Your wedding is likely the largest and most expensive party you will ever throw. There is one assumption we are making in this article – that you don’t have parents or family paying for your wedding – it’s always easiest to spend money if it’s not yours. However, most couples don’t have this luxury and will bear a great deal of the cost on their own.

Expenses can quickly get out of hand – so here are 20 money saving tips to get the most out of your hard earned money.

1. Create a Budget – Yes, this sounds tragically boring, but take the time to write down every item related to the wedding – even if extended family is helping out with some of the expenses. You need to keep perspective on how much this day is going to cost. Weddings can easily cost $20,000 or more – in many cities in North America this is equivalent to a very respectable down payment on a home!

2. Time – Give yourself lots of time. A wedding planned in 3 months will cost more than one that is planned 7 or more months in advance. Things like venues, photographers, caterers etc. will already be booked months in advance – at least the good ones will be.

3. Location – Hold the ceremony and reception at the same location. Often you can get a bit of a break on the rental fee and it has other benefits as well. Setting up, decorating & travel expenses can all be saved going this route.

4. Guests – Limit your guest list. The cost of feeding hundreds of people can easily become one of the largest expenses in a wedding. Consider limiting your guest list to the people you really know. It’s not unheard of to see catered servings at a wedding running in the $30 - $45+ per plate range. Do the math – is it worth having 250 people you don’t know that well at a cost of $11,250 – or can you get by with your closer family & friends of 75 people for $3,375. That’s a BIG difference.

Something many couples will do is hold a separate function for work friends. Having a barbeque or potluck before or after the wedding for your co-workers will allow everyone to feel included – but the savings will be significant.

5. Date of the Wedding – There are several things that cause costs to rise in a wedding and almost ALL revolve around the date set for the event.

The most expensive weddings take place on a Saturday, in the summer, on a long weekend. The reason is obvious – everyone wants those dates. Holding your wedding on a Friday, for example, could mean saving on many of the big ticket items like venue fees, photography rates & catering.

6. Invitations – This one may be a smaller saving, but still worth mentioning. Give guests the option of replying (RSVP) by email. It will save them a trip to the mailbox, save you putting stamps on all the reply envelopes and you may even get responses faster due to the convenience of email.

7. The Dress - Rent the Dress – Yikes! This is a sensitive one! You’ve probably dreamed of your special wedding dress for years leading up to this event – but remember, you only wear that dress once! One day! Many dresses will either sit collecting dust, or end up getting sold years into the future anyway. And, renting doesn’t mean you can’t have the dress of your dreams, in fact, it could mean getting the much fancier one that you couldn’t afford to actually buy.

8. Shoes – Does your wedding dress cover your shoes? Many do – especially if it has a trail. Consider that anything related to a “wedding” costs more – and this includes shoes. Think about buying a pair at a discount and having them dyed if the colour isn’t a perfect match. Or, the best reason of all is to simply select something more comfortable – remember, this will be a long day.

9. Photography – Shop around, don’t commit to the first photographer you meet. You’ll find that prices and terms vary a great deal in the photography world. Can you keep the negatives or high resolution files to make your own prints later – or can you only order prints from the photographer? Consider limiting the hours of the official photographer to the ceremony and formal photos and provide disposable cameras on the tables. Certainly some of the shots you get will be useful and likely far more candid. Is someone in the family a photo enthusiast? Have them cover the less crucial reception & speeches when most of the shots are unposed anyway.

10. Mens Wear – Consider suits rather than tuxedos. A suit can come in handy for a variety of events in the future, and the rental price of a tuxedo will go a long way towards the actual purchase of a very respectable suit jacket.

11. Flowers – Use flowers that are both in season and grown locally. This may seem obvious, but don’t assume that the special flowers you want will fit the bill. Call a few florists and given the date of the wedding – ask what flowers are reasonably priced. As many men could tell you – the cost of a dozen roses can often triple in price on Valentines Day. The same supply and demand thinking should be applied to other flowers as well.

12. Food – Consider having a buffet rather than paying “per serving”. Yes, buffet settings do charge by the serving as well, but the overall cost is frequently less. In addition to a cost saving, guests will often appreciate the ability to choose the amount and selection of items they really enjoy.

13. Limit your Attendants – You may in fact have a lot of close friends, but do you really need six brides-maids and groomsmen? Keeping the numbers down will save hundreds or more on formal wear.

14. Transportation – Choose carefully – if you’re in the city a horse drawn carriage is likely to be terribly expensive - there aren’t a lot of farms with a stable full of horses available in the city – think about the logistics. Limos or other chauffeured options can also be pricy. Consider asking about extended family and friends – someone may have a beautiful vintage vehicle to wisk you away to the photo session – and it could hold more meaning than a generic rented vehicle. Hint: Car collectors often LIKE to show off their “baby” and are likely to enjoy helping you out – everyone will have a chance to admire their special vehicle.

15. Wedding Favours – Custom made items in any number can be pricy. Consider making your own – or better yet – assign the task to a family member who wants to be involved – this could both save you money and allow your new mother-in-law bragging rights on how she located & created the specially hand wrapped chocolate gift bags!

16. Alcohol – Set a limit on the open bar. This might mean handing out 1 or 2 drink tickets to guests and having them pay for additional beverages. It’s not a lot to ask someone to pay for their second or third beverage – but a big saving to you if you have a lot of guests (Example: 150 x $4 / beverage = $600).

17. Cake – Wedding cakes are expensive - get a smaller one! The cake you use for photographs and the official cake cutting doesn’t need to be the same one you serve your guests. Sheet cakes are much more expensive and a large one can be very reasonable even if it’s decorated in the same style as the fancy layered / stacked version. Also, you can opt to have other dessert options – make the official wedding cake slices a bit smaller. Many people eat wedding cake out of obligation anyway – not everyone enjoys cake!

18. Videography – If having your wedding memories preserved on video is a priority, consider approaching a video / film school. There are always students looking for projects to practice their skills on. However, just like photography don’t get a complete amateur – you won’t be happy with the results in the end – do ask to see samples of past work – you don’t want to be someone’s “first” project! Also, they are a bit harder to find, but some photography studios offer both still photography & video – you might get a break booking both services with the same company.

19. Gift Registries – Some of the better wedding service providers provide a gift registry service.  For example: your photographer may have such an option.  It might be to your advantage to allow your guests the option of purchasing a portion of your photography as their gift rather than another appliance for your kitchen that you may not REALLY need.

20. Honeymoon – Your travel plans for the exotic honeymoon trip can add up, especially if your travel is not booked well in advance. Consider your destination – do you really NEED to go to the 5 star resort during their peak season when another option will do?  What about using travel points?  Some resorts will have free upgrades for honeymooners – it doesn’t hurt to ask!

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