10 Ways To Save On Your Big Day

Save on your big day and have just as much of a good time.

It’s no secret that weddings can cost a fortune. On one hand, you want to make this once-in-a-lifetime event as special as possible, but on the other hand, alarm bells are ringing and you’re thinking “Do we really need that?!” It’s easy to get carried away with your planning, but if you’re not careful, you might be left kicking yourself later.

With the current economic situation not looking so good, it may be hard to imagine having the wedding of your dreams. But there are many ways to make your wedding day a memorable one without breaking the bank – you just need to know what you want and be willing to get creative! Here are 10 easy ways to save on your big day without skimping on details or compromising quality.

Read more: The Best Wedding Planners In Hong Kong

Guest List

We understand that you would like for all your friends and family to attend your big event, but cutting the guest list is a sure-fire way to save on your big day. There’s no need to invite your friends’ children that you’ve never met before or colleagues you rarely speak to. As a rule of thumb, don’t invite people you haven’t spoken to in the last six months. You may choose to include your friends’ significant others but let’s draw the line at casual dates.

The Bridal Party

Don’t rush to ask all your friends to be your bridesmaid. The larger the bridal party, the more you will need to spend on things like hair styling, makeup, flower bouquets, dresses and more. Take the time to carefully consider who you really want by your side on your special day and consider asking just one or two of your closest friends or siblings.

Invites

Save on the cost of stationery and postage by sending out e-invites. This is a quick, free and environmentally-friendly way to ask your friends and family to save the date for your wedding. If you have any additional information you would like to inform your guests about, post it up on a wedding website. There are many online platforms that allow you to set one up free of charge, including The Knot and Zola.

Read more: Where To Buy Your Wedding Stationery In Hong Kong

Avoid Peak Season

A late spring or early summer wedding may bring ideal weather conditions, but they don’t come cheap. Booking your wedding in an off-peak month will help you save on your big day. Rates are typically also lower if you opt for a weeknight, lunch or afternoon affair.

The Venue

Hold your wedding ceremony and reception at the same venue rather than at two separate locations. Not only will this save you a lot of money, but it will also spare you and your guests the stress and hassle of having to move from one location to another.

Flowers

Pick flowers that are in season so you won’t have to pay extra for your florist to import any exotic or out-of-season blooms. It will also be cheaper to stick to just one or two kinds of flowers. Another money-saving tip is to reuse your bridesmaids’ bouquets to decorate your table at reception.

Read more: The Best Wedding Florists In Hong Kong

Wedding Favours

Look for favours that can double as escort cards or table decorations. Whether you go with a bag of sweets or candles, tag your favours with your guests’ name and table number and place them on the escort table. Crafty brides might want to consider making their own favours. Homemade jam, cookies or a potted plant are big crowd pleasers.

Alternatively, a lot of couples these days have been donating to charity in lieu of gift giving. Just be sure to let your guests know about the donation by leaving a note at each place setting or table for them to read.

Wedding Cake

Order a small cake for display and cutting. A simple buttercream or even naked cake won’t cost as much as a fondant-covered cake, but it will do the trick just fine. Remember, the cake cutting is more a ceremonial thing so there’s really no need to blow your budget on a fancy five-tiered cake.

You can serve your guests sheet cake from the back (trust us, it tastes just as good) or individual cupcakes for dessert. See if your caterers offer any packages that include dessert, this is sure to save you a few bucks.

Read more: Where To Get The Best Wedding Cakes In Hong Kong

Music

A five-piece band would be spectacular, but a two or three-person band could be just as effective. If you really want to save on your big day, you can hire a DJ or simply be your own and play your ultimate wedding playlist using Spotify and loud speakers. Who better to have sing “I Will Always Love You” at your wedding than the legendary Whitney herself?

Honeymoon

Pay for as many of your wedding costs with your credit card so you can collect frequent-flyer points that can go towards your romantic honeymoon. When booking a room, don’t opt for the most expensive suite you can afford. If you casually mention to the concierge at the front desk that you’re on your honeymoon, they will often give you an upgrade. Of course, this is not guaranteed, but remember it’s the company, not the venue, that matters most.

Editor’s Note: This piece was originally written on 19, September 2012 by Sandra and was updated on 20, May 2020.