If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your wedding budget, particularly the venue hire expense, don’t fret – we’ve got you covered with helpful tips to reduce costs. Let’s dive in!
1 – How Much Does a Wedding Venue Cost?
The venue cost is the largest expense in a wedding budget, with couples spending 40-50% of their budget on average. In Australia, the average cost of a wedding venue is $14,500, equivalent to $150 per person.
To organize a budget-friendly wedding, use these tips to cut venue expenses. You can then allocate the saved money to other things like a honeymoon, home decor or investment, as per your preference.
2 – Go Non-Traditional
If you’re looking for a unique wedding experience, consider non-traditional venues in Australia such as
bed and breakfasts
- wineries
- cottages
- botanical gardens
- museums and libraries
- aquariums and zoos
- parks and beaches
- restaurants and bars
These budget-friendly wedding venues offer a variety of settings for your special day and can help you save money.
Choosing one of these alternative venues may give you the chance to have a dream wedding without breaking the bank. Whether you opt for a rustic garden or a beachfront setting, there are many options to choose from that are likely to be less expensive and less competitive. So why not consider these unconventional venues to make your wedding day truly unforgettable?
3 – Get Married Mid-Week and Outside of Peak Season
To keep your wedding costs under control, consider scheduling your special day on a less expensive day or time of year. Many wedding venues offer lower prices during non-peak seasons and for mid-week weddings. Typically, Saturdays and weekends are the most popular days for weddings in Australia, and as a result, the prices for these days tend to be higher.
In the wedding industry, late summer and early fall are the busiest months. November and March are the most popular months for weddings, and venues are often booked months in advance during these periods. If you’re planning to get married during these peak times, you’ll likely face higher prices and more competition for available dates.
Choosing to have a wedding on a less popular day or month can help you save money and avoid the stress of fighting for venues and suppliers. For example, a mid-week wedding in May might be more affordable than a Saturday wedding in March, and you may have an easier time securing the vendors and suppliers you want.
4 – Choose A Venue That Doesn’t Need Too Much Decorating
Consider selecting a venue that can be transformed into a unique and personalized space with simple decor touches, such as flowers and lights. For instance, if you opt for a restaurant wedding, you’ll have the benefit of a well-appointed venue with excellent furniture, varied decor, cutlery, and glassware. Additionally, you’ll be able to treat your guests to exceptional food, ensuring they leave full and happy.
Another option is to choose a garden venue that doesn’t require extensive decorations since nature provides the perfect backdrop with stunning views and landscapes. Adding a few festive items, such as balloons or banners, can quickly enhance the ambience, and you’ll be all set to celebrate your big day without breaking the bank. By selecting an affordable venue and keeping the decor simple, you’ll have more budget to allocate to other essential aspects of your wedding day.
5 – Go Out of Town
Just because there are plenty of wedding venues in your city, that doesn’t mean that those are your only options. You may find that getting married in a smaller town or a suburb within an hour’s drive of the city saves you a great deal of money! Plus, wouldn’t it be nice to escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy city?
If you and your partner are a little ‘country’ at heart, you can easily find a wedding venue that feels timeless yet laid-back, surrounded by lush Australian bushlands, such as old barns and homesteads. Homely, down-to-earth, vintage vibes are waiting for you, with gorgeous outdoor scenery perfect for fabulous wedding photos!
6 – Only Get What’s Most Important
You might have the perfect wedding vision from top-notch catering from an award-winning restaurant to the most luxurious venue offering the best services. But in reality, affording all of those can be hard. Because of that, you need to decide on what’s most important for you.
Is the view what you don’t want to give up or the ambience? Is the size the most important thing because you have a big family and want all of your loved ones there?
Or is the location most important so everyone doesn’t have to travel too far? In short, book a venue with keeping all of these things in mind to make the most of your budget!
No matter how limited your budget is, if you can’t give up on food, we’ve listed some of our favourite inexpensive wedding foods to serve at a wedding. You can hire a caterer or self-cater your wedding by including these menu items easily:
- Ramen Noodles
- Tuna Cake Sliders
- Fried Macaroni & Cheese
- Mashed Potatoes & French Fries
- Gourmet Sandwiches
- Bruschetta Bar
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Banana Smoothies
- Jello Shots
- Oatmeal Cream Pies
- Pizza
7 – Downsize the Reception
Instead of a big gathering with all of your relatives and friends, keep it intimate. Since venues usually make their pricing per person, stick with a small number of guests, like 50.
If you want to share your happiness with everyone you love and the idea of not being able to do that because of financial problems tears you up, you can have a huge party a few weeks later in your house. What’s better than sharing a few laughs and drinks on a lazy Saturday afternoon?
8 – Cut an Hour From the Reception
Most of the wedding venues charge by the hour, so you can contribute to your budget by shortening your reception. You don’t need to include everything on the traditional reception outline for your celebration. You can customise it according to your wishes and needs. Instead of a 5 to 6 hours celebration, make it 3 to 4 hours and save big with a shorter reception.
9 – Go All-Inclusive
Many venues provide all-inclusive wedding packages that will help you to cut costs. Everything you need for a complete wedding is included in these packages, from decorations and food to cake and photography.
Do not forget to discuss packages with coordinators while taking a tour of the venues. With trusted vendors and incredible discounts, realise your dream wedding easily!
10 – Bring Your Own Alcohol
Since most wedding venues demand a hefty price for alcohol, it’s a smart idea to buy your own. The venue will probably charge a fee, but that will be considerably less than the venue supplying the alcohol.
Sign up to receive deals from different liquor stores or visit local wineries or breweries to see if there’s a deal that can be done. Don’t forget to ask whether there’s a return policy if you’re worried about buying too much.
Also, you can choose not to serve alcohol at your wedding for various reasons, from financial to religious, it is completely up to you!
11 – Hold Your Ceremony and Reception at the Same Place
Many couples opt for a ceremony at a church and their reception in a different venue. Instead of this, you can find an all-encompassing venue where you can say your ‘I do’s and dance the night away with your loved ones.
Doing this can help you save so much money in many ways. Firstly, you won’t need to hire two different spaces and also, there will be no travel costs to transport your guests to the reception venue. Don’t forget the amazing deals and discounts you can get from the venue as well!
12 – Ways To Create A Budget Wedding That Looks Expensive
You have a champagne palate but a beer wallet. Your guests will be surprised when they learn how little you spent with these tips for planning a gorgeous wedding on a small budget. You’ll be amazed at how cheap and simple it is to make your wedding appear more expensive without spending a fortune.
- Go for gold (or other metallics): Right now, gold is extremely popular. It provides a sense of class to your event and may be utilized as accents to a simple colour scheme to increase the glam level. If you want a spectacular wedding on a low budget, include metallic elements wherever possible.
- Add a little dash of sparkle and glitter: Adding a bit of glitz to your wedding will make it appear more expensive. You can add glitter to a few selected items of your decor to bring a bit of glamour and elegance to your event. To avoid overdoing it, use glitter sparingly.
- Use lots of frames: Stunning frames add an exquisite touch to everything from table numbers to signs! They can be cost-effective and make a lovely addition to your special day. Don’t forget that if you find ones in stores that are the proper size/shape but the wrong colour, you can fix it a little spray paint!
- Embrace the colour white: Embracing the colour white is a simple and cost-effective method to get a dazzling look on a budget. Using a simple colour scheme of white with metallic elements can ensure that your wedding looks luxurious without breaking the bank.
- Pretty up your linens: Rather than placing a napkin on each table, fold one neatly on top of each plate or chaser into a stylish shape or into a pocket to carry your menu.
