The most recent statistics indicate that the average wedding in the UK costs upwards of £15,000. Rainbow Weddings are pleased to offer you some creative ideas to help save money and still have the Wedding of your dreams.

  • Plan ahead – The earlier you start your planning the more opportunity you will have to see what’s on offer and precious time for you to gain information and ideas that could work for you. Having more time will obviously give you more chance to pick up a bargain.
  • Start looking for the wedding outfits now – The earlier you start to look the sooner you will know what looks right on you and those styles that don’t. Take advantage of sales, look for accessories, shoes, Mothers outfit etc in general sales, and don’t limit yourself to bridal shops. Consider buying second hand, you will be amazed at what you can find. Think very seriously about hiring both your dress and your partner’s suit. After all are you ever going to want to wear it again.
  •  Get married on a weekday rather than a Saturday.
  • Consider Winter or Autumn rather than Summer or Spring. Hotels often can offer deals when they are not normally busy. Another alternative is to have the reception at home or a marquee in the garden. You will be surprised how much space can be made by covering the garden.
  • Choose a Buffet reception rather than a traditional sit down meal. You can offer a variety of food to suit all tastes and choose items that are not too expensive mixed in with some special dishes. This method also saves on staffing costs, yet you can still have a seating plan and all the decorations you want. Your guests take turns in helping themselves, after you and your top table guests of course. Ask an Usher to be in charge to ensure each table has a turn.
  • Buy the drink yourselves, you can often get great prices from the local supermarket and they even will loan you the glasses. Again start looking in advance as some deals will not be repeated. If you are taking the drink to a hotel you will have to pay corkage, even so you would still save a lot of money. Please check first as some venues do not allow you to do this at all.
  • Limit the choice to wine beer and soft drinks, avoiding the expense of spirits.
  • Ask a friend to take the video, spend an evening after the wedding editing it together and adding your music. Find a friend or relative to take a set of natural photographs. This will enable you to limit the professional to specific shots or don’t use one at all. Buy a photograph album and chose the photographs you want to put in it. Add personal comments and small mementoes to make it special.
  • Go for flowers in season and keep it simple. Alternatively use silk flowers, balloons and ribbon decorations.
  • Make a tape of your favourite music and play it during the reception meal; this is much cheaper than having a live entertainment.
  • Ask friends with larger cars to transport you to and from the wedding. Hire cars are lovely but can be expensive. Alternatively book just one car for the Bride and her Father to go to Church and use the same one to take the Bride and Groom from the Church.
  • Look around your circle of friends and family, you will be surprised what talents they have. Maybe an Aunt, friend or Mum could bake the wedding cake, arrange the flowers or is a dressmaker. If you don’t ask you will never know. Cake tins for wedding cakes are easily available for hire in good cook shops. If there is no-one able to make the cake, consider buying ready made cakes from the supermarket or department stores. You can then add your own decorations to make it unique and less than half the cost.
  • Take out wedding insurance. You will then be covered for damage to your outfit, loss of presents and cancellation costs if one of you or a parent is too ill to attend. They do not pay out if either of you change your mind!