Expensive vows: This is how you can save money at the wedding

A kneel, a ring, the famous question: “Will you marry me?” When she says “yes,” that’s when the real stress begins, because after all, there’s a wedding to be prepared for. Couples who have decided to get married are often quite baffled at first by the costs that can arise at this celebration. No sooner does it say “wedding” on it than the price goes up. Be it hairstyle and make-up, the photographer, the DJ or the location. One thing is certain: a wedding can be quite expensive. The website “Hochzeitsportal24” has determined that a wedding including celebration in Germany costs an average of 13,000 euros – whether the determined average value is representative remains to be seen, because a wedding often costs the loving couple significantly more. With a few tips, you can save money even on the most beautiful day and fill the account for the honeymoon or the new apartment.

What is important, what can be left out?

If you want to save money at the wedding, you first have to be clear about what the most important things about marriage are for you. If you are superstitious and would never wear a used wedding dress or a used tailcoat at your own wedding, it is of course not an option to fall back on the cheaper second-hand variant. And if you absolutely want to have this one location, you will hardly switch to a cheaper alternative. But even if one or the other point where you don’t want to save or do without is certain, there are often many other cost screws that couples can turn. What are the options?

DIY: From the invitation to the floral decoration

If you have a creative streak, this will probably go without saying: simply do many of the points that arise yourself. This can be the invitation cards that you make yourself, or the decorations on the tables. If you want to save even more money on the invitations, you can also send them online or set up your own website as an invitation for the wedding, to which all guests have access. But if it is important to send the cards haptically, you can simply make them yourself or ask online printers for the cheapest options.

Creative people can also do the decoration and floral arrangements themselves. Especially when it comes to decorative items, it often helps to get in touch with couples who are friends who have recently married. Because many still have decorative items en masse from their own wedding at home, which they no longer use anyway and which the expectant bridal couple can either borrow or buy from the other couple – maybe good friends just give you some things. If you buy additional decorative items, you should also keep an eye out for the cheapest prices here: For example, shortly after Valentine’s Day, many decorative items with little hearts are reduced.

When it comes to floral arrangements, make sure to limit yourself to seasonal and local flowers and plants. If you are skilled in tying bouquets or arranging them in glasses and vases, you can save money here too and simply put the arrangements together yourself.

Used rings, used dress & Co.

What saves additional money is the recourse to used things – also with the rings or the wedding dress. Of course you have to be the type – not everyone likes to wear second-hand – but you can save a lot of money with used things. Once expensive designer clothes can often be purchased second hand for half the price. Used rings can be adjusted by a goldsmith and provided with personal engravings.

Engage friends and family

An acquaintance is pretty good at taking photos and editing pictures? Then why not hire him as a photographer at your own wedding? Because full-time wedding photographers are quite expensive. If you know the quality of the photos from a hobby photographer and are satisfied with them, you can use them much more cheaply – even if you show the acquaintance a financial appreciation for taking the photos.

Friends and acquaintances can often help out when it comes to music: Maybe a friend plays in a band that organizes a live concert at the wedding for a small fee, or another friend DJs in their free time? With contacts you can also save money on these points.

The same applies to the set of wheels. Renting a fancy car with a chauffeur for the short distance from the church to the location is quite expensive. Often someone from the circle of acquaintances who has a vehicle suitable for the occasion can be used as a driver.

If you also want to save on food, you can also get help here. Friends, family and acquaintances can often help out with salad or cake buffets as well as with preparing a champagne reception including appetizers.

Food, drinks and location

Speaking of catering: Depending on the location, you can book external catering, which is often cheaper than the in-house option. A buffet is also cheaper than a menu that has to be prepared on plates and served by waiters. In addition, guests can choose what they want to eat here and do not have to wait for the service.

Depending on the situation, it is also possible to bring your own drinks, which you buy on commission from a cheap drinks shop, so that you can return what has not been destroyed later and only pay for what was actually drunk.

Consider the season when choosing a date

These tips can save you money at a wedding. Of course, there are many other ways to get away cheaper on the most beautiful day of your life. Those who take care of an appointment early and do not necessarily book the location on a Saturday or around a public holiday and possibly switch to the off-season can also make up ground. But despite all the savings, it should not be forgotten that the wedding should be beautiful for two people in particular: the bridal couple.

Editorial office finanzen.net

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