Plan Your Perfect Wedding | Forum

[cath3982]

We've got some great budget ideas on planyourperfectwedding.com, but what are your top tips for savvy W-day saving? Share them with us – we'd love to hear your ideas!

[jadebythesea]

Try buying things bit by bit. I'm getting married May 2014, but I know my theme and I'm already collecting bits and pieces incase we can get married a year earlier, then I'm not left panicking!

[cath3982]

That's a really good idea!

[MrsN2b]

Try buying things bit by bit. I'm getting married May 2014, but I know my theme and I'm already collecting bits and pieces incase we can get married a year earlier, then I'm not left panicking!

We are the same. We are not getting married until March 2013 and we needed that time to save up mainly. It also gives us t,e to book and pay for things as we go. We hope to pay for things well in advance of the wedding so we don't have a huge amount of bills just before the wedding.

[VintageGirl]

Look out for bargains all year round... We just bought really funky bridesmaid dresses on the high street in the sales, only £25 each and they're gorgeous!

[VRStar]

Decide on your priorities, and save on everything else. Get that drop-dead dress, camp in the UK for your honeymoon. If don't like cake, skip it, ceremonially cut a jelly together for that photograph, and serve your guests the best main meal menu instead. Oh, you don't care about the dress, or the one you want is on the high street anyway...five star as far away as you want for your honeymoon.

[cath3982]

Aw I love these ideas! We've just popped some new DIY ideas on the website – take a look!

[BlushingBride2012]

I have saved on my photographer by finding someone who is experienced but building her portfolio and business so have saved over £700 as my H2B knows her through work.

I bought my dress at a sample sale and shoes from New Look for about £20. A friend has given me her tiara and H2B bought me a beautiful Swarovski necklace and earring set for Christmas that I will wear on W-Day.

Rather than booking 2 cars for the bridal party I have booked a big red bus for the same cost that will then take the guests to the reception after the ceremony.

I have bought bubbles and favour boxes from cheap stores and will be buying invites from hobby craft. my save the dates were from Tesco at £2.50 for a pack of 10 and I embellished them myself for about £3 extra (total not each!)

There are loads of ways to save on the cost of a wedding and I think that it is worth remembering that favours, invites etc will be thrown away and that it is better to spend more on giving your guests a lasting memory of a great day than a fancy invitation!

[whirligigbridal]

I married on a budget. We had a 3pm ceremoney at the hotel and skipped a traditional wedding breakfast in favour of canapés and drinks, our photographs were taken while our guest were eating and socialising. I find the interesting thing is that our guests don't remember the absence of a lunch, they remember a relaxed day without the "wait" between the day and evening events.

[herrys]

To reduce the cost of marriage preparation you cab reduce the number of guests attending your wedding. Just list the invites of close and important relatives and friends. Select the day of your marriage which is non-peak or not in holiday demand. You still be able to find a good deal on Saturday or Sunday in non-holiday season.