The average wedding spend in the UK costs around £17,000 which is a substantial chunk of money to spend on one day in your life (albeit a very special one!). Money Mentor Michael Taylor, claims you can still have that same special day for just over a quarter of the price. “In the current economic climate hotels and venues are suffering a downturn like everyone else and this means they will need to be competitive and flexible if they want to host your wedding”.
The first major saving you can make in arranging your wedding is to hold it on a week day. Many popular venues will be booked up for a Saturday or a Sunday but typically they will have plenty of openings to host a week day wedding. Friday is a great day to have your wedding, as although your guests may have to book a day off work, they’ve not dug into their weekend. In addition you’ll have more control over of your guest list as the people who are closest to you will make it, whilst the guests you feel obliged to invite might now not be able/prepared to take the day off for you!
The best approach is to find three venues you’d be happy with and get the venues to bid for your wedding. I’ve looked at many venues that charge half their normal rate for the venue room hire and reception room hire for a week day wedding and had quotes for £250 for each. Negotiate well and you could get the bridal suite thrown in with your package!
The same principle applies to the photographer as chances are on a week day they’re not likely to be booked up and would welcome the business. I spoke to ten different photographers in the South, Midlands and North and on average a £700 charge for weekend photography came down to about £360 for a week day wedding.
Consider hiring an executive car from one of the rental providers instead of going to a wedding car service. A typical wedding car service can cost about £400 for a car and chauffeur whereas you can hire an S class Mercedes for about £120 for a day. Ask an usher to drive it to make it even more personal. Before moving onto the wedding attire there is no shortage of companies who will bid for your flowers and cake from high street stores like Marks and Spencer to specialist cake decorators for £200 on flowers and £200 on a cake so you’re not having to compromise on quality.
When it comes to the wedding dress do your research as I’ve met many couples who are surprised to hear that Debenhams is one of a few high street retailers who sell wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses which are comparable to the designer dresses seen in many wedding magazines for up to a tenth of the price, so do your research thoroughly. There are quite a few Indian Tailors in the UK who can put together two made to measure suits for a total of £300 (for both) and will match exactly the material and design you want. On a separate note, Marks and Spencers have just introduced the credit crunch wedding rings for just £18 – a bargain!
Finally food and beverages are usually the single most expensive items and based on fifty guests you can give your guests a sumptuous feast for £25 per head if you go for a buffet options rather than a set meal (which many of your guests will leave anyway) and £18 on beverages per head (includes drink on arrival, wine with meal and champagne for toasting).
Think of what you could do with the £12,000 you’ve saved yourself by looking at practical alternatives without compromising on your special day.
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