar after a certain time of the night or stopping the drinks altogether. If the reception concludes at midnight then perhaps the drinks package could finish at 11.00 pm. There are usually many half empty bottles of wine on the tables at that time if your guests still want to drink.
Another thing to consider is to not have champagne for the toasts. Your guests can toast with table wine, beer or soft drinks.
5. FOOD
Consider having a buffet. It is often less expensive than a sit down three course meal. You could also have your wedding cake as the desert or choose something like a chocolate mud cake rather than a traditional wedding cake as they are much cheaper.
6. DECORATIONS
Extravagant decorations, table centrepieces and floral arrangements can be a waste of money. Your guests wont remember the flower arrangements or centrepieces on their table, but they will remember great food and entertainment. Often simple inexpensive decorations work best, especially if the venue décor is already aesthetically pleasing.
7. UNECESSARY TRIMMINGS
Don't provide bonbonniere or gifts for your guests such as personalised chocolates, bottles of specially labelled wine and customised stubbie holders etc. No-one ever expects them and they will add very little to your guests' experience of your wedding. Wishing wells, chocolate fountains and candy bars are other trimmings that are not really necessary.
8. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS
Consider only have your photographer and videographer for the first part of the reception. You can schedule the cake cutting early so they are there for that but you can save money by having some of your guests take footage of the speeches (if you really want the speeches recorded), the first dance and the DJ music dancing. These days consumer grade camcorders and SLR cameras can take amazingly good footage and images.
9. TRANSPORT
It's always nice to have a limousine in the lead up to the reception, but is it absolutely necessary to have a limo at the end of the night? Consider leaving the reception in a taxi or a fiend’s car. Most of the time the guests don't actually see the couple enter the limousine at the end of the reception. They are usually inside the venue having just participated in a farewell arch or circle etc.
10. MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
You may wish to consider a DIY approach to the music and entertainment but as highlighted HERE it is an approach that can be fraught with problems. I may be somewhat biased in his regard and I do not recommend DIY music. Wedding reception entertainment is far too important to jeorpardise with DIY music compilations, a sub standard audio system and non existent or basic lighting.
Ultimately every couple should set and work within a budget. Not all the cost savings listed above will be relevant or necessary.
Earl Cole
Singer, entertainer, DJ & MC
www.perthweddingsinger.com.au
www.earlcolemusic.com
1. GUEST NUMBERS
Minimise the number of guests you intend to invite. Trimming guest lists is easier said than done but considerable savings can be made if you keep your wedding invitees to family and close friends. If, as a couple, you have had little or nothing to do with old friends or are unlikely in the future to have much to do with them, then maybe you shouldn't invite them. Inviting 10 less guests can create savings upwards of $1000. Whatsmore a smaller more intimate wedding can often be more enjoyable for all concerned.
2. THE TIMING OF YOUR WEDDING
Consider having the reception on a Sunday or Friday. Saturdays are the most popular choice and as such venues often charge a premium for Saturday weddings. Your guests will also tend to drink less alcohol at a Sunday wedding which would create savings if you are paying for drinks by consumption.
Avoid peak periods such as October to December and March/April. Some venues offer off peak discounts.
3. RECEPTION DURATION
Most wedding receptions run for 6 hours. Considerable savings can be made by reducing the reception duration. I have sung at wedding receptions of only 4 hours (usually day time) and with careful planning shorter receptions can be equally enjoyable for your guests.
4. DRINKS
If your family and friends are not big drinkers consider paying for beverages by consumption if the option is available. You may also consider running a cash bar after a certain time of the night or stopping the drinks altogether. If the reception concludes at midnight then perhaps the drinks package could finish at 11.00 pm. There are usually many half empty bottles of wine on the tables at that time if your guests still want to drink.
Another thing to consider is to not have champagne for the toasts. Your guests can toast with table wine, beer or soft drinks.
5. FOOD
Consider having a buffet. It is often less expensive than a sit down three course meal. You could also have your wedding cake as the desert or choose something like a chocolate mud cake rather than a traditional wedding cake as they are much cheaper.
6. DECORATIONS
Extravagant decorations, table centrepieces and floral arrangements can be a waste of money. Your guests wont remember the flower arrangements or centrepieces on their table, but they will remember great food and entertainment. Often simple inexpensive decorations work best, especially if the venue décor is already aesthetically pleasing.
7. UNECESSARY TRIMMINGS
Don't provide bonbonniere or gifts for your guests such as personalised chocolates, bottles of specially labelled wine and customised stubbie holders etc. No-one ever expects them and they will add very little to your guests' experience of your wedding. Wishing wells, chocolate fountains and candy bars are other trimmings that are not really necessary.
8. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS
Consider only have your photographer and videographer for the first part of the reception. You can schedule the cake cutting early so they are there for that but you can save money by having some of your guests take footage of the speeches (if you really want the speeches recorded), the first dance and the DJ music dancing. These days consumer grade camcorders and SLR cameras can take amazingly good footage and images.
9. TRANSPORT
It's always nice to have a limousine in the lead up to the reception, but is it absolutely necessary to have a limo at the end of the night? Consider leaving the reception in a taxi or a fiend’s car. Most of the time the guests don't actually see the couple enter the limousine at the end of the reception. They are usually inside the venue having just participated in a farewell arch or circle etc.
10. MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
You may wish to consider a DIY approach to the music and entertainment but as highlighted HERE it is an approach that can be fraught with problems. I may be somewhat biased in his regard and I do not recommend DIY music. Wedding reception entertainment is far too important to jeorpardise with DIY music compilations, a sub standard audio system and non existent or basic lighting.
Ultimately every couple should set and work within a budget. Not all the cost savings listed above will be relevant or necessary.
Earl Cole
Singer, entertainer, DJ & MC
www.perthweddingsinger.com.au
www.earlcolemusic.com
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