Planning a wedding can be tough and expensive. Although your major costs should be on the ceremony, chances are your wedding reception is going to cost you a lot more. From entertainment to food there’s a lot to consider when getting your celebration together. Working on your reception plans shouldn’t be all about the budget though. There’s many ways to avoid spending a fortune so you can think about all the fun you’re going to have rather than how long you’re going to be paying off the wedding debt. With these ten tips your wedding reception might look less scary, so you can look forward to the big day without looking down at the bill. So, kick off your heels and let your wedding reception make all your dreams come true.
1. Timing is Everything
It might be surprising, but the time you choose to host your reception can actually alter the price. If you don’t want to pay more then it might be wise to plan your wedding during the off season. This is usually in March and April as well as September through November. You should also plan your reception during the daylight hours on any week day. This will also help eliminate prime time fees that will make your costs skyrocket. These months tend to be a bit colder, so you may want to choose an indoor wedding, but after all the savings you get you won’t be disappointed. When planning during these times you’ll be able to save on entertainment, caterers and venue prices, which will add up to huge savings for you. These times will also be cheaper for guests flying in to attend your wedding, which will allow all of those precious family members and friends to take part in your big day.
2. Keep Your Venue
One problem a lot of people run into is their choice in venue. You can lose a lot of money when you purchase two different venues, so skip the double deposits and host your reception in the same location as the ceremony. This might be a little inconvenient when it comes to setting up, but if you can have the ceremony outdoors and the reception indoors then you’re already solving that problem. A lot company’s will actually offer a package for both aspects of the wedding, so you might want to negotiate and see if you can get a discount on one of these deals. If you can manage to find a place that does this you can eliminate transportation prices to get guests or your wedding party between venues. If you have a family member or friend that has a big enough space for your ceremony and reception then this might be a better idea as you won’t have to worry about spending as much. Public areas that don’t require pricey permits are also a great place to host both of your celebrations.
3. Stay on Schedule
There’s rarely ever a wedding that goes as scheduled, so don’t plan yours out to be so. Delays will happen, but most companies won’t care what the situation is. If you’re not paying a service a select amount of money,but instead pay by the hour then your delays could end up costing you a fortune. Instead of pushing the reception back, or even delaying the entertainment you should continue on with the day as scheduled. This may mean the bride and groom might miss part of the reception, or may even mean you miss some photography moments but you won’t end up paying too much for your reception. Try to put someone you know you can count on in charge of the services provided. This way if you’re delayed then the party will go on. As the party progresses you’ll realize that sticking to the schedule will also help keep things in order, so you won’t have to stress over pushing things back and going over your venue time.
4. Add some DIY
Don’t buy everything for your wedding. There’s a lot of items that can be crafted with the help of family and friends. This will add a special touch to your reception and will save you big time when it comes to the budget. There’s a lot of tutorials online that will help you make adorable centerpieces, place holders, napkin holders and any other sweet designs that will make your reception stand out. You can also make your own guest book to keep memories of your special day for years to come. If you already have décor from the wedding then make sure to bring it to the reception hall. These items can be re-used, but they can also be quickly crafted into other items that will create a romantic vibe in your hall. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to the DIY then look online for some ideas or ask friends where they got started on their wedding crafts.
5. Rethink Cake
Although its traditional to have a cake, you don’t have to follow the normal expectations especially if you’re looking to save money. One great alternative if you want the fancy tiered cake is to ask the baker to create fake tiers. This will provide you with an edible bottom portion of the cake and an upper layer that is simply blocks covered in icing. There’s a lot of ways to step out of the box though, so don’t be afraid to do something new. You can easily make a flat cake that will impress guests by its taste rather than its appearance. Of course, a little decorating help and your cake could be a work of art without tiers. You may also consider cupcakes as this a more convenient way for guests to enjoy a sweet treat without the mess or big clean up. They’re also the perfect size for kids, who are going to be the major cake enthusiast at the celebration. If cake just isn’t your thing then consider working with cookies, candy or even fruit slices. No matter what you choose your guest will still satisfy their sweet tooth.
6. Hire Students/Amateurs
One cheap way to get your reception started is to hire students or amateurs. Try to skip the professional boards and instead look for students or anyone who is just getting their feet wet in the business. This can be help with caterers, photographers, makeup artists, musicians and Djs. When you ask a student or amateur to help out with your wedding then you’ll obviously get a better deal, but you’ll also allow them more practice and experience so they can add to their portfolio. Of course, when it does come to hiring someone that isn’t yet a professional it is important to check out their portfolio before you offer them the job. If you have a family member or friend who is skilled in one of these areas you may be able to save even more money. Make sure to explore your options before you settle for an expensive package in any of these mediums.
7. Ask for Help
Don’t think you have to plan your entire reception on your own. You shouldn’t think twice about asking for help, especially if you’re asking someone that has experience in planning. People love helping with planning, especially if they’re just as excited as you are about the event. So, ask as many people as you want to help out. This will make the process take less time while significantly reducing the stress of the entire event. The best thing is many of your friends and family may be able to get you a discount on some of the items you need for the party. The more people you know the more package deals you can get. For instance, if you know someone who knows a photographer then you have a greater chance of getting your service for a reduced price. With everyone helping out you should be able to get your reception worked out without a huge issue and for a whole lot less than you’d expect.
8. Make it Potluck
Although it might not seem traditional, having your wedding reception a potluck can save you a small fortune. Include this in the invitation and people will jump at the chance to bring a special dish to your big celebration. You may have to add some food into the mix as well as the cake, but if you invite enough people there should be plenty to share with all of the guests. To make things even more fun you can give the guests a theme to follow in order to excite their imaginations. For instance, you can have them bring dishes that remind them of the bride or groom, wedding color themed dishes or even a cultural themed dish. Everyone will look forward to trying all of the fun items on the menu and you won’t have to pay for caterers!
9. Ask for Discounts
When it comes to planning things, don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. A lot of companies won’t come forward and offer these deals because it will mean they’ll lose some money, but if you bring up the topic they’ll have to tell you all about their deals. Make sure you call or talk to different companies about discounts before you choose one company. Another tactic is to always ask to talk to the manager. A lot of employees may not know about some of the discounts, so going straight to the manager will cut out the middle man and get you the price you deserve. You might also be a little reluctant to tell people your looking for things for a wedding reception. Typically a family gathering will cost you a lot less and if you’re planning on hosting a small amount of people it shouldn’t be problem to represent it as this.
10. Seek Deals
When it comes to planning your reception your best friend is quite possibly your social media deal websites. Pages like groupons, living social and other coupon oriented pages will help you get a wide selection of deals that will give you significant savings. These sites can connect you to many venues that will take off at least half of the original price. They can provide you with a selection of wines that will make your guests forget about the lack of open bar at your reception. There’s also many deals on caterers, bakers, musicians and other forms of entertainment that will make your reception price drop down. Try to start looking for these deals months before your wedding so you can cash in on some of the best values without missing a beat.
Your reception doesn’t have to be all about the money. After all, you’re having it to celebrate your union, so forget about paying high prices for everything and find more ways to enjoy every moment of the party. With these ten tips you should be able to cut down on a lot of the costs that may have otherwise forced you to spend way too much on your big celebration.
