Budgeting for the Wedding: Less Expensive Days for Weddings

If there were a popularity contest for days of the week, Saturday would win. Most likely when you were a kid, Saturdays meant watching cartoons, playing in Little League ball games, or going to the pool. Now that you're one of the adults (yes), Saturday means sleeping in, shopping, and barbecue on the deck. Not surprisingly, Saturday is also the most popular day to get married. But more and more couples are choosing off days, like Friday, Sunday, or even midweek days, for their weddings -- and finding that being flexible about the day of the week can make a big dollar difference.
Some reception locations may offer the same sit-down dinner on Sunday for a lot less cash than it did on Saturday.

Why Snub a Saturday Wedding?
Practical considerations are the big draw: At many wedding ceremony and reception sites, Saturdays are booked a year or more in advance. If you have your heart set on one of these venues, an off-day wedding can be an event-saving alternative. Religious considerations also can come into play. For example, many Jewish weddings take place on Sunday in deference to the Jewish Sabbath, which lasts from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. Officiants of many denominations often are more readily available for an off-day wedding. For some couples, having their wedding on a specific date -- say, their parent's wedding anniversary, for example -- is more important than having it on Saturday. Other couples have a midweek event so they can take advantage of lower airfares for out of town guests (and for their own honeymoon flights). Off-day weddings seem especially appealing to brides or grooms who have been married before and who know that a wedding is a wedding, any day of the week.
Wedding Budget Boosts

Off-day weddings can save you some serious money. Some reception locations, in a quest to book venues that would otherwise remain empty, may offer the same sit-down dinner on Sunday for a lot less cash than it did on Saturday. It's a simple case of supply and demand: You'll have better luck negotiating lower rates with vendors if there aren't five other couples lined up behind you, ready to take your spot. Also, you may be able to make things work with fewer guests, because some establishments loosen minimum guest requirements on off days. You're also likely to get better service because you'll have management's undivided attention on a less busy day.

Depending on the specifics of your location, you also may be able to get your guests better hotel rates. Keep in mind that a hotel that hosts conventions or caters to business people probably won't offer lower rates during the week. At some establishments, you can reserve a block of rooms for Friday night with a lower number of guests because, by then, business travelers have gone home.

The Weekend Wedding Allure
Three-day holiday weekends like Memorial Day or Labor Day are popular for Sunday weddings because out-of-town guests have a full day to return home; and because for most guests, these weekends come with a built-in day off from work. (If you choose a holiday weekend wedding date, be sure you give your guests plenty of notice before they make other plans. This is the perfect excuse to buy those cute save-the-date cards.) Other holidays like Halloween, New Year's Eve, or even Father's Day are perfect for creative types looking to build a wedding with a theme (and to celebrate their anniversary on a holiday every year!). Remember, however, that some vendors are in great demand for certain holidays. For example, florists are swamped on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day; and bands are tough to book for New Year's Eve.
Off-Day Wedding Guest Care

Okay, no doubt it's a little more difficult for your guests, especially those traveling from afar, to manage a Friday or Sunday wedding. They may have to take an extra day off from the office or school. Be prepared for a higher-than-average rate of regrets, because those who aren't especially close to you aren't likely to accept your invitation. The good news: You end up with a core group of die-hard fans at your wedding, which makes the event a bit more cozy and a lot of fun.

These days, with so many guests traveling great distances to attend weddings, lots of couples plan celebrations that last several days or longer; couples with off-day affairs will find themselves in the same situation. Your weekend may begin with a bang: a Friday wedding followed by Saturday or Sunday activities and outings. Another option is Friday and Saturday group activities with a Sunday ceremony as the finale. In consideration of guests' schedules, a Friday wedding should be an evening affair, and a Sunday celebration should be planned to wrap up fairly early.

Timing Is Everything
Thinking that maybe off-day means off-base? No way. Just because it's not a Saturday night doesn't mean that it's not a party. Friday evening or Sunday morning weddings can be just as elegant as Saturday celebrations. Consider a Sunday reception in the form of a champagne brunch. These tend to begin with a ceremony between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., followed by a reception that wraps up around 5 p.m. A Friday wedding can be a sophisticated, starry-night soiree that goes far into the evening.

Budgeting for the Wedding: 30 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding

Reception
1. Cut the guest list. This will slash your catering costs and save on invitations and even the number of centerpieces.

2. Think off-peak season and save thousands!

3. Hold your ceremony and reception in one spot -- it will cut travel time for vendors you pay by the hour.

4. Skip the Saturday wedding.

5. Have bigger tables so you need fewer centerpieces and tablecloths.

6. Shop the off-season for extra decor -- get modern black vases on sale after Halloween and pretty pink ones after Valentine's Day.

Flowers
7. Use more greenery than flowers.

8. Swap out costly flowers -- did you know peonies can be five times more expensive than roses?

9. Stick to just one or two kinds of flowers.

10. Buy flowers that are in season.

11. Include non-florals, like lanterns.

Food & Drink
12. Serve entree duets.

13. Skip the main course -- apps and drinks are fine too.

14. Offer beer, wine, and a signature cocktail instead of a full bar.

15. Serve comfort foods like barbecue chicken, mac and cheese, and corn. It's fun and often cheaper.

16. Skip the champagne toast.

Cakes
17. Order a small one or two-tiered cake and then supplement cake with a larger sheet cake (hidden back in the kitchen).

