Tips and Ways to Save on Weddings?

HYX on 23/11/2017 - 14:13
Last edited 29/11/2017 - 13:00

Hello OzBer's

I'm in the process of planning my wedding and I'd like to get any ideas from your experience on how to save on costs.

My budget is as little as I can spend on top of the venue (minimum spend is close to 20k), without compromising too much on quality. I've got to adhere to the minimum spend (seems I can't negotiate this), but I'd like to find out any tips I can ask for in terms of add-ons and things to bargain for (and how to bargain for).

Would be great if you could share how much you spent on your wedding and when it was.
Please exclude the cost of rings.
You can fill in the below or even just a one liner stating no. of guests and rough total cost.

Reception:
No. of Guests:
Ceremony:
Photography:
Videography:
Flowers:
Hair & Makeup:
Dress/suit:
Bridal party:
Cake:

Recommendations are more than welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Update:

Thanks for all those who took the time to give advice and share your experience! Much appreciated.
One of the most common advice was to find a venue with a lower minimum spend. After asking 20 venues in Sydney, the lowest minimum spend I came across for a Sunday evening was 9k (similar on a Friday evening), with most venues being 12k–15k. Average per head cost being $145–$165.
Let me know if you know of alternative venues that have a lower minimum spend/per head cost in Sydney.
Thanks again!

General Discussion

Comments

      • Tombf2g on 01/12/2017 - 13:12

        I spent about 10k on the engagement ring and the wedding band was a matching Tiffany wedding band with half circle of small diamonds.

        • Innately Incognito on 02/12/2017 - 10:10

          Hm. Most that I know have relatively cheap wedding bands, even if the engagement rings are more extravagant.

  • yoonibear on 28/11/2017 - 16:36

    Our wedding was 3 weeks ago and here's our breakdown

    Reception: 19,000 (3 course with unlimited bar/drinks, canapes and platters)
    No. of Guests: 160
    Ceremony: 600
    Photography: 3500
    Videography: 3300
    Flowers: Included w/ reception
    Hair & Makeup: Done by Family
    Dress/suit: 2000 (both were made to measure)
    Bridal party: 300 (found absolute bargains at DFO)
    Cake: 500
    Limo: 1500 (we had a bridal party of 10 and had to cart them from NW Melb to SE Melb - Asian tea ceremony)
    Lion dance: 800
    Smoke machines, fireworks, balloons: 1500
    Invitations: 200
    Rings: 1400 for hers, 900 for mine (we bought them via Blue Nile with a 15% code)
    Photobooth: 800
    Balloons: 80 (balloon release)

    According to our budget tracker - we spent about 48,000; but it was worth it.

    We hired a photographer that did our friends wedding that was from overseas - it made perfect sense as the exchange between the two countries meant we were getting a great deal and they still got their normal fee. If they're unwilling to drop the price, see if you can request for things to add in. Our videographer ended up gifting us a same day edit at no cost and stayed the entire day (6am - 12am) same as the photographer.

    Bargaining also helps if you have a wedding on a "non-peak" day. The reception we went with had different prices for Winter, Summer, Spring and Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Mon-Thurs. Also, always bargain/negotiate via email as it'll be written - no point in agreeing verbally as you won't have proof if it turns sour.

    When partner bargained the reception - we listed what we loved and what we loved about another reception and want to know what they could do to get us over the line. Don't be afraid to keep haggling the price down and if you can't, see what other benefits you'd be able to add in (extra platters, premium packages ..etc..)

    With our live band - that was about 3,000 - I negotiated it down to 2500 just by asking, told them still a bit high, they agreed on 2400, I said my limit was 1900 and what about if we met halfway and I paid cash in full. Ended up paying 2150 for a 4 piece band w/ DJ and MC services.

    With anything wedding related - try and leave emotion at the door when bargaining :)

    • Stopback on 01/12/2017 - 16:35

      50K holy shit, well at least you recouped a bit from the red packets

  • fruxo on 28/11/2017 - 17:24

    Your question is a false economy. It might look like it will save you money now, and it will seem like your wife is fine with making some small compromises, but you will pay for it over the next 20 years instead.

    That's my experience at least. Maybe someone less jaded can be more helpful :)

  • roundnumbersonly on 28/11/2017 - 19:55

    The second you mention "wedding" to florists, bakers, etc the price goes up by 10%.

  • lethalmoney on 28/11/2017 - 20:31

    Cheapest way to plan a wedding.

    Quite simply, plan a party and show up in a suit and frock.

    A cake for a party is 100. The same cake for a wedding is 500..

  • harley on 28/11/2017 - 20:47
    +1

    Also, one of my favourite cake is Woolies mud cake. Wouldn't mind eating it at a wedding. Here's a link to some ideas to jazz it up: https://www.domesblissity.com/2017/09/woolworths-coles-mud-c…

    For makeup, this could be a deal, for afternoon weddings or guests or mother of the bride who has more time etc. I tried it once & the girl was good: https://www.redballoon.com.au/product/indulge/beauty-treatme…

  • Jalif on 28/11/2017 - 23:13

    Don't plan wedding, plan a function.

    Weddings attract a 200% to 500% surcharge.

  • brilliantthings on 29/11/2017 - 06:16

    Reception: $3200 ($5000 food and drink at function room at pub salary packaged)
    No. of Guests: 110
    Ceremony: $600
    Photography: $1900
    Videography: $0
    Flowers: pub provided
    Hair & Makeup: $250
    Dress/suit: $520
    Bridal party: $300
    Cake: pub provided

    Total: $8300

  • Atazoth616 on 29/11/2017 - 08:36

    Outside wedding.

