Save Money on Wedding Planning: Cake, Gifts, & Honeymoon

The final stretch of the wedding planning process is where couples often simply run out of money and have to cut things off or go into debt. That is why it is important to consider the entire process. If a couple can resist the temptation to spend their entire budget on the wedding venue (or venues if a separate reception area is needed), flowers, catering, or whatever element is limitable to them then they can enjoy a great wedding cake that will serve as the focal point of their wedding reception, or have money for gifts for those attendants who have so selflessly come to help them celebrate the big day.

Cake: There are a lot of ways to save money on the wedding cake. The most obvious, is limit the amount of color in the icing since icing has to be colored by hand. It starts white so a white cake should be cheaper than the same cake with other colors.

Likewise, plan on not saving the top tier of the wedding cake for the one year anniversary so those servings can be used to feed the guests. If desired a small cake can be ordered from the same bakery a year later when the money is not so tight – and it will not be tainted by freezer burn.

In the event of an outdoor wedding, unless the cake is completely covered in fondant, consider doing away with it all together. Buttercream icing usually holds up if the weather is not too humid, but is usually dependable enough? Rather consider serving a special desert that will be served precut and on plates. Or consider something nontraditional such as a truffle tower.

Gifts: Running around looking for gifts takes a lot of time and gas. Rather sit down at the computer and search for your bridesmaid’s gifts / groomsmen’s gifts / wedding favors online. Let the delivery driver that zips past your house everyday anyway drop them off on your doorstep. It will save you time, money, headaches, and ease the congestion on the streets.

Likewise, if you need to cut even further on your wedding favors consider ordering some special wedding favor packaging that fits your theme and making your own. Those organza swatches tied with ribbon holding Jordon almonds have been way overdone to have a positive effect on your wedding but it is easy to find fun creative packaging that matches your theme that will not stretch your budget. Then simply choose your favorite recipe for homemade truffles (they really are pretty easy to make) or even recruit your Aunt to make her famous brownies, wrap them in plastic wrap, and put them in the packaging.

Incidentals: Every wedding has people. People have accidents and other incidents that bring to light needs. You can wait until they come up and have to rush out to the closest 7-11 and pay way too much for them or you can pick up a wedding survival kit filled with all the basics that you might need. And since it is filled with things like aspirin, needle and thread, tampons, etc. you will use them eventually so you are not buying things you will not use. You are simply saving time and money by buying the wedding survival kit ahead of time.

Honeymoon: Yes, though it is often thought of as separate, the honeymoon is indeed a part of your wedding celebration if only due to the fact that most find themselves paying for it within the same time frame as the wedding so most couples should consider it as a part of their wedding budget. Indeed, it is your own personal celebration.

Consider booking a condo instead of a hotel. Often the price per night is comparable but it saves the traveler the necessity of eating out two or three times a day – and my experience has been that you get more room than a hotel! Also, save money by shopping the internet. Using the internet allows you to research and book your honeymoon without spending time and money running from one travel agent to the next. You can even research and book your honeymoon activities online!

Truly, good wedding planning requires choices. The most common mistake that brides make is in not taking the time to make those choices. Rather, they just begin collecting elements for their wedding without regard to their theme or their wedding budget with the end result that they either have a wedding full of grand elements that do not quite fit together or they run out of money and have to do without something that they really would have liked in their wedding. The good news, though, is that it is possible to have a better and less expensive wedding simply by taking the time up front to consider the entire wedding planning process.

More money saving tips on your wedding planning:

Save Money on Your Wedding Dress

Save Money on Your Photography, Flowers, and Catering

Save Money on Your Venue, Invitations, & Gown

Save Money Scheduling Your Wedding

Wedding Planning Process