A wedding is a time to commit your life to your better half, and for some, it is the biggest celebration of your life. The cost of weddings waxes and wanes as trends come and go and economic conditions change. The cost of weddings also changes, depending on where you hold the wedding and the cost of living. Coming out of COVID and with all of the uncertainty that we are experiencing post-pandemic, many couples are looking to take the plunge, but not sure if putting themselves in debt is the way to go.
How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost?
According to statistics, the average wedding in South Carolina costs $28,000. When you stop to consider that some are more and some are less, that means you can spend a small fortune on the “average” wedding. But that isn’t what you want, is it – an average wedding? These are quick tips to reduce the cost of your wedding ceremony – without sacrifice!
Choose a Friday, Sunday, or Holiday
Weddings are traditionally held on a Saturday so that you can have the rehearsal dinner on Friday and everyone has one day of rest before returning to work. Consider having your wedding on an off day. You will be able to save money, and you will also be able to find a date earlier without waiting. You don’t have to follow what everyone else does; in fact, it’s your unique day, so make it yours!
Forego the Small Details to Lower Your Average Wedding Cost
As anyone who has ever planned or paid for a wedding knows, things can get financially out of control fast. Things like place card settings and take-home parting gifts are a nice addition, but definitely not necessary. Let people find their own seating. They are happy just to be at your wedding and enjoy the celebration with you!
Opt for Buffet Over Sit-Down
Although a buffet can be more expensive than a sit-down reception, it is all about what you plan. When you have a buffet, it tends to be less expensive because you don’t have to worry about having as many people to serve. Sure, you still want to have people clearing plates, but allowing people to walk through the buffet is a great way to get people mingling. It also cuts down on wasted food since people only take what they want to eat!
Stick to Beer and Wine
A celebration typically comes with a variety of spirits, but that doesn’t mean that you have to serve expensive cocktails. When you stick to strictly beer and wine, you can significantly cut costs, and you don’t have to hire a professional bartender to man the drinks station. Anyone can pour a drink from a bottle.
Switch Your Reception to Brunch
Brunch is quickly becoming one of the best meals of the week and gaining in popularity. Having a day wedding means one great thing: a day of drinking! Hold the reception at 2 or 3 and make it short and sweet. People will want to stick around for the evening so you can continue to mingle, but you can go back to the hotel, change into something comfortable and go out with close friends for dinner. Again, it is your wedding so do what you want to do; if “Sunday Funday” is one of your favs, more power to you. It just means that the festivities get to start earlier!
Wear a Vintage Dress
One of the biggest expenses for the bride is the wedding gown. It is your big day and the dress is a part of it, but that doesn’t mean that you have to spend a lot to look fantastic! Vintage gowns have a uniqueness that you can’t get off of the rack and they are much more fun to shop for. When you find a vintage dress that suits you, you will really love saying “yes to the dress!”
The average cost of weddings has skyrocketed over the past two decades. You want your celebration to be a blow-out, but it doesn’t have to blow your entire savings. Try these cost saving tips from Catering by the Deft Chef. We have the experience to find a less expensive road without sacrifice. Contact us today to get started!