Planning a wedding? Mazel! Prepare to blow through your life savings and then some. This most joyous day of your life (allegedly) is going to cost you and your intended (and/or your parents) quite a pretty penny, just by nature of what the wedding industry is. Now, I’m not here to do the whole “why spend a down payment on a house for a party?” song and dance. It’s your money, spend it how you want, whether that be on a lavish wedding, a sick honeymoon, or a down payment on your dream house. That being said, I’m sure we’d all like to spend less on our weddings without looking totally cheap and tacky—and that’s completely possible! If you’re interested in saving a few bucks here and there, though, knowing what you can totally skimp on is helpful. Like, do you really need fresh wildflowers in the bathrooms to liven up the space? Short answer, no. Here are a few things you can add to the list of splurge vs. save when your big day pops up.
Dessert
By the time dessert rolls around, everyone is going to be either really drunk, really passed out, or really dancing to impress potential hookups. Please, for the love of God, do not drop thousands of dollars on a cake unless you really, really need it. First off, a lot of wedding cakes taste, well, awful. Secondly, people like brownies and cookies more; plus, they make for better handheld food while doing the Cotton-Eyed Joe. Opt for a tea-size cake so you and hubs can cut and smash it into each other’s faces (photo-ops, fam). But a six-tiered fondant and buttercream vanilla monstrosity? Pass.
Champagne Toasts
I don’t even know how many hundreds if not thousands of buckaroos we wasted on this at my wedding. Holding up a glass of champagne and toasting the new couple is kind of tradition, but why not just ask guests to raise whatever they’re drinking instead of a $5 per glass flute of Dom Perignon? If you have a large venue, people will more than likely miss the toast, forget to pick up a glass, chug eight by themselves later (*slowly raises hand*), or just forget about the whole thing completely, which leaves the event staff to dump all that bubbly right down the drain. Moment of silence.
Fancy Linens
When you go and sit down with either your wedding planner or event person at your wedding venue, they’re likely going to ask you about linens. When we say linens, it means everything from table runners to napkins to tablecloths. Pro tip: do not spend a sh*tload of money on these. Napkins will end up on the floor, in the garbage, and covered in dried food. The same applies for tablecloths and runners. Obviously, you need these things, but don’t feel like you need to splurge on it. If you have a very specific color, fine. Chances are, they have a cheaper version of it. Oh, and this doesn’t mean put burlap everywhere. That’s tacky.
Flowers For The Venue
Hear me out on this one—you definitely need flowers for bouquets, the spot where you’re actually tying the knot, and on a table here and there at your venue. What you don’t need are flowers and bouquets on every cocktail table and piece of furniture throughout the entire day. Flowers are probably one of the most expensive items you’ll have for your big, special day, so choose them wisely and don’t go crazy with them. Sh*t, go to Michael’s and Trader Joe’s and get some dried and mixed them in with the real ones, opt for candles and lanterns, or think of other decor that’ll fill the space. But don’t feel like you need flowers f*cking everywhere.
Your Shoes
Alright, listen, and try not to @ me on Twitter—the shoes you wear for your wedding are definitely important. They should be stylish, fit your personality, and they should be comfortable. They do not need to cost $3,000. Unless you’re sporting a tea-length dress (which, ew), you really don’t need to go balls to the wall on crazy expensive feet holders because, well, no one is going to see them. That doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to wear cowboy boots or sneakers, tho. Keep it classy.
Images: Nathan Dumlao, Brina Blum, Annie Gray, Tamara Menzi / Unsplash; Giphy (1)
