We all know how difficult it can be to manage the wedding budget—a challenge infinitely harder in the summer when you want your summer nuptials to be everything you’ve dreamed of. Keep an eye on your budget and still get everything you want.
Here’s how to keep your summer wedding budget in line.
Choose Seasonal Flowers
Most brides want real flowers at their wedding, and this is a concept we can agree with. Real flowers smell great, and they add an overall ambience to the venue that artificial flowers could never match. You can get gorgeous flowers without spending too much of your budget. Research different florists, both to compare prices and ensure the selection meets your high standard.
Find out what varieties are currently on hand at each store and how the florist can arrange different stems in a beautiful way that’s also budget-friendly. If you just have to have the higher priced flowers, pick them, then fill the rest of the bouquet with greenery. Greenery costs less, it fills out the arrangement, and it adds an earthy touch to the bright floral palette.
Ditch the “Beverage Bar”
A creative beverage bar, like sangria or craft beer, could be the cherry on top of a summer wedding. While it sounds lovely, it will quickly eat into your budget. Instead of a full-fledged bar, serve a refined list of beer and wine with select spirits. This allows for the opportunity to make spritzers and mixed cocktails without going completely overboard on drinks.
If you’re looking for more drink ideas that fit the bill, ask your caterer for food and wine pairings.
Consider a New Summer Venue
Summer weddings are often expensive purely because of their location. A number of idyllic rustic venues don’t contain all the amenities that traditional venues, such as banquet halls, include. If a barnyard wedding is an absolute must, do your research before you say, “I do.” Confirm that the venue already includes the basic necessities to save you from additional rental costs later. For tips, learn how to reduce rental wedding costs.
You could also hold your ceremony and reception in a unique summer venue: botanical gardens often double as wedding venues, and many of them come with rental features; public parks are also picturesque areas for a ceremony. Remember, there’s more than one place to bring your dream summer wedding vision to life. Keep your options open.
Skip the Cake
A big tiered cake might seem like it’s the must-have wedding dessert, but why not replace it with something else that’s just as tasty? Avoid splurging on one aspect of your wedding that guests tend to just nibble on.
Serve cupcakes, which are essentially mini cakes that can be offered in a variety of flavours and icings. Provide guests with fruit popsicles for a cost-effective, refreshing alternative. Offering squares and other small desserts gives guests the opportunity to take them as they please, whether they eat the treat now or enjoy it later. There’s no reason you have to stick with a costly cake for dessert.
Plan and Prioritize
Of course, these tips won’t mean anything if you haven’t begun planning any aspect of your wedding. Organizing and following a draft budget outline of your expected and actual costs makes it easy to stay on track and adequately confirm you’re within your spending limits.
There may be some summer nuptial items you just need to have. If that’s the case, rearrange your budget so you can afford big pieces, but know that you’ll have to make sacrifices elsewhere. As long as you’re both okay with the decisions, you’ll still get everything you want for your dream wedding.
