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How do I get a nice but cheap wedding?

Jan 28, 2021

Honestly though, how do you get a nice, but cheap wedding?

Did you know that the average Australian wedding costs almost an eye-watering $40,000?  We know you want your special day to be perfect, but ... ouch!  A recent survey found that while most Aussies dive into their own savings to help pay the bill, more than half take out a loan just so they can say "I do" in the way they really want, while 2 in 10 stick it on the credit card.


There has to be another way!  But you want the perfect rings that will last a lifetime; you want beautiful photos and videos for your most cherished of memories and dresses and suits that fit the bill - and then there's the ceremony, the music, the decorations, the flowers, the cars, the hair, the makeup ... oh my!


But don't fret, because we think we can help.  It's all about being reasonable about what you can afford, being honest about what you don't need, and then being smart about getting the best deal and thinking outside the box.


It's almost as though we need an awesome list of awesome tips about how to get the wedding of your dreams and then leave a few bucks in your pocket for a honeymoon, too!


1. Be honest about your guests


We know, we know: you've been dreaming about hundreds of your closest family members and friends helping you celebrate your wedding for years.  But be honest - every extra name is extra dollars, and those extra dollars just make your special day less intimate.  In our humble opinion, the best
wedding venues Adelaide wide are the small and intimate ones - with correspondingly smaller and more intimate prices.


But how on earth are you going to get that huge guest list down to a manageable number?  Start by removing just 10% of your initial list, and then remove another 10% ... and then removing yet another 10%.  If you're still smiling, that's your list!


2. Don't ask for a present - ask for help


After years in the wedding game, we can tell you something for sure - kitchenware really is the most common gift.  But how many toasters do you really need?  Although the best wedding venues are able to tailor a great package for you including help with your decorations, flowers, photography, music gear and DJ, let's face it: your mate is a great DJ.  Aunt Heidi is a whiz with flowers, and he may only be 18, but cousin Billy's photography and videography are always top-notch.


If money grew on trees, you'd get the best professional support in the business.  But accepting the gift of free help in lieu of a fourth toaster not only keeps more cash in your pocket, you'll have a great story to tell forever as well.


3. Look stunning, with a stunningly low price


When you do your shopping around for a wedding venue you can afford, there's something you'll notice: paying a lot doesn't always get you something better.  Similarly, a stunning lakeside view may seem like it's worth a million dollars, but you may be surprised about just how affordable it is in the form of a small, intimate venue that you can combine with your new, trim guest-list.


So while a Princess would order custom wedding and bridesmaids dresses, here's a challenge for you: find something off-the-rack and now imagine it's actually custom-made.  Apart from the much, much smaller price, can you really tell?  It's the same for the bloke's suits - why on earth do you need to buy them when you can rent?  And stop being a snob, because while the average cost of wedding rings is about $5,000, you really can get something truly special that will last forever for half or less of that.


Don't forget: It's real money, so don't waste it!


That's just three tips that will instantly save you thousands and thousands - but don't stop there!  Particularly with your wedding venue shopping, once you've found something great, keep looking a little longer - because there may be something even greater that's even cheaper!  Make sure the venue you choose puts together value-for-money packages, and then think about having the ceremony there too. 


There really are hundreds of ways to celebrate a perfect wedding without insulting your bank balance, so don't rush and also never forget - just because beautiful weddings are ridiculously expensive doesn't mean yours has to be!  Good luck.

28 Jan, 2021
"But hang on!" you might say. "That's exactly the problem!" Indeed, just like when you're buying a new pair of running shoes, the endless choices actually make it harder to choose, not easier. And your choice of wedding venue is actually a lot more important than a pair of joggers, right? So if the endless choices really are overwhelming you, make sure you know what your priorities are. If the venue you're looking at doesn't tick your boxes, then cross it straight off the list. Eventually, you'll find the perfect place ... we promise. What's important to you?  1. The space With a lot of guests, or an appetite for something grand, perhaps the most important thing is the venue size. Obviously you need to fit all the people, but can you get the band in there, too? Is there space for dancing? 2. The budget Let's face it: if you can't afford it, you aren't going to book it, right? But it's actually more complex than that - because you also need to set an order of priorities. What percentage of your budget should you spend on the ceremony, the reception, the dresses, the rings, and so on. If the reception matters the most to you, then seriously skew the budget towards that because it's normally the most expensive of the lot. 3. The area If you're still struggling to narrow down your list, try it this way: do you love the beach? Start browsing venues with a seaview. Is your affinity more with a lake? There's always West Lakes! Is the country more your thing? Let your geographical preference help to turn a very, very long list into a manageably short one. 4. The privacy For some people, privacy really is important - especially for an intimate wedding in a small venue. If you're going to be sharing with other groups, or it's in a venue that isn't particularly private, you're going to lose that intimate vibe. The best solution is to find a place that gives you their space exclusively. 5. In, or out ... or both? Some like a traditional indoor reception venue, others like it outside in the fresh air. And a third group of people prefer a combo: with indoor as well as outdoor spaces to cover every eventuality and maximise those photo ops and lifelong memories. 6. A view Similarly, it's all about the food, the service and the dancing - for some. Others might think a venue with spectacular views of the sea or the lake or the hills puts it to the top of the list. Don't be shy: just be honest with what really matters to you. We hope that helps! In fact, reading advice columns like this is so, so helpful that you shouldn't stop here - keep researching, researching and researching some more. Ask for advice, read reviews, and book venue tours. Happy hunting!
28 Jan, 2021
If you're getting married in Adelaide in the near future, take a seat for this shocking news - the average cost of the reception alone in this state is $15,000. You feel a little dizzy, right?
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