The Dazzling Blog

Hey Dazzlers! Are you ready for some tips on how to save money on your wedding? In this economy, who wouldn’t be? After the covid outbreak, we saw prices and inflation skyrocket. We also saw the wedding industry almost in shambles. One thing that stood out to me the most during this time was the creativity aspect. A lot of people started doing things themselves, and I’m sure the DIY sector increased. Several weddings were done in homes, backyards, parks, and not to mention the decor was handcrafted by the bride/groom or someone close. You’ll be surprised how much money you can save by doing things yourself, or by just doing research on secondary options. Take a look below on ten ways on how to save on your big day!

Floral or No Floral

We all know flowers are a big part of most weddings. In the past, couples would go to a florist and spend tons of money on REAL flowers to decorate the tables and to also use for the bouquet, and more. Within the past decade, I’ve seen this change tremendously. A lot of couples are using fake flowers for their decor. The upside is that it doesn’t die like regular flowers and it is easy to maintain. Real flowers are beautiful but they are costly and don’t last nearly as long as fake flowers. 

You can find several beautiful fake flower arrangements on Amazon that are affordable. You can also always go to your nearest supply store to create your own. If you are a DIY person like myself, I don’t see anything wrong with utilizing Joann’s or Michael’s. 

Ditch the Overpriced Decor

This goes hand in hand with having fake flowers. Also, take into consideration how creating your own table decor can you save you a lot of money. You can easily purchase vases that are affordable. I would recommend using plastic over glass if you are looking for the cheapest option. Just remember that you have to be creative and NOT tacky! Also, remember that this may be time consuming, but if you enjoy doing it yourself then no worries. Here are some cute examples of how to make the most of what you have:

(Found on Country Living Magazine: 30 Best DIY Wedding Decorations - Cheap Wedding Decoration Ideas)

The image above shows plastic flowers that are in cute jars sitting on top of a wood coaster. This is simple, elegant and cute. 

One last example would be the following:

(Found on Wedding Ideas and Treats: DIY Backyard Wedding Decorations On a Budget wedding ideas)

This is a cute and entertaining idea. If you’re not much of an alcohol drinker, overlook the shots and focus in on the board and floral they created. This is creative and catchy! A lot of things can be done yourself, such as the table markers, cards, backdrops, ceremony decor, and more.

Real Cake Tiers or Fake Cake Tiers

This topic is one of my favorites! A lot of couples are now using fake tier layers for their cake. Couples who want a nice cake that’s tiered, typically pay hundreds of dollars. Instead of doing that, and wasting cake that you won’t finish, why not add fake layers towards the bottom of the cake? In case you need a visual of what I’m talking about, check this out:

(Found on Hall of Cakes: Dummy (Fake) Tiers in Wedding Cakes - Hall of Cakes) 

What you just saw above, is a partial dummy-tiered cake! Not only does it look fabulous, but I’m sure your wallet will feel fabulous too! This is a common phenomenon, and it can be done yourself. YouTube and sites like Hall of Cake will be your friend. You can also find these fake tiers on sites like Amazon for the low!

A Weekday or Sunday Wedding

A lot of weddings are typically done on Saturday in the afternoon. This is a busy option, and prices typically go up during this time. You also have to consider the season. Weddings that are done in the Summer are also typically higher. I would recommend pushing your wedding to a Thursday/Friday or Sunday if it just needs to be during the weekend. Other weekday options (Mon.-Wed.) are perfect and may be cheaper than the Thu.-Fri. Option because it’s earlier in the week.

Summer and early fall are the busiest wedding seasons. Choose wisely on which season you want, and then plan accordingly with selecting an affordable date. This can save you a lot of money if you do your proper due-diligence.

Morning vs. Night Wedding

Most weddings are done in the afternoon or evening. I recently went to my first brunch/morning wedding and it was fabulous. This experience is unique and creative. Think about all of the pros. You get out earlier, and still have the rest of the day to yourself. You also might not have to deal with drunk shenanigans at night! We all know that people start to act crazy when the sun goes down. 

A lot of venues have started offering discounts and cheaper options for weddings done earlier in the day. Most weddings are between 4-6 hours depending on what type of wedding you are having. Take into consideration the type of wedding you’re having, how much time you need, and how you can incorporate this into an earlier time for a wedding. The wedding I went to recently started around 10a and we got out around 2p which is perfect for most!

Looking Cute on a Budget 

Who doesn’t want to look cute on a budget? It is possible, trust me! A lot of makeup artists offer wedding specials for you and your party. By doing your research and asking ahead of time you might be surprised to hear that they might have some deals for you! Also, don’t overestimate your family member who’s really good with makeup or the makeup artist that is getting their start off the ground. You’ll be surprised what someone with talent can do! I do suggest doing a prior consultation just to test out their services before going all in on your big day. This can save you lots of money.

