The Most Expensive Parts Of Any Wedding (And How To Save Some Of That Money!)

The rule of thumb used to be that a man should spend three months’ salary on an engagement ring. If you’re lucky, he may do that. However, that is one part of the wedding cost that you can’t do anything about. It’s over and done. But there are plenty of other ways to save money without compromising your dream wedding.

The first large expense in any wedding is the dress. With the average wedding dress costing upwards of $1,500, this is your first opportunity to make a major positive financial impact on the day. By choosing your dress online, either directly from the manufacturer, an online bridal shop, or by purchasing a used (vintage) dress on Ebay, you can save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. Only a fool pays retail, so shop around for your dress.

The reception is almost always the most expensive part of the wedding. Providing food and drink for a large number of people is never cheap, and places that hold wedding receptions take full advantage of that fact. Make sure you choose a reception venue that does not require you to utilize their kitchen, their cooks, and their food. You also don’t want to be tied into their bar. By choosing a venue that allows you to cater the event yourself, you will save an enormous amount of money. Further, by providing your own bar, your costs will be significantly reduced.

When it comes to the bar, you have several choices. Open bar – which means everyone drinks until they can drink no more; Cash bar – where people pay for their own drinks; and No Bar – a non-alcoholic wedding. Because the cost of an open bar can be surprisingly high, it is not a wise choice. A friend of mine recently told me of the “surprise” he got when he paid for his daughter’s cash bar at her wedding - $5,000 worth of booze! Cash bar allows the heavier drinkers to drink as much as they want, but without you paying for it. Non-alcoholic weddings are also becoming popular, primarily because no one wants to drive home drunk.

There are many opportunities to save money at any point in your wedding. Don’t forget about ordering invitations and announcements online, creating your own flower arrangements and table decorations, and thinking about alternative venues for your reception!