Are you worried about the cost of wedding venues in your area? Wedding venues can span the gamut between very affordable and extraordinarily expensive. If you want to reduce your budget, there are a couple of things you can try.
1. Go Off Season
If your family and friends are able to swing it, going off season is one of the best ways to save money. A winter wedding doesn't have to be drab and dreary; in fact, it can be positively enchanting with the right decor.
2. Think About Going Public
Public parks, botanical gardens, and city-owned spaces are far cheaper to book than private venues. You often need to book substantially in advance (and they aren't going to shut down entire area for you), but many of them are quite attractive and convenient.
3. Cut the Alcohol
Alcohol options at a reception venue tend to bulk up the costs considerably. If you're trying to reduce costs, consider purchasing your own alcohol, bringing in your own bartender, or having the entire reception be "BYOB."
4. Go a Little Out of Town
Venues that are smack dab in the heart of the city may be more often booked than venues that are a few hours out of town. Take a look at some of the smaller wedding reception retreats out there; your guests will be willing to travel a little to celebrate your marriage.
5. Think About a Package Deal
Many wedding reception venues offer an entire wedding package. This includes catering, alcohol, decor: the works. Sometimes getting a package deal can actually save you a lot of money, as long as you're getting everything in the same place. Flowers, centerpieces, and small reception gifts will all add up over time.
6. Avoid Alternative Venues
Alternative venues like loft spaces can sound nice, but they're often more expensive overall. Hosting our wedding in a venue that doesn't offer any type of amenities means you have to do everything on your own. Though it means that you can customize every aspect of your wedding, it also means you're going to end up spending more in total.
Ultimately a wedding only happens once, and what it costs is going to be what it costs. Still, using the above tips you should be able to reduce some of the costs of the wedding reception venue, and push it towards things like food, music, and (of course) the dress.
Share25 July 2018
Over the years, I have been the maid-of-honor in nearly 20 weddings and planned a wedding of my own. All of the weddings that I have been in have allowed me to learn a lot about what works well and what complicates matters and sets a wedding up for disaster. Here on my blog you will find tips to make your wedding planning easier and advice for planning the wedding of your dreams. You will learn how to prepare for disasters and how to handle yourself when one arises. Hopefully by the time you reach the conclusion, you will have new ideas sparked and be ready to take on this big challenge.
