How to plan a luxury wedding on a budget

A lot of people want their big day to be extravagant and hard to forget. However, that can sometimes seem impossible when working on a budget. There are so many aspects of planning a wedding, it’s probably going to cost a small fortune, right? Wrong. With some tips and tricks, your Australian wedding can be ultra-luxurious even when you have limited funds. Take a look below to see how you can do it.

Be strategic when planning

Being nifty and strategic makes all the difference when planning a wedding. For example, if you are not in a rush to get married, a long engagement will give you more time to research all your options. Not only will you be able to book certain services early but you might also get to take advantage of certain deals like Black Friday or post-Christmas discounts.

Wisely choose the date

Strategic planning also includes being flexible when it comes to the wedding date. You have to be aware of the fact that a summer wedding on a Saturday is going to be the most expensive option. This is why opting for Thursday, Friday or Sunday, for instance, can be a much more affordable alternative. Additionally, prices are also lower if you go for an off-peak season wedding. Do some research to see which months are the most popular in your area and then discuss with your partner whether you are willing to save some money by giving up your preferred sunny weather date.

Look into various venue options

In terms of venues, there is no lack of options in Australia. For starters, if you or any of your friends and relatives have a spacious backyard, you can save a lot of money by having your reception there. If you’re thinking about a smaller wedding, even better, as you will not need a huge space for all the guests. Finally, if you are flexible when it comes to dates, you might even be able to find a lavish venue with an unexpected opening. If there was a cancellation and you are willing to throw a wedding at the last minute, you can expect a big discount.

Save on your attire

Seeing as how your wedding attire might also cost you a lot of money, you should start planning on time and considering all other alternatives. If you want a brand new dress, it would be best to look into bridal expos and sample sales which typically offer the best deals. Sign up for various newsletters to receive the latest updates and stay in the loop. In case you want something vintage, you can see if any of your relatives are willing to pass down their dresses or look in thrift shops to see whether something catches your eye. With some alterations, this might be the cheapest way to find the perfect dress. On the other hand, some brides do not care about keeping the dress after the wedding and they simply rent it. All of these options apply to the groom’s attire as well so talk things through and see what fits your budget best.

Get around in style

Extravagant weddings sometimes include expensive vehicles that drive the entire wedding party to the venue. However, this approach might be a bit out of your reach. Instead, you can only have you and your spouse-to-be arriving and leaving in style. If none of your friends have cars that you can borrow, you can always opt for a rental company. Luckily, the offer of luxury wedding cars in Sydney is amazing so you will not have any issues finding the vehicle to get around in. These usually come with chauffeurs, drinks and refreshments so you will be completely taken care of.

Skip the sit-down reception

Another thing you can do to save some money is skip the sit-down dinner. These three- or four-course meals can be really expensive and quickly add up if you have many guests. Consider a cocktail reception instead. This way, you will not need a full catering staff but only a small team that will offer hors d’oeuvres. Additionally, you can also consider skipping the cake and going for some cupcakes, seeing as how that is now a huge trend and will not be seen as skimping on the money but as something that the rich and famous do. You can also fake the cake – bake one real tier for you and your spouse, create the rest from Styrofoam and fondant and after the cutting ceremony, have the catering team serve sheet cake to your guests. It might seem a bit odd but your guests won’t know the difference.

As you can see, there are many ways how you can save some money and still have a luxurious wedding. Start planning on time and carefully consider all your alternatives and you can surely pull this off. Good luck!