Another consideration is the DRESS! Think about it, when will you wear that dress again? No judgment, but I’ve heard a lot of people tell me that they can’t even fit into their dress anymore. Renting a wedding dress is becoming common and there’s nothing wrong with it. For the ones that want to cherish their dress and possibly pass it down to someone else, disregard this consideration. 

Last but not least, the HAIR! I love my hair, and I especially love when it is done in a cute style. I’ve seen a lot of brides do their own hair lately in cute and simple updos:

(Found on Brides: 23 Beautiful Wedding Hairstyles for Black Hair)

(Found on Martha Stewart: Simple Wedding Hairstyles That Prove Less Is More)

TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, and similar sites to the ones mentioned above will be your friend! Also, don’t overestimate the hairstylist that’s just getting their foot wet, or the hairstylist that is offering deals! Always ask and see what stylists are offering. 

Find the Right and Affordable Venue 

As mentioned before, Covid-19 was a time where creativity stood out. I witnessed weddings in the park, and they were beautiful. It’s something how mother nature is extremely beautiful, especially when you utilize it for a significant event. I also witnessed a wedding done in the court house, and afterwards they had their own celebration among guests. I would ask that you also consider having your wedding done at a community center. Community Centers are big when it comes to venues for events and they are affordable. This really depends on how large you want your wedding and the rules of the community center.

Typical wedding venues are expensive, and this can be a big chunk of how much your wedding is. Start thinking outside the box and see what your community or city might offer. Take a look below for some ideas:

(Found on Brides: Park Weddings: Details to Consider While Planning)

(Found on Melissa Claire Photography: Tarrant County Courthouse Wedding Archives - Melissa Claire Photography)

E-Vites over Invites

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but this is 2024 and most things are now done online. There’s nothing wrong with traditional invites, but if you are looking to save money you may want to reconsider this option. E-vites are easy to use and you can pack so much information in them. A lot of couples use sites like withjoy.com, evite.com, or paperlesspost.com.

You can always link your wedding registry or wedding site to these invites. I believe this also allows you to be more creative and it’s easy to share among a larger group at a quicker rate! Paperless Post offers several options and I am listing the resource below:

(Found on Paperlesspost: 10 wedding invitation ideas that'll have your guests counting down the days | Paperless Post)

Cut the Over-Extensive Guest List

Cutting your wedding guest list by half may sound crazy, but it can cost you a lot of money in the end. I know you want to invite the neighbor you just met last month, and your dance instructor, and your friend’s sibling, and…you see how this list can potentially grow and be outrageous? Invite your immediate family and close friends. You can also have the option of recording your wedding for the ones that do not show.

More heads, means more people to feed and more chairs to fill. Venues and catering companies get paid on the amount of service they give to each guest. Catering can be very expensive and there are several options for this (buffet style, taco bar, pasta bar, and more) but overall you want your head count to be reasonable.

The benefit of Utilizing your Officiant Properly

This is where I come into play! As an officiant I have so many connections and resources. I always recommend people to ask their officiant about services they know of and ways to cut down on the cost. We may not be the expert for wedding planning, but we come into contact with the wedding industry professionals on a day-to-day basis. If you are needing tips/advice on how to find the right DJ, Caterer, Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, Bridal Shops, etc. ask your officiant! 

We specialized in making your ceremony special. Since we are in the business of make the couples happy, we also can utilize our network to help you. The officiant may also offer service on the side that you may not know of until you ask. On the side, I also sing. Oneday, I might have a client that would like to pay for me to sing on their special day…you never know. I know of some officiants who operate other businesses within the wedding sector and this is super helpful for couples. 

Summary

I hope my list was helpful to you. This list isn’t for everyone. Some people might find that paying more for their makeup, hair or even venue is worth it. This can be true, and I always remind people that everyone’s situation is different. Continue doing your due diligence by researching what you will allow and won’t allow. From there, reach out to the wedding professionals and inquire about their services. Compare prices, quality and recommendations. I want to challenge you to do some homework. Get out a sheet of paper and draw a line in the middle. On one side write down what you would want to pay the most money for and your budget. On the other side, write down what you are willing to spend less on and add the budget. Also, on both sections include the reason as to why you want to spend more or less. Keep this list into consideration whenever you are reaching out and doing your research. 

Dazzlers, I had a good time sharing these tips with you. I’ll see you in March! Remember, a little razzle dazzle never hurts!

Love,

MaKayla

The Dazzling Wedding Officiant