7 tips for planning a wedding on a budget
If you’re reading this article, congratulations! You’re about to enter a gilded cage, which means you’re about to spend a lot of money on a wedding, and you’re probably looking for ways to reduce costs.
If only you had gathered the courage to ask for your partner’s hand during the pandemic when wedding receptions were held at home, with only a kilo of knafeh to celebrate.
Now, you have to consider the bride’s dress, the groom’s suit, the ballroom, centrepieces, food, and more. The cost of a wedding can easily get out of hand. But with some creativity and careful planning, you’ll be able to plan the perfect wedding and save money at the same time.
Above all, ensure that you and your partner are on the same page regarding priorities and expectations. Set a budget, then follow these tips:
1. Be smart about your wedding date
Who said the best wedding date is a Friday in the summertime?
Summer weddings are more expensive than winter weddings due to the law of supply and demand. But no law prevents you from having your wedding during winter. Why not get married in February, for example?
And if you want to save more money, choose a day between Sunday and Thursday and avoid Friday and Saturday, as those are more expensive.
Also, avoid choosing special dates (like 3/3/2023) and holidays. For example, you may notice a significant increase in the price of roses during Valentine’s Day season, and ballroom prices may increase on New Year’s Eve.
2. Choose a non-traditional venue
Traditional ballrooms cost a lot of money. So, consider holding your wedding in non-wedding venues, as they usually cost much less. And believe me, you can turn any non-traditional wedding venue into a breathtaking one with a bit of planning.
How about a farm with a swimming pool in the Dead Sea? Or a restaurant in Amman? Or even a cosy garden in Salt with grapevines, pomegranate trees, and a swing!
3. Downsize the guest list
We know you want to celebrate this day with as many people as possible. But do you really have to invite your neighbour’s cousin? Or your classmate from first grade, whom you haven’t seen since you two fought over crayons?
Remember, the more people you invite to your wedding, the more money you will pay. So, try to only limit your invitee list to close friends and family to reduce costs. This way, you will also be able to reduce food and drink expenses.
4. Do away with traditional invitation cards
Thanks to social media, invitation cards are not as necessary as they used to be. Instead of costly paper cards, design a digital invitation yourself through website templates and send it to the invitees via WhatsApp, for example.
5. Take advantage of discounts
You can save a lot of money by choosing when to shop. For example, wait until end-of-season sales or Black Friday to buy a wedding dress or groom’s suit. And if you want to save even more, rent them instead of buying them. After all, you will only wear the dress and suit once, or at least we hope so!
You can also take advantage of the discounts offered by the cake and flower shops in our network of partners if you choose a non-traditional venue for your wedding.
Learn more about Bank al Etihad’s special discounts here.
6. Take advantage of your friends’ talents
Is one of your close friends a talented musician, photographer or DJ? Take advantage of their talent and ask them to help you on your wedding day instead of hiring expensive professionals. They will surely rejoice at the opportunity to play a part in one of the most important days in your life!
Don’t have any talented friends? You need new ones! All jokes aside, you can find freelancers or students who charge you much less than the alternative.
7. Get cashback on your wedding expenses
Last but not least, be sure to use any Bank al Etihad card on all your purchases to get instant cashback of up to 3% on all your wedding expenses. Learn more about our cash rewards here.
We hope that you have benefited from these tips. By following them, you can save up even more for an unforgettable honeymoon!
