5 money saving tips for your big day! - Part I

Hi brides and grooms!

We all love a beautiful wedding that we can share with our friends and loved ones. However, do we really want to go bankrupt in the process? Here are some quick money saving tips to use and still have a gorgeous and memorable wedding day!

1. Cut that guest list!

The guest list is the BIGGEST wedding expense! Cutting back on this expense is highly controversial, especially given our African setting where every aunty, cousin, close friends, and the occassional wedding crasher, wants in on the day. Every extra guest means an extra everything (food, rentals - tables and table centerpieces, chairs, decorations - larger tents) which costs more leading to more money (which you may not have) to spend! My rule of thumb is, if you haven't spoken in the last three months, they probably should not be attending your wedding!

2. Wedding Wednesday

Marry on a weekday! Event venues are pricier on high demand weekends compared to slower weekdays. Booking a weekday for your event also gives you more bargaining power with vendors such as photographers and event rental (chairs, tables and linens) companies who are busiest on weekends. Fewer guest are also likely to attend a weekday wedding which means you can save even more coins!

3. Have a breakfast wedding

Who said you have to have a lunch time or dinner wedding reception and serve a full buffet with 3 starches, 3 proteins and vegetables? How about a 9 am wedding then serve chai, sweet potatoes, mandazi, samosas and sausages at your breakfast reception? By noon everything is over and you can start your honeymoon!

4. Buy silver wedding bands

Gold wedding bands costs upwards of KES. 50,000. On the hand, silver wedding bands are more affordable than the traditional gold wedding bands for the actual wedding day. If you really both want to invest in gold wedding bands you can gradually save up and get them at some point, prefarably during future a wedding anniversary. This decision alone could save you a whole lot of that much needed cash to pay that caterer!

5. Pick a simple wedding cake design

Wedding cakes in Kenya cost on average KES 30,000-70,000 which I honestly think is ridiculous - Those sugar flowers may look beautiful but they will cost you a whole month's rent! Your guests should be perfectly fine sampling a simple vanilla or chocolate cake costing not more than KES 10,000, and they will still enjoy your wedding day!

Look out for 5 more money saving tips in Part II!

Happy Planning!

#bigday #weddingevents #weddingplanner #themerryeventscompany #eventplanning #kenyanweddings #budgetbrides