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Writer's pictureStephanie Blanc
6 min read

7 Clever Ways Couples Can Save Money When Planning Their Wedding From An Industry Wedding Planner


Photo Credit: Purroy Productions


So bae popped the question and ya said yes! Now you guys are off to planning the wedding of your dreams...But hol' up! You're saying to yourself..."I heard weddings are a pretty penny, but DAMNNN!!!!" Lol Well have no fear! Your favorite wedding planner's here! And what's even better is that I'm spilling all the tea on how to save some coins without skimping on quality, when planning your wedding.



1.) Say YES to the dress! Just not the $10k one

This tip is for my brides. You're ready to say yes to the dress?! Just not the $10k-$20k one...right? Did you know that you can actually purchase a designer wedding dress for up to 50% off it's original price, or even more...?! How, you ask? By buying "pre-loved" of course! What's "pre-loved," you ask? Well it's just a fancy way of saying sampled or used Lol. But if people buy vintage Coco Chanel bags at a higher price point (smart marketing by the way!!!), why not purchase a "gently-used" designer wedding dress? Same concept, but better outcome! Of course you're gonna wanna dry clean it, just as you would with any other clothing item! Now, you might be asking, "Steph...Where do we get these designer dresses you speak of?" Here's a little industry secret: Bridal Trunk Shows! You can also purchase from former brides by checking out weddingbee.com or even Facebook marketplace. If you're not so hung up on labels then check out Ebay or Amazon and pair your dress with some fun Etsy jewelry accessories and BOOM, you're in business and ready to shoot the next cover for Vogue. Now, if buying "gently-used" isn't quite your cup of tea, then invest in a custom-made dress. You'd be soooo surprised at how much more you can actually save with a seamstress who will custom-make it for you, and it'll hold more sentimental value that way too! I ❤ a 2-in-1 deal!



2.) Roses Aren't Always Red

I don't know about you, but I'm no flower connoisseur. YES, even as a Professional Wedding Planner! Listen, I leave that stuff to the professionals (thankfully Lol). I say all this to say, that my knowledge on different types of flowers is pretty limited to roses, carnations, baby's breath peonies, and calla lilies (their my fave by the way Lol). My point...? Break the norm and do some research on a variety of unique flowers. Try choosing and purchasing flowers that are in season. Meet with your local florist and ask for some cost-effective ways to incorporate beautiful colors and various types of flowers that'll make a uniquely stunning arrangement. Consider mixing in some silk flowers with the real thing or doing a silk flower bridal bouquet (the REAL looking ones...Not the dollar store ones pleassseee I beg of you Lol). A good resource for silk flowers is www.save-on-crafts.com. Not only are you saving coins with flowers, but you do not have to worry so much about your bouquet wilting before you say I do!



3.) Save the Trees & Send Evites!

Listen...I'm not gonna lie to you. I'm truly a sucker for some stunning hand-made stationery! But I'm also a sucker for cool graphic design and an advocate for saving the environment. Therefore, I'm all for reducing the need for excess paper products. If you have a large guest count, then Evites not only save you money on stationery expenses, but they kinda sorta help out the environment too. Let's be honest, most guests (if not ALL of 'em) throw away the invites at some point. We live in a digital world where everyone pretty much does EVERYTHING on their phones already anyway. So why not create some chic Evites or a custom-made digital invite that your guests can view on their phones or whatever digital device they prefer. By the way, we can do that for you too at www.mariageblancdesigns.com! Bonus points for literally being able to track every RSVP with Evites as well! (A Wedding Planner's dream!) Annddd another 2-in-1 deal scenario!



4.) Tis the Season of Giving!

Are you stumped with what gifts to give your bridal party? I get it...You see all these cool personalized trinkets on Pinterest and you're tempted to click the checkout button. But you also want to make sure that you gift your loved ones with something that they'll truly appreciate and use. Not to mention, getting personalized this and personalized that can reallyyy add up quickly. So try buying practical bridesmaids & groomsmen gifts that they'll actually use regularly or make great use out of, even if it's just one time. One way to do this, is by taking advantage of the holidays to get a 2-in-1 themed gift! Get crafty and clever and make homemade cookies or a thoughtful kit like "pasta night in a bowl." They'll love and appreciate the gesture. Trust me, anything homemade (especially, as an adult) is such a nice sentimental touch and most of the bridal party would rather homemade cookies (or gourmet ones from their local bakery) over another personalized coffee mug Lol. If you're local to Hudson Valley, NY, then check out The Cookie Girl Bake Shop for your next cookie fix! (www.cookiegirl.com) Tell Liz, Stephanie from Mariage Blanc Designs sent ya! ;-)



5.) Low-Profile Musicians

I always feel like live musicians add a little pizzazz to an event and their sure to get your guests on their feet (that's if they're good of course Lol). But seriously, there is so much un-discovered talent out there. You'd be sooo surprised to know that those guys rocking the house in the NYC subways, do actually accommodate many wedding gigs! Don't be afraid to check out some local talent in your area. If you can't get the real John Legend, then just get a legend in the making.



6.) Wine & Dine

I always tell my couples that they are free to do as they please for their wedding! I'm just here to impart some of my knowledge given my experience. Howeverrrr....One faux pas that I will always back up is having your guests pay for their drinks (YIKES!). Guys...Just don't be thoseee guys Lol. It's super tacky and just plain ugh. Now that's not to say that you have to spend a fortune on a "free reign open bar-type" situation (cause we all know that it can be the equivalent to a down payment on a car really really fast. Especially, if you know that your crew can hold their own with booze Lol. What it does mean however, is that you can be smart about how you approach the whole "liquor situation." Wine and beer is a good place to start. Buying a sufficient supply of your favorite wine bottles will be enough to do the trick, while not appearing super cheap. What's even more cool is that you can double-up on function by utilizing the wine bottles as markers for your table numbers. See, not only did you just save on liquor, but I gave you a tip to save on event supplies as well!




7.) Quality Over Quantity

When you're about to get married, researching vendors can be a tad bit overwhelming. However, the benefits from word-of-mouth and social media largely help out when executing doing your research. One of the top most exciting bookings is your wedding photographer, and one way to save money when booking one is to focus on quality over quantity. Not only with the price, but also with the amount of hours you'll truly need. Therefore, instead of a 12-hour day of coverage...Perhaps you can opt for an 8-hour day of coverage. You'll still be able to get your get-ready shots all the way through the juicy parts of the reception. After all, it's about capturing the most touching moments in the most beautiful way, not the number of images on the roll. Plus...I'm sure no one wants pictures of them with sweat and makeup dripping down their face or when they've had a little too much to drink. Those shots don't usually make the cut for the album Lol.


Well guys...That's all for now! I really hope you found these tips really helpful. Remember these tips do not only apply to weddings, but they can be used for all events across the board. Please be sure to share them with your family & friends who you think could benefit from these tips! Also if you enjoyed this blog post, then we're just gettin' started on the fun! Make sure to join my VIP list so that you're in on all our juicy tea, tips, package specials, and more lifestyle content. Get on the VIP list here.



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