Southern Weddings

The full title of this post is “3 Creative Ways to Cut Your Wedding Budget Without Sacrificing Style” — and though that was a little long for our formatting, the second half is equally as important as the first! I firmly believe that the most beautiful weddings don’t have to cost a fortune, and that they are ways to trim your wedding budget that not only don’t detract from your day, but actually add beauty and meaning. Read on for three of my favorites!

From Emily and Matt’s wedding by Clark Brewer

Supplement your professionals. While some things should ALWAYS be left to professionals, I think there are some amazing ways to cut costs while working hand-in-hand with the pros you’ve hired! For example, I provided the centerpiece containers and ribbon to my florist, knowing I’d be charged a mark-up for those items if I didn’t. We also hired a live band for our reception, but worked with them to play a CD my uncle mixed for us over their sound system at cocktail hour. Our calligrapher, Moya, hand-lettered our first names for our invitation, and we were able to use that digital file several places in our wedding instead of, say, paying her to letter each one of our favors individually. A few more examples: order a professional wedding cake but ask family friends to bake additional sweets for your dessert table; hire a fabulous photographer but design your own wedding album with a company like Artifact Uprising or Milk Books; rent larger lounge furniture items like couches but add in pillows, ottomans, or side tables from your own home.

Elaine Palladino

Borrow! Not everything has to be bought new (or even old) for your wedding! Borrowed pieces can lend a beautiful air of family and heritage to your wedding day, and, in my experience, guests love having a hand in the magic! I borrowed my clutch, my bracelet, my earrings, lots of our centerpiece containers, our communion cups, easels from my artist friend, pillows and blankets for our lounge area, cake plates, and probably many other things I can’t remember. Replacing expense with meaning = always a win in my book.

From Darcee and Hunter’s wedding by Jen Dillender

Share! I was lucky enough to be marrying just two months after my now sister-in-law, so we purchased several things to use at both of our weddings, including our veil and four boxwood garlands. We were also able to split some bulk supplies (like out-of-town bags) and therefore get a lower cost. I’ve long loved the idea of brides getting married on the same weekend at the same venue sharing major costs, like a tent or draping, and was thrilled to get a press release from a company the other day that’s making this more plausible! Bouquet for a Day is a site that matches brides together that are getting married at the same location and within a day of each other. Not sponsored, just thought it was a super cool idea after my own heart :)

I would LOVE to hear: are you using or did you use any of these budget-slashing tactics at your wedding? They really can make a huge difference!!

P.S. More budget advice.

Jen Dillender and Elaine Palladino are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

Written with love by Emily