South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Negotiate a better deal on wedding spending
With many couples downsizing weddings because of COVID-19, the average cost of a wedding dropped from $28,000 in 2019 to $19,000 in 2020, according to The Knot.
Trimming your guest list is one way to curb costs, but it’s not the only way to save money. Wedding industry experts recommend these negotiating strategies.
Choose an “off-peak” day and time. You can often get a better price when renting a wedding venue if you marry on a Friday or Sunday instead of a Saturday, says Noelle Ahmad-Snedegar, the owner of Washington, D.C.-based wedding and event planning company Lily & Grayson Events. Similarly, having your wedding in the afternoon can help you negotiate a lower rental price.
Downsize the band. The average cost of a live band for a three-hour reception is $4,000, plus a tip of typically 10%, according to Brides.com. Going with a smaller band saves money because most bands set rates based on the number of “pieces,” or how many band members perform. (Look for a band with members who can play multiple instruments, Ahmad-Snedegar says.)
Prefer a DJ? Most DJs charge by the hour, meaning you can save money by creating your own playlist for the ceremony and cocktail hour, and hiring a DJ only for the reception.
Hire wedding professionals who are just starting out. Self-employed wedding planners, day-of coordinators and other vendors who have only a couple of years of experience or less may be more willing to negotiate, says Joyce Scardina Becker, a wedding planner and designer at San Francisco-based Events of Distinction.
Scale back on dessert. Most wedding cakes are priced per slice, with some bakers or caterers charging up to $12 a slice, according to The Knot. Ordering a cake with smaller slices can lower the tab. So can ordering a small display cake for the cake cutting and having a sheet cake in the back to serve your guests.
Reuse floral arrangements. Couples spend an average of $2,000 on wedding flowers. To save money, Nicole Fauls Maitland, the owner of Urban Allure Events in Chicago, suggests repurposing floral arrangements. For example, place the floral arrangements that you used at your ceremony on your dining tables at the reception.
Send your photographer home early. Consider having a photographer shoot only your ceremony and the first half of your reception rather than the whole day. Another negotiating tactic: Ask the photographer to throw in a free engagement photo shoot before the wedding, Maitland says