  • jellykingdom on 29/11/2017 - 10:08
    +1

    Reception: $125/head. Unlimited drinks (beer selection was garbage), 3course meal which we got to customise a bit, piano player, cocktail on arrival

    No. of Guests: 100

    Ceremony: $2k? - we did a basic outdoor ceremony at a local lookout, and then put on some nibbles and champagne afterwards while we got family photos

    Photography - $5k - seriously, don't skimp on this. You will regret it. I also recommend setting up a pre-wedding shoot. It's going to add to the cost, but a) you get to try out your photographer (which saved us from disaster) and they get used to your look and personality, and b) the photos are so much more relaxed and you really treasure these shots

    Videography: $2.5k - we did it (wife wanted it), and its a total waste of time. We have never even watched it after 5 years

    Flowers: $5k - our option was mid-range expensive, we went with synthetic latex flowers. They look totally legit, and come in a million different options. Plus good plastic florists (?) can spray them to match your colour themes. The big advantages are a) they don't droop or die throughout the day (one wedding, we had to change groomsman flowers about 6x each), b) you can keep them if you want them for around the house, and c) you can also on-sell them to people and recoup the money, or go halves like we did with another couple

    Hair & Makeup: ??? - i would also recommend a trial run with the makeup artist, my wife had a work cocktail party coming up so we paid for a 1off hair and makeup run through. Also, saved us from a bad choice - her makeup lady was terrible. Looked OK in photos, but horrible in real life.

    Dress/suit: $1k for dress, $300 for suit - my suit was made in India, off a mismatched set of jacket/vest/pants that i knew fitted perfectly. The dress was just from a regular shop. But you can find some good deals if you aren't super picky about the style and colour

    Bridal party:

    Cake: included with the venue. I know a lot of people who had this made by relatives and friends…we don't know anyone that useful

    You're missing a couple extras:

    Rings: $1k for her (from manufacturing jeweller - seriously, avoid Zamels, etc, they will rip you off with lousy quality diamonds, and high prices. My Stainless Steel ring was literally like $10

    Car: you must have a friend or relative or family friend who is willing to lend a decent car for the day? We had a nice Merc do the bridal party, but we literally just took my sh*tty hatchback for the guys haha

    Invites: made in India, WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY cheaper than Australia and waaaaaaaaaaay better

    Wedding favours/bonbonierres: we got some made in India, and way better than some lousy chocolates in a matchbox-size

    • HYX on 30/11/2017 - 09:03

      Thanks for the details!
      Where was your venue?

      Also is freight really cheap to get the invites and bonbonierres here?

      • jellykingdom on 30/11/2017 - 20:28

        To be honest i can't remember re the freight

        Venue was Lauriston House in NSW. It's extremely nice. I wouldn't recommend doing the ceremony there, its noisy outside, but inside is like an old manor house

  • richmond12 on 29/11/2017 - 12:21

    What are you expecting as gifts from the wedding? Asian weddings usually give money.. help pay for it..

  • ihbh on 29/11/2017 - 12:25
    +2

    We had a small wedding with only family and close friends:

    • No. of Guests: slightly more than a few handfuls
    • Ceremony: free at local church but we made a donation
    • Reception: ~$50 per person for 3 courses at a quaint local French restaurant
    • Photography: ~$500 - it was a rate per hour by an experienced wedding photographer who recently moved to Aus and getting established here so it was a win/win for her and us.
    • Videography: n/a
    • Flowers: provided by the church
    • Hair & Makeup: $60
    • Dress/suit: $400 dress; tux was a sunk cost as I had worn it to a few black tie functions before
    • Bridal party: n/a
    • Cake: < $100 from Black Star Pastry

    Make sure you explore some marriage 'courses'. We did ours with the Minister and it cost < $50. Don't get carried away with form over substance.

    Total < $2k

  • MAKAMAKA on 29/11/2017 - 14:30

    Ask friends for free helps.

  • JFSYD on 29/11/2017 - 18:06

    Get me for photographing your wedding. $1500 for 9 hours. You won't find anyone better than me even you double the cost ;) TBH, photography is THE most important thing for the wedding day, especially when you look back what happened during the day after many years.

    My website is in Bio.

    • desmondnnk on 29/11/2017 - 21:02

      what's included in the $1500?

    • [Deactivated] on 30/11/2017 - 23:27

      I would have assumed getting married would be the most important thing on a wedding day. Maybe it's just me.

  • bah humbug on 29/11/2017 - 23:16

    McDonalds or Hungry Jacks and ice cream cake.

  • oandrewx on 30/11/2017 - 08:37

    elope

  • melay0326 on 01/12/2017 - 23:38

    My friend is getting married in 2weeks in sydney harbour.. they are doing the ceremony & reception on a boat.. food incl cake are catered by her family.. booze from dan murphy’s.. no car hire needed.. 4hrs photographer hire.. bride’s dress from ebay and suit was from the myer.. invitations were done overseas so it was less $75.. celebrant was $600.. bonbonieres which was scented candles were done by her friend but she bought the materials from aliexpress.. no adult bridal party but kids which clothes were bought online as well.. flowers were bought online too.. hair/makeup $150 from someone her friend knows.. she had a budget of $6k..

  • KimIDynasty on 05/12/2017 - 17:42

    As a wedding photographer myself, it is true you should not skim on photography as it is the only thing that will be with you for years to come. And unfortunately, it is also true good photographers doesn't come cheap. It is a service based industry, given there's only that many weddings we can cover, we're not going to be around for long if we're cheap. That said, I have seen very good photographers who are willing to do a deal if you are what they're looking for. So if any advice, I'd suggest you shop around. If you do meet someone who is starting out and inexperienced (BUT INCREDIBLY GOOD), work with them and let them get the shots they want. Tell them what's going to happen and who's where and what's where. Give him or her time to think. Slow down for them. Looking back, I would have loved that if it was my first assignment.

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