For anybody who is having to navigate wedding planning during Covid, I feel for you! Well, I’ve got some really helpful tips for you on how to save money if you’re having a smaller wedding. This means you’ve got one less thing to stress about.
Before I get started, I think small weddings are awesome. You get to have quality time with each guest, you can keep everybody safe when they’re in a smaller group, and you can save money. I really mean that, there are lots of creative things you can do to cut down on costs when you keep things small and intimate. Take a look…
Consider an offpeak date
This tip isn’t specific to a smaller wedding, but we’d be silly not to suggest it right upfront. Typically, hosting a wedding in winter or on a weekday is a fab way to save money! These dates are less busy for suppliers and most will offer a discounted rate. If there isn’t already an offpeak package to choose from, just be bold and ask for a discount. The worst you can hear is ‘No, sorry’.
Related: Weekday Weddings – Here’s Why You Should Have One!
Related: Irish Venues that Host Midweek Weddings
Host a brunch wedding
With a brunch wedding, there are usually fewer courses, so you’ve got a shorter day. This means that anything you pay for by the hour will cost you less to hire. Another great reason for a brunch wedding is that people won’t eat as much as they would over lunch or dinner. So you’ve got fewer courses and therefore you can save money on the meal cost.
No bridal party
If you are already having a small wedding, you can save money by not having a bridal party. You won’t have to pay for their gifts, hair, makeup, outfits, accommodation, and so on. If your wedding is already going to be intimate, there’s no need to elevate some friends over others. You’ll be saving those friends money too, so I’m sure they’d be thankful. And if you want to, find another way to honour those friends and get them involved.
One venue instead of two
No matter what you do, you will still need a big enough space for social distancing. Having one venue means that you won’t need to worry about the cost of two venue hire fees and two sets of decor and flowers. It is likely to be safer and easier to stay in one venue than moving between two! You could have fewer floral arrangements and fewer things for guests to touch. It’s a way to save money and keep everybody safe.
Be practical
One of my number one tips to save money for your wedding is this: use one thing for multiple purposes. Here are a couple of examples:
Use your wedding cake as dessert instead of buying cake and dessert.
Give mini hand sanitiser bottles as wedding favours instead of buying both.
Use your photobooth printouts as your guestbook and wedding favours.
Related: Super Cute Socially Distanced Wedding Ideas
Have bigger tables
If you have bigger tables you can have more people at each table. Overall you’ll spend less on hiring table linens and buying or hiring centrepieces.
Main image: Susan Jefferies Photography
