You may have heard the saying, “it’s all in the details,” but what’s a couple to do when their budget doesn’t allow for everything they need for their dream wedding? Well there are some things that you absolutely don’t need to make your wedding as spectacular as you dream it to be. Here are a few areas where you can skimp or skip all together to save you some money- and most guests won’t even notice the difference!
- Escort Cards Vs. One Large Sign
[Photo Credit from Top to Bottom: Papered Heart Photography and Caroline Evan Photography]
Regardless of how you do it, your guests will need a way to find out what table they are supposed to be at. Individually folded escort cards (as seen on the right), are the traditional way to go but today you can save money on stationary by using one large sign. Guests love seeing the overall picture and finding out who else is at what table. It not only saves on money and confusion (in case you have guests who pick up the wrong card), it will also be less of a hassle if you have to do your own clean up.
2. Colored Linen
[Photo Credit from Top to Bottom: Brooke Images and Haley Sheffield]
No one says that you have to have linen that matches your wedding colors. By using white linen, you can add a crisp look to any table setting. Most reception venues provide the basic white linens with white overlays, so you can skip the colorful rentals and use your remaining décor to help take center stage on your tables. If a plain white table just isn’t going to work for you, try adding a patterned or colorful table runner to help tie everything together- for half the price!
3. Four Or Five Tier Wedding Cake
[Photo Credit from Top to Bottom: Arina Borodina Photography and Jane Ross Cakes]
There’s no reason to base the size of your wedding cake on the amount of guests you have. If you have a large crowd of 150 or more, skip the 4 or 5 tier cake and supplement with a sheet cake in the back of the kitchen. Once you cut your wedding cake, the staff at your venue will usually take the cake to the kitchen where they slice and serve your guests. Whether you have a sheet cake or 4 tier cake, once it’s cut up and placed on dessert plates, guests will never know the difference! This can save you tons of money because less tiers means less labor for the baker. To make plates look even fuller, you can opt to add other sweets like cupcakes, cookies or ice cream with your cake.
4. Centerpieces For Cocktail Tables
[Photo Credit: BellaMeEvents]
Cocktail hour is just that- one hour, so we never recommend you put a lot of your budget into decorating your cocktail tables. If you’re looking for quick ways to save a few dollars here and there, this is the perfect place to skip! Skip the floral centerpieces for this hour and replace them with something more affordable like framed photos of you and your fiancé or a single candle votive. Keeping it simple will not only make your wallet happy, but your guests will appreciate it too. Cocktail hour is when guests get their first chance at food, so they’ll want to have more room on these tables for their plates and glasses. If you want to be bold you can skip centerpieces all together- and your guests will never notice!
5. Items You Can’t Repurpose
[Photo Credit from Top to Bottom: 1313 Photography and Patricia Quintessence]
Another way to save money is by using items that can be repurposed or play dual roles. For example, small gifts with name tags that serve as both place cards and guest favors might be more budget savvy then having separate place cards and favors. By choosing your wedding decor carefully you can end up with items that you can re-purpose as décor for your home later on. For example, beach themed lanterns for wedding centerpieces can be cleaned out and used as hanging light fixtures on an outdoor patio. When you’re looking at money-saving options, skip on the things you can’t re-use later.
As you begin to decide on the details that will make your wedding day special, rest assured that Waterfront Historic Kent Manor Inn on Maryland’s eastern shore is always prepared to give you tips and advice to keep your dream wedding within budget.
Historic Kent Manor Inn 