- STAY ORGANIZED: The more organized you are, the more likely you are to cut costs when you see all the details together for you to save money. I cannot preach this enough to shop around to get price quotes, and save all of your receipts. Little things always add up to big things without you even knowing it! To stay organized and on budget I purchased these two planners on amazon and I can’t recommend them enough.
The Knots ultimate wedding planner & binder
The Budget Savvy Wedding Planner
- CUT THE CAKE: while a traditional large cake is beautiful, nowadays you can get the same amazing look for less with creating a dessert bar and only ordering a small 2 tier cake for you and your fiancé to cut during pictures. Ideas like a donut tower cake, or cupcakes can look just as amazing but without the steep price tag. An added plus is that you can cut on the silly cake cutting fee that venues love to tack on!
- RENT YOUR WEDDING DRESS: There are so many amazing options and websites that offer wedding dress rentals! There are even dress rental boutiques that are incredibly affordable that fit your dress to your body. The added plus about renting a wedding dress is that you don’t have to spend money on trying to preserve it after the fact! A wedding dress rental can also be fun because you can purchase a cake cutting/ party dress and have a wardrobe change without feeling guilty for wearing a cumbersome wedding dress to dance in.
- SAVE THE DATE – PAPERLESS: What better way to save money on printing and postage than to send out paperless save the dates! Opt for an evite or paperless post to remind guests to save the date, to keep their eye out for an invitation, and most importantly collect everyone’s addresses!
- WHOLESALE FLOWERS: Look for places that wholesale flowers. Chances are these wholesalers are the ones selling their flowers to your favorite boutique floral shop down the street. Wholesale florists can save you money on arrangements and give you the same look for less by cutting out the middle man! Tip: When you are thinking of your color scheme get quotes for flowers that are “in-season”. Typically, flowers that are in season are less expensive than ones that will need to be sourced at further distances.
- LET’S TOAST: Chances are most people will NOT care if they receive a glass of champagne to toast with. Let your guests “Cheers” with whatever drink they currently already have from the bar! It will save you a could hundred dollars and no one will even think twice.
- CHOOSE AN OFF-SEASON WEDDING DATE: Wedding season typically starts in April and runs through September. Opt for a winter wedding or early spring wedding for a significant price cut at most venues!
- BAR OFFERINGS: It’s always nice to go to a wedding and not have to pay for a drink. If you have a limited budget, considering hosting a cocktail hour and set a bar limit. Once you reach your limit, ask your wedding coordinator to let you know and switch to a cash bar. Guests won’t be alarmed especially since they’ll already have a drink or two.
I hope these few simple tips will help you save some money while planning your wedding! Remember, don’t sweat the small stuff & enjoy every minute it goes by too quickly!
Want a FREE WEDDING BUDGET PLANNER to keep you on track? Click below to download!
3.31.2012. | A Rustic Modern Southern California Wedding
Details of one of the BEST days of our lives.
The Venue – Turnip Rose – Promenade & Gardens: A total one-stop-shop for anyone who is looking for a stress-free way to throw a wedding in southern California. Weddings in Southern California are not cheap, but for what you get I would say that our wedding was pretty affordable, beautiful and even came with a day-of coordinator to help you with all the last-minute details! I would get a quote and check out all of their venue options. It will be sure to blow your socks off!
The Photographer – Ashley Dang Photography: I met Ashely when she was first starting out, and I am so glad I did because watching her grow her business has been incredible. If you’re looking for incredible natural light photography, she isn’t going to let you down. Keep in mind that after the wedding is over you will only have the pictures to remember your special day, so make sure they are with someone who is going to take pictures that will make you fall in love all over again. Check her out! Ashley is an incredible Family, Engagement, Newborn & Southern California Wedding photographer.
The Flowers: – 800Rosebig: My husband and I got engaged a year after we got out of college. We paid for our own wedding. (… I know… rough for two young professionals…right out of school… but, it’s an asian thing..) We didn’t have a ton of money, so when it came to arrangements I couldn’t spend my entire budget on elaborate centerpieces, bouquets & boutonnières. Which lead me to find 800Rosebig, a floral wholesaler who put together affordable arrangements! If you are looking for a great reliable place for affordble arrangements in Orange County call them, they won’t disappoint.
The Dress: – One Night Affair: Before Rent the Runway was a big thing, I discovered One Night Affair. It was so affordable to rent a beautiful name brand wedding dress. For my wedding, I wore a Vera Wang dress that at the time had a retail ticket of $9,500 that defiantly was not in my budget. Everything that was in my budget didn’t look the way I envisioned so I rented my dress from One Night Affair, where they will tailor your dress to fit you perfectly. You can rent a designer dress for 3 days and return it afterward! It was the best decision I made because most people just keep their dress in a box afterward, and let’s be honest here, your daughter is not going to want to wear your wedding dress. It was such a great place to look for an affordable designer wedding dress. (Update 2020- this shop is now closed but there are now way more offerings for bridal rental shops in southern California!)
If you have any other questions on the details for our wedding free to message me! Wedding planning can be so stressful, the most important thing to remember is that the reason why you’re getting married isn’t for the details. Pinterest may make it all look so cool, but in the end, no one is going to remember the small details. They’re going to remember if they had fun and if you guys looked happy!
Enjoy every minute of wedding planning & good luck girl!
XOXO Jeannie
