The hot blog for celebrity wedding style, top tips for the wedding of your dreams, speech ideas, budget busters & more.
It will be one of the best days of your life, but it will also be one of the most expensive. If you're look for ways to trim the cost of tying the knot, check out our top tips...
1. Narrow down your guest list
When you're talking to acquaintances or work colleagues, it is easy to feel obliged to invite people you don't know that well, but remember each person at your wedding has a 'per head' price coming out of your budget. Get tough with your guest list to trim the cost of catering, invites, even the number of tables and decor.
2. Get Married Off-Season
The price of a venue will depend greatly on the time of year you're looking to get married. Go for a quiet month such as February or November. You'll also find midweek can be cheaper than a Saturday wedding.
3. Grab a Great Deal
Check out our secret deals to make great savings on luxurious venues and top suppliers across Ireland. Savvy brides can save hundreds of Euro with our secret deals, so don't miss out!
4. Save on Flowers
Some flowers carry a much higher price ticket than others, so do your homework when looking for the perfect bouquet. Peonies may be pretty, but at 4+ times the price of roses you may want to make a sacrifice! Break up the florals with greenery to cut down the amount you need and your bouquet will still be stunning. Talk to your florist, who will be happy to advise which flowers are in season on your chosen date, as these will be more accessible and therefore cheaper than more exotic florals.
5. Skip the Sit-Down Meal
Some brides will want a traditional sit-down meal at their wedding, but if you're not too fussed about being traditional, a winter hog roast, summer barbecue or cocktail reception is a great way to cut the cost of catering. Not only are they great value for money, they will get your guests talking and mingling to create a great atmosphere.
Don't forget to use your handy budget planner here to keep track of your wedding budget spending! See suggestions on what you'll have to pay for and automatically track how much budget is left.
You can also use our free virtual wedding planning service here - you can send us details of your wedding and we'll find the merchants you need and check availability.
6. Avoid a Full Bar
Having a full bar at your wedding can take a huge chunk out of your budget. Choose a nice red and white wine, beer and a few cocktail options and your guests will still have plenty to choose from. You and your groom-to-be can even create your own signature cocktail to serve.
7. Get Crafty With the Cake
With so many options for the decoration, flavours and fillings, it's easy to get carried away when visiting the cake shop. Stick with a smaller wedding cake if you have your heart set on making it fancy, then keep a larger plain buttercream cake in the kitchen to cut up for your guests. Save on the cost of decoration by opting for fresh flowers instead of sugarcraft - you could even arrange for vases to be left on the cake table for the bridal bouquets to be placed in before the reception.
8. Go Online with Invites
Save yourself a lot of time and money by creating and sending FREE wedding invitations online by clicking here. You can easily import your guest list and keep track of who is attending and who hasn't replied. With a few clicks, you can design stunning invites and send them by email - we'll even automatically track responses so you don't have to lift a finger!
9. Go Homemade
Not only can creating your own favours and place cards save you hundreds of Euro, you're also adding a personal touch to your big day. Get crafty with embossed card and metallic pens to create pretty place cards. Your favours could be simple sugared almonds in gauze bags tied with ribbon. Keep them simple and sweet as a little token of thanks for your guests.
10. Double Up
Getting married and holding the reception in one venue can save you a lot of money. Check out our top wedding venues here offering packages to suit any budget. You could also search for suppliers such as bands who will perform ceremony and reception music - many will offer a package rate for this to bring the cost down.
Don't forget to sign up for your FREE planning tools now by clicking here, including a FREE wedding website, FREE interactive table planner, FREE checklist which tells you when tasks are due, FREE e-vites and RSVP tracker, FREE budget planner and much more! It's the hottest wedding website available and it's all FREE!
Click here for more planning blogs and tips.