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Print25 Cost-Cutting Strategies
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Of course you want your wedding to be special. Spectacular. Everything you’ve dreamed of. But the economy—well, you know how that’s going. And with a gown to pay for, a reception and, oh dear, a photographer, videographer, florist, musicians and more, the costs associated with your day of days tend to skyrocket rather quickly. What follows are budget-friendly tips from wedding experts around the state that should help keep things under control (or at least in this layer of the atmosphere).
Combine your dreams with their tips and what do you get? Spectacular! Happy planning.
1. Embrace the ‘B’ word. “If you’re trying to save money, the first step is knowing how much you have to spend,” says Erin Hamilton of Something Blue Weddings & Special Events in Norwalk. That means setting a budget. “Often couples will shop around to find what they want and then [think they can] squeeze the budget,” says Lois Pearce of Beautiful Occasions in Hamden. This is not a good idea. Be realistic. It’s better to know what your financial situation will permit and then find service providers within your budget. You can do this without compromising quality.
2. Love your location . . . but be creative about everything else. Once you’ve decided on a venue you can’t live without, “Think outside the box,” advises Rosinne Chlala of Festivities in Norwalk. Lunch at your favorite restaurant? A Friday afternoon cocktail party? A picnic in the park? Brunch in a friend’s beautiful garden? Why not? The more inventive you are, the more you can potentially save. “It might not be your first thought, but it might end up better than your first thought,” says Chlala.
3. Dress for success. “Purchasing a sample gown is a way to get the gown of your dreams at an amazing value,” says Beth Chapman of The White Dress by the Shore in Clinton. Look for sample sales at bridal boutiques from November through January and May through July. This is when shopkeepers have purchased new gowns and are looking to liquidate inventory. Another option: special sales called trunk shows. “Bridal stores generally offer a discount off your gown purchase when the purchase is made during a trunk show,” says Chapman. If you find a designer you love, visit that designer’s Web site to find out when he or she is having a trunk show in your area.
4. Let them eat cookies. A fancy five-tiered cake is lovely, of course, but why not consider having “just a small cake that the bride and groom can cut for photos—and a dessert bar for the rest of your guests,” says Kelly Babbidge of K Babbidge Events in Darien. “It’s a lot of fun to have a table full of cookies and brownies and other desserts,” she adds. Or, when only cake will do, commission a small, elegant cake for cutting and a back-up cake (made from the same recipe and with the same icing) to serve, suggests Ana Parzych of Ana Parzych Custom Cakes in Cheshire. Fewer decorative details means a lower cost—and your guests will be none the wiser.
5. Pick a theme, any theme. “Themed weddings are in full swing, and couples are planning early,” says Diane Parsons of Nifi’s Wedding Planning in Coventry. Just think of the deals you can get on decorations for a Christmas wedding if you shop post-holiday sales the year before. Going with a “wine” or “vineyard” theme is another way to cut costs, suggests Parsons: “Most liquor distributors will even send a wine expert to hold a tasting at your wedding at no additional cost [as long as you serve their wine].”
6. Smile for the camera. “Photography is a big budget item,” says Lynda Houghtaling of Details Wedding & Party Planning in Ellington—and it’s hard to pinch pennies here. Plan A: Hire a quality photographer for fewer hours (four to six instead of the standard eight). Plan B: Hire an assistant who has apprenticed under a major photographer (and presumably picked up lots of tips) but charges less. Plan C: Just get a CD of images to use to create your own wedding album, suggests Andrea Martin-Seaman of Event Creations in Danbury.
7. Think small. “Numbers are money, and the No. 1 way to execute a beautiful wedding on a budget is to keep your guest list small,” says Talia Fedorowich of Sixpence for your Shoe in West Hartford. “The savings are incremental,” explains Something Blue’s Allison Salvati, and they go far beyond the reception price per guest (which starts at around $100 per person). Think of fewer centerpieces, invitations . . . the list goes on and on. “Give yourself permission to [have a smaller wedding], adds Salvati. “. . . and don’t walk away from the details that are going to make you happy.”
8. Think big. When choosing your flowers, look for “larger-impact” flowers that help fill out arrangements, says Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design in Mystic. Although they may be more expensive
per stem, you won’t need as many. Top picks: hydrangeas, peonies, sunflowers. And remember: “Always use what is in season,” says Fletcher. “You’ll get the freshest product and usually the best price.”
9. Flower power. “As long as you’re open to ideas, you can get the look you want for less,” says Sandy Civitillo of Capricorn Floral Design in Middletown. “Come in with a concept instead of a specific.” Talk to your designer about what atmosphere you hope to create (romantic? modern?), what color scheme you’re working with, and then throw preconceived notions right out the window, says Barbara Nelson of Confetti in Georgetown. Another good thought: Repurpose whatever florals you can, says Fletcher. Church pew buckets can go on cocktail tables. Bouquets can be displayed in vases on your gift or place-card table.
