Here’s what makes a wedding feel cheap:
When you try to replicate a big, expensive wedding and make cheap swaps. I’ll walk you through some things I’ve seen couples do, and some things you might be tempted to do… I’ll tell you why it feels cheap and what you can do instead!
The big guest list
If you’ve been wanting to invite 200 guests to your wedding, but you simply can’t afford it… it may feel cheap if you don’t make any compromises.
Here’s what to do:
- Cut down your list – simply this. If you have fewer guests, you can get a smaller venue, pay less on anything that’s a cost per head (so that’s food, drinks, cutlery, glassware, favours, etc).
- Invite everyone to your ceremony – have a big ceremony, followed by a relaxed but still fun celebration (go big on cake and hot drinks) and then have a smaller group go off to your reception location for the after party.
- Get married at a later date – if your big guest list is a priority, don’t rush it. Save up for the wedding you really want to have and treat each guest to the party you want to host!
An epic meal
If you want to serve an epic meal but you can’t afford to go for a four course plated meal, it can feel cheap if you serve smaller meals, choose cheap cuts of meat or try to DIY a plated meal experience.
Here’s what to do:
- Get married at a non-meal time – if you’re tying the knot at say 5pm and guests are seated at the reception hall by 7 or 7:30, they’ll expect a full meal (and rightly so). But if you host a brunch wedding, it’s a shorter day, usually less drinking and eating!
- Bulk up your meal with a beautiful bread board instead of canapes and a starter. Then when guests arrive at the reception, go straight to mains.
- Instead of serving both cake and dessert, just pick one – your cake could be your dessert! Or you could cut the cupcake or brownie and serve those for dessert.
- If you’re a big sweets fan, you could have a sweets table or candy buffet which doubles as your wedding favours.
Your favourite drinks
I get it – this is an Irish wedding – there’s got to be drinks! It would be cheap to have no drinks at all (unless of course, you are strategically and deliberately hosting a dry wedding).
Here’s what to do:
- You choose which drinks are served at your cash bar. Pick a couple of favourites so your guests aren’t ordering all the spirits (unless they want to pay for them).
- Run an open bar for a set amount of time and time it well.
- Ditch the prosecco toast – have your guests toast to you with whatever they are already drinking.
- Get staff to pour drinks – then, instead of potentially ending up with 10 bottles of wine each with a bit leftover, the staff can walk around and top up glasses.
The most fun party
Don’t be tempted to put together a Spotify playlist and plug somebody’s phone into a speaker. That’s what will make your party feel cheap!
Here’s what to do:
- Go for the all inclusive package (ie a band that comes with a DJ, sound equipment, lights etc). It means one set of travel costs, set up costs, etc.
Your wedding party
Your wedding party is made up of your besties – the ones who you want to stand with you on the day! Resist the temptation to dress them up in cheap dresses you can find online.
Here’s what to do:
- Get your girls to do their own / each other’s hair and makeup and focus on your own. If you give them enough notice and you’ve got lots of time on the morning of your wedding, they should be totally fine. It might help if you offer to buy their lipsticks or a few products to help them.
- Ask your bridesmaids to buy their own dresses, give them a colour palette and aesthetic and then allow them to choose whatever they want to wear. Bonus: they’ll each feel uniquely comfortable and beautiful in their dress.
- If you’d like to give them gifts, give them something they can use at the wedding – like their earrings or headpieces. Pair a small gift with a thoughtful, handwritten note.
The venue
This is the biggest cost you’re looking at spending and you might be toying with the idea of just getting married in your backyard instead.
Here’s what to do:
- Get married on an off peak date (winter or midweek dates) – they’re usually cheaper!
- Pick one venue instead of two – it’s one venue hire fee, one set of flowers and decor, less travel time for everyone, and so on.
- Have bigger tables – this means fewer centrepieces and any other elements that are hired on a ‘per table’ basis.
- Choose a venue that’s local to you and most of your guests – and then choose other suppliers that are local to the venue. This means less travel costs for you, your guests and your suppliers.
BONUS – wedding budget tips
- Create a wedding budget and stick to it – use a spreadsheet, budget tracker and actual receipts and invoices to keep track of what you’re spending.
- Focus on the elements that are most important to you and then ditch the rest! Don’t be tempted to buy or order more things just because they’re trending.
- Resist the urge to DIY everything – unless you are a pro, it’ll cost you more time than it’s worth and it may look cheap. Pick one or two things to DIY and then leave the rest to the pros.
