Planning a wedding reception on a budget can be quite a challenge. But with the help of family members, friends, and some creative thinking, you can make your special day as magical as you always imagined it would be.
With the average UK wedding costing £20,000 or more, it can seem an impossible task to plan and host the wedding of your dreams. But the truth is, plenty of couples these days opt for smaller weddings, with intimate guest lists and simplistic venue choices to save on costs while still achieving a great day and a memorable celebration.
So, we’ve put together some tips on how you can host an egg-cellent wedding reception on a budget!
5 ways to save on wedding costs
Wedding planning can be a daunting and expensive process. But, there are simple and effective ways to reduce the costs without compromising on quality or style.
There are numerous ways to save big on your big day, including:
1.
The venue
Perhaps one of the biggest expenditures for the big day is the location and venue. You may feel the pressure from relatives, friends and social media to find and choose the grandest, most luxurious place to host your wedding, but it’s important to remember this is your day and your day only – you call the shots.
There are several venue choices to consider that will help you have the most magical day, at a fraction of the price.
It’s worth considering venues that allow for both the ceremony and evening reception to be in one place. This will not only significantly save on costs, but it’ll also make it easier for you and your guests when it comes to travel.
2.
The guests
One of the hardest things to decide on for your big day is who’s going to share it with you. With pressure from family members to invite Great Aunt Susan, who you’ve met once in your life, to friends of friends asking for a plus-one, for many couples it can feel difficult to say no.
When you’re planning on a budget, you need to be selfish. Set a number of guests you want, and make sure you stick to it.
3.
The decorations
From DIY wedding invites to creative flower arrangements, there are plenty of ways to save money on your big day without compromising on the aesthetics of your dream wedding.
With the likes of TikTok and Pinterest filled with ideas, it’s easy to find simple do-it-yourself wedding decorations that are quick and easy to create. And to make it all that little bit easier, getting the helping hand of your bridesmaids or groomsmen will also help. After all, it’s their job to make your life easier in the run up to the wedding, right?
4.
The time & day
Hands down, Saturday is the most popular day to get hitched. But that does come with a hike-up in prices from weddings venues and caterers alike. If you can, getting married in the week will significantly reduce your costs.
The time of year you want to get married also impacts the cost, with summer and autumn being the most popular. Choosing a spring or winter wedding will see not only the cost drop, but also the likelihood of you securing the date you want.
5.
The catering
Last, but certainly not least is the food and drink – arguably the one and only aspect of a wedding you shouldn’t cut costs on. But it’s still very achievable to say ‘I do’ to a wedding reception with great food, even when you’re on a tight budget.
There are so many caterers out there with a range of offerings and styles to choose from, it doesn’t all have to be fine dining and canapes.
We can help find the ideal caterers for your special day based on your own specific needs and wants. From budget and the number of guests to the location and your own cuisine preferences, Caterly will provide you with a range of catering vendors to choose from that suit you and your partner.
Catering just got a whole lot easier!
We can’t wait to cater for you, the Caterly way.
How can Caterly help?
Caterly is a catering consultancy with a range of vendors from across the UK offering a huge variety of cuisines. All the caterers in the Caterly Community are required to meet the Catering Excellence Benchmark™, a standard that lets our customers know they’ll receive the very best food, service and experience, from the most hygienic and sustainability conscious vendors.
