3 Ways to Save on Your Wedding Reception

With a little creativity modern brides can do several things to trim their wedding day budget. As many brides discover throughout the planning process, the small things quickly add up. By focusing on the bigger picture you can easily eliminate a few non-essentials and reduce your wedding expenses. Take a look at three simple ways to trim your budget at your reception.

1. Skip the DJ. Many brides are opting to have a friend or family member manage the tunes at the reception by simply using a laptop or ipod. It may take you some time to create the perfect playlist, but you can ensure that you play the music that you all love and avoid any songs that may not suit your interests. If you still need to have someone for announcements, consider asking a member of the bridal party or family with a great speaking voice to serve as your MC for free!
2. Cut the favors. Wedding favors are one of those small items that can quickly add up! You can completely eliminate this area or focus on creating a favor that is low cost. If you are crafty you can find so many ideas on websites such as Pinterest for wedding favors. Many brides are now choosing to bake their own yummy favors for guests to enjoy soon after the wedding. Less be honest, most wedding favors end up in the trash can or left behind on the tables at the reception. If you are going to invest in this area, do something inexpensive that your guests will love, such as cupcakes in a jar!
3. Limit or Eliminate the Bar. Traditionally, the bride and groom cover the costs of a full bar for the wedding guests. More recently, we are seeing more and more cash bars. If a cash bar is not your taste, consider limiting the types of drinks that are served. For instance, you could easily serve only wine and beer and cut thousands from your budget depending on your guest list or serve a signature beverage. If having a bar is not essential for you, then cut it out altogether and offer your guests a variety of non-alcoholic options.