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Everyone knows weddings can be expensive. According to a recent survey by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the average wedding in Australia costs $36,200 – with the majority of that cost going towards paying for the venue, food and alcohol. If the thought of spending $36,000 on one day makes you wince, take a look at our money-saving tips for planning a wedding.
Get organised
If you want to save money, you will need to get organised. While this will be time-consuming, it could save you thousands. First up, you need to do your research. Find out everything that you will need to organise. Yes, everything. Use wedding websites to find out more about what you need to do and make a list.
Then you need to prioritise. Work out what’s important, what you want to spend money on, and what you don’t want to spend money on. Now create a budget to work out how much you can afford to spend, how much it will cost, and how to cut back. This might be a good time to start cutting back on the luxuries in life, and start selling stuff you don’t need to make some extra cash.
Choose the right venue
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The success of your wedding day will often hinge on the venue you choose. Again, the process of finding the right venue will take time. Check out options online, find out what each one offers, what it doesn’t offer, and how much it costs. Think about how many guests will be invited, and what kind of party you want. For weddings in Melbourne, check out Bell City.
To save money on your wedding, consider getting married on a weekday. Saturday weddings are popular, and therefore come with a premium price tag – just change the day to save thousands. You may also want to consider alternative venues to save money. Think about what’s important in your life and plan your big day around that.
Choose your options
When you choose your venue, you may have the option of choosing a package. This could involve food, drinks, entertainment and accommodation. Research the cost of organising these things separately, and think about which option offers the best value. Organising it all yourself could be a bigger hassle, but it could also save you money. When booking the venue, the DJ, the caterers and the suppliers, try to negotiate a better deal – don’t just take the price you’re offered.
Get creative
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If you are in any way creative, you could save a lot on your wedding. Create your own decorations, centrepieces, invites and favours, and arrange your own flowers. Not only can you save money doing this, you can also put your own unique spin on your wedding. There are plenty of websites offering tips on how to do this if you’re looking for inspiration, or check out YouTube tutorials.
Buy online
Buy online to save on everything from your wedding dress to the materials to make your invites. However, when you buy online, you need to work more to get it right. When it comes to your dress, the bridesmaid dresses, your shoes or anything else, it can be hard to make the right decision when you can’t see the item in person. Find out more about getting the right fit when buying clothes online, check reviews on the item, find out about their returns policy, and take into account tax and shipping costs.
Get friends and family involved
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Save money by getting your friends and family involved in your wedding. Make use of their skills to help you save money! If you know a photographer, a cake maker, a dress maker, a florist, or someone who is good with hair and make-up, ask them if they would like to help you out. This could be an alternative to them giving you a wedding gift, or they may just enjoy helping you out.
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