5 Money-saving tips for your wedding day

A wedding can potentially be a huge drain on the finances, with the average cost of a wedding in Canada being more than $25,000, not even including the honeymoon. However, with some savvy-shopping and planning, a wedding doesn’t have to break the bank.

You don’t have to buy everything brand new. Many brides head straight to the internet to find wedding decorations, linens and even dresses. Several sites, such as Ruffled and Tradesy Weddings, are geared specifically toward brides who want to purchase pre-owned wedding goods. If you are willing to spend some time searching, a wealth of items — from bridesmaid dresses, chair sashes, centrepieces, chandeliers, shoes, veils, linens and much more — can be found. You can bag yourself a bargain and give new life to someone else’s wedding items that were likely used only once.

In today’s market, your favourite stores might offer deals in places other than just on their websites or at their physical locations. Most stores will also have a Twitter account, Facebook page or Pinterest accounts to communicate with their loyal customers. Be sure to follow all their accounts, and keep an eye out for special sales or contests offered through their social media accounts. Sign up for stores’ email lists as well, and expect coupons to be sent directly to your inbox.

Check the wedding category on Pinterest; some fantastic ideas can be found there. One could spend hours just browsing the various pictures, with ideas on everything from shoes to wedding favours. Use the Pinterest ideas as a springboard for your own frugality. If you see an idea you like, Google it along with some select keywords, like “DIY,” “tutorial” or “home-made.” Price out what it would cost to make your own versus buying something similar. Many times you can save money by doing it yourself, but not always, so it is smart to be savvy about what you decide to make.

If you’d like some background music during the ceremony or at the cocktail hour, consider hiring a student musician. Contact your local university’s music department or a local music school, or put up some posters on the notice boards asking for musicians willing to perform. If you do find some willing students, listen to them beforehand, and find out what sort of pieces they will be able to play. Costs on this should be fairly minimal, as the student should be glad for the experience and something to add to their CVs.

Ask a local florist for advice on the cost of various flowers during certain times of the year. Local flowers or in-season flowers will be less expensive than flowers that aren’t in season. If you want peonies during the winter months, you’ll likely pay a high price to have them shipped in from warmer climates. If you aren’t particular about the flowers for your wedding, simply let the florist make the decision for you based on what is readily available.

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