Last Saturday, I went to the first wedding of the season.
Here’s the thing.
I don’t know that anybody really knows what they are doing when it comes to planning a wedding.
I’ll be the first to say that I don’t even though I’ve had well over a year to get it together.
Y’all know I’m a slacker.
Needless to say, I was blown away by how well everything came together. I enjoyed seeing how all the small details played a major part in the couple’s special day.
While I didn’t get many ideas for my own wedding except for songs for our playlist, I couldn’t help but think about ways I’m sure the couple saved.
Here are five money saving tips every engaged couple should consider:
1. Stick with chicken
Instead of sending out dinner cards, which allows guests to choose their meal, everyone was served chicken. Honestly, you really can’t go wrong with it unless you have a guest who doesn’t eat meat, like me, but it was no big deal. I ate everything else and passed my chicken off to my love who gladly ate a second portion. But in terms of money, I’m sure it was more cost efficient than steak that most people are bound to order because it’s not on their dime.
2. Fake doesn’t mean cheap
I’m kicking myself now for not taking pictures, but on each table was this elaborate bouquet of flowers perched in a tall glass vase. On it, crystal beads dangled from it adding an elegance to it. Under the lighting, I couldn’t tell whether the bouquet was real, but when I touched it, I knew. And I still thought it was beautiful.
3. Be the entertainment
This was my favorite part of the night. The bride and groom unknowingly prepared a dance routine for each other in order to hash out a 10-year-long dance battle. It was so much fun and so unique to their relationship. It not only gave the guests a glimpse of the love they share, but it also amped up the guests for a fun night on the dance floor.
4. Enlist loved ones
This might seem like a no-brainer, but I loved how they had people in place to give their guests direction. One person in particular served not only as a coordinator ensuring that everything went as planned for the ceremony, but she was also the host for the reception and I’m assuming the choreographer for the brides’ dance routine. This would have easily been the job of three people meaning multiple invoices. By utilizing the skills of their talented friend, I’m sure they were able to get the family rate, which means they were able to splurge elsewhere.
5. Use tradition as a guide not a crutch
Months before we even attended the wedding, their invitation arrived. Inside was a small placard with a poem informing guests the gift they had in mind. It said “we know it’s not traditional and not the way it’s done, but rather than a wedding list, we’d love a bit of sun. So if you would like to give a gift and send us on our way, a donation to our honeymoon would really make our day!” I personally haven’t gone to many weddings so I’ve never seen this done. I wasn’t sure how it was going to pan out, but people seemed really receptive because it made sense. The couple has been together since high school. They already have a house so most of the traditional gifts, they already have. Why not help alleviate the financial burden of their dream honeymoon? I’m all for it.