18. Keep the add-ons simple.

19. Use fresh flowers, not sugar ones.

20. Reuse ceremony flowers for the cake table.

21. Skip exotic fillings like guava and mango.

Stationery & Favors
22. Get single-page invites to save on postage.

23. Give out one favor per couple.

24. Make your cake the favors.

25. Have favors double as escort cards.

26. Email your save-the-dates.

27. Make your own menu cards, escort cards, and wedding favor packaging.

Photo, Video & Music
28. Have a photographer you love but can't afford the prices? Ask them if they have an associate shooter who will do your wedding for less.

29. Opt for a smaller band.

30. Hire a band or DJ who can do both the ceremony and the reception.

Budgeting for the Wedding: 10 Hidden Wedding Costs

1. Wedding Band Equipment

Why it's hidden The cost of the wedding band includes fees for the musicians' time and the minimum amount of equipment needed. If your reception space is extra-large, then additional speakers and microphones could possibly be required to project the best sound quality.

The cost Anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars

How to avoid it Before booking your wedding band or DJ, you need to clearly explain the layout of the space (or have them check it out, if they're willing) so the vendors know exactly what they're working with. If they want to add in extra equipment, you should have them explain why it's necessary before you sign a contract or agree to pay for anything else.

2. Postage Stamps

Why it's hidden Stationers don't advertise the shipping costs; if they did, you might decide to go with simpler (read: cheaper) invites. 

The cost Oversized, awkwardly shaped and bulky invitations will most often run you as much as $2 each to mail. 

How to avoid it Skip the fancy boxed invitations and multilayer cards, which can bulk up quickly and cost a lot more than you bargained for.

3. Wedding Dress Alterations

Why it's hidden Wedding dresses are pretty pricey and stores don't want to scare away clients by listing alterations as part of the total cost.

The cost A simple hem can be less than $100, but completely rebuilding a bodice or moving zippers can send the price soaring.  

How to avoid it Ask about what the store charges for every alteration you may need before you purchase the gown. 

If it's too much, don't be afraid to take your dress to a less expensive seamstress to have alterations done.

4. Photo/Video Overtime

Why it's hidden Your wedding photographer and videographer are booked for just a certain amount of time, so if your wedding runs a little longer than you expected, they'll charge per hour. 

The cost Starting at $250 per hour 

How to avoid it When planning the day, factor in extra time for getting dressed and taking photos. You'll get a realistic sense of how long everything should take. Refer to this itinerary when booking your photo/video vendors.

5. Welcome-Bag Delivery

Why it's hidden Most hotels don't factor in a welcome-bag delivery fee when you block rooms. And they may fail to mention the rate unless you ask -- they'll just add it to your final bill. Inquire within; they may even charge you a fee for holding the welcome bags if you drop them off before the guests arrive! 

The cost Up to $7 per bag 

How to avoid it During the booking process, ask about the hotel's policy on receiving and delivering welcome bags to guests' rooms. It may be free or cheaper if they hand the bags out at the counter as guests check in. If you don't want the extra charge, you can distribute them at the rehearsal dinner.

6. Rental Transport

Why it's hidden You'd assume that the rental companies would include these extra fees in the per-item costs (do they honestly think you're going to fit 150 chiavari chairs in your own car?), but surprisingly, they don't. 

The cost From $50 up to more than $500 

How to avoid it Ask the rental company what their shipping and packaging fees are up front -- if the cost is too high for your budget, shop around a bit. You just might find that you'll actually save some money by renting items from a more expensive company that includes delivery costs at no extra charge.

7. Taxes

Why it's hidden Even though these aren't exactly hidden -- we all know that there are taxes on almost everything -- most couples don't think about how much they'll end up owing during the planning process. 

The cost This will depend on the total amount of money you're spending as well as the location of the event (taxes vary in different areas).

How to avoid it There's no getting around paying taxes, but paying the entire bill in one lump sum can help lower the overall price, especially in the winter when vendors have fewer weddings to cover their bills. 

8. Cake-Cutting Fee

Why it's hidden If you use the cake provided by your reception site, the charge is typically wrapped into the cost. Going with an outside baker can jack up the price. Why? Because your venue's workers are responsible for slicing and serving each piece, then cleaning the dishes. This means more work for their staff!

The cost From $2 to $5 per guest

How to avoid it Go with the site's cake baker. Don't worry: They'll likely be able to work with your vision. If you're set on a particular cake baker, then call your venue and find out what the fee is before you sign a contract.

9. Coat Check

Why it's hidden When you book your venue in the summer, it's easy to forget just how cold it'll be in winter months like December. 

The cost The damage starts at around $200. 

How to avoid it Union rules may dictate the number of people who are required to work the coat check (and the amount they get paid). Have a good approximation of your total guest count when you book the coat checkers.

10. Gratuities

Why it's hidden Many couples often think that the "service charge" is a tip for the event staff when it's actually an additional fee that the catering halls charge. For what? To cover their own cost for hiring servers. 

The cost Typically 15 to 20 percent of the event's total food and drink fee 

How to avoid it Once you get the proposed fee, add the service charge percentage so it's already accounted for before the event. The last thing you want is to get hit with an unexpectedly huge bill that just about breaks the bank.

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