5 Ways to Cut Wedding Costs

Here's a list of the five ways to cut wedding costs that you might not have thought about. Read up, and get ready to spend smart!

Perhaps the most important step you can take in planning your beautiful, budget wedding is to decide which 2 or 3 parts of the wedding experience are most important to you and your partner. Whether it’s a gourmet meal, a killer live band, or a really incredible venue with a view, determine your top handful of priorities and put the majority of your budget towards those areas. Then, let go of the other stuff—we promise neither you nor your guests will miss it. For other smart moves you can take to stick to your wedding budget, we’ve compiled a list of the five ways to cut wedding costs that you might not have thought about. Read up, and get ready to spend smart!

Shrink Your Guest List

This is basic math, friends. The higher the number of guests you have to invite, seat, feed, serve drinks, transport, or provide with little extras like favors or door gifts, the higher your wedding costs will climb. If you want to include all of those amenities I just mentioned in your wedding weekend (i.e. printed invitations, food, ceremony seating, reception tables and chairs, décor for all those tables, wedding favors, and sweets), then do your best to keep your Guest List as streamlined as possible.

Here’s a good tip: if you wouldn’t normally treat this person to a very expensive dinner (the average cost of a wedding per head is currently around RM60), then consider leaving them off. Although these decisions can be tough, remember that you can throw a nicer party for a smaller number of really important people, or host a more forgettable evening for a large group of people that you won’t even get to really spend time with. Don’t forget to contact Royal Indian Wedding Planner to help you manage your guest list, whatever its size—it’ll be one of the easiest parts of your planning, we promise.

Book a Full-Service Venue

The average cost of renting a venue for your ceremony and/or reception is over RM25,000 and that’s just the rental fee alone. Imagine adding in additional costs for catering, decor, photographer & videographer, and a day-of coordinator…as you can imagine, the total figure can be really overwhelming. That’s why full-service venues that offer a package deal for all of the above services can actually be cost-saving in the end.

While the combined sum may still leave you with sticker shock, a full-service venue that comes equipped with all the equipment, staffing, food and drink, and planning expertise you need can save you in the long run—we’re talking savings for your sanity as well as your wallet. Cutting the number of vendors you need to hire in half? That’s (almost) priceless.

Pro tip: to get started with your hunt for the perfect venue, be sure to visit Royal Indian Wedding Directory to search for venues (as well as all those other vendors you still need to check off your list) by location, type, or price range that fit your wedding budget.

Choose a Less Popular Date

Peak wedding season throughout most of the country runs from Jan 15 through April 15, with June, till July 15, August 15 till November 15 being the most popular months to get married. To save some beaucoup bucks, book a date that falls during non-peak season for discounted rates at venues.

For even greater savings, explore the weekly calendar outside of Saturday evening: some venue rentals on Fridays, Sundays, or other weekdays go for a lot less money, as they’re less in-demand. Or consider a daytime celebration.

Rethink the Plated Entrée

Speaking of smaller meals, there are other ways to approach your wedding meal beyond dome setting catering, which tends to be the most expensive catering option. Sit down with your caterer and discuss some alternative ways such as buffet style to feed your guests that might cut down your catering bill.

Consider serving your wedding meal buffet-style, which cuts waitstaff (and your final invoice) in half.

Hire Local, Decorator

Similar to rethinking your wedding decor, saving money on your wedding decoration is all about thinking outside the traditional box. Sure, grand decor are as luxury as they come, but there are so many other, less pricey decor that will make just as beautiful a statement (without blowing your wedding budget). Most importantly, stick to tradition that are in culture when and where you’re getting married.

Is that your wallet we hear sighing a note of relief? We hope so. If you follow some of these tips for how to cut costs, you can still throw the stylish, cohesive wedding of your dreams while sticking to your wedding budget. Now that’s a cause for celebration (but your enduring love and wdevotion is also totally worthwhile).