How to Keep a Wedding Location on a Budget
One of the toughest aspects of putting a wedding together is being strict enough to stick to the budget, but a little creativity can mean a lot of financial saving - without sacrificing the quality of your celebration.
The tips below will show you how to keep your wedding location on a budget.
The old real-estate motto, 'Location, location, location' applies to weddings too.
You might think spurning a function centre in favour of your parents' farm will save your money, but that's not necessarily true.
A marquee on your lawn can sometimes cost more than an established venue.
In the same way, it's sometimes a false economy to choose a hall that will require you to do a lot of decorating to give it a bit of wow, when a venue that's already nicely decorated would be just as lovely and won't need as much work.
Another thing to think about when selecting where you'll say your vows is proximity.
The further away your venue is from a major city, the higher the cost for both you and your guests.
The cost of transporting wedding bits and pieces to appointed venue has been an unexpected expense.
Remember that if you're having an out-of-town wedding that's more than two-and-a-half hours' drive away, overnight accommodation will be an extra cost.
Check with your venue as to whether they require a minimum number of guests or a minimum spend - in the case of the latter, you can allocate more money to the bar.
Clarify what you are paying for and watch out for hidden costs such as wait staff, chair covers, décor, cutlery hire and corkage.
Bringing your own food and supplying your own caterer can be a biggie.
A lot of guests won't eat the wedding cake, so opt for a smaller size, one that will serve 75 per cent of your guests.
Be prepared to barter.
Some venues up their prices for weddings, so talk them down by asking, 'Is that the best price you can do?' Take the time to shop around.
Get a minimum of three quotes, then you have some bargaining power.
Budget Boost: Ditch the cost of a DJ or band and use your iPod instead.
Inject a personal touch by asking guests to nominate a favourite song when they RSVP - add their suggestions to your playlist.
Reduce your beverage spend by providing only beer and wine (not spirits), plus a non-alcoholic punch for pregnant guests and designated drivers.
The tips below will show you how to keep your wedding location on a budget.
The old real-estate motto, 'Location, location, location' applies to weddings too.
You might think spurning a function centre in favour of your parents' farm will save your money, but that's not necessarily true.
A marquee on your lawn can sometimes cost more than an established venue.
In the same way, it's sometimes a false economy to choose a hall that will require you to do a lot of decorating to give it a bit of wow, when a venue that's already nicely decorated would be just as lovely and won't need as much work.
Another thing to think about when selecting where you'll say your vows is proximity.
The further away your venue is from a major city, the higher the cost for both you and your guests.
The cost of transporting wedding bits and pieces to appointed venue has been an unexpected expense.
Remember that if you're having an out-of-town wedding that's more than two-and-a-half hours' drive away, overnight accommodation will be an extra cost.
Check with your venue as to whether they require a minimum number of guests or a minimum spend - in the case of the latter, you can allocate more money to the bar.
Clarify what you are paying for and watch out for hidden costs such as wait staff, chair covers, décor, cutlery hire and corkage.
Bringing your own food and supplying your own caterer can be a biggie.
A lot of guests won't eat the wedding cake, so opt for a smaller size, one that will serve 75 per cent of your guests.
Be prepared to barter.
Some venues up their prices for weddings, so talk them down by asking, 'Is that the best price you can do?' Take the time to shop around.
Get a minimum of three quotes, then you have some bargaining power.
Budget Boost: Ditch the cost of a DJ or band and use your iPod instead.
Inject a personal touch by asking guests to nominate a favourite song when they RSVP - add their suggestions to your playlist.
Reduce your beverage spend by providing only beer and wine (not spirits), plus a non-alcoholic punch for pregnant guests and designated drivers.
Source...