One of the toughest parts of planning a wedding is creating your guest list. At an event that is known to include all of your family and loved ones, it’s hard to know where to draw the line. Unlike other wedding cost-cutting tips like making your own dress, or asking a friend to officiate, reducing your guest list will save you money in several places.
Venues and catering
Venues and caterers generally charge per person, making this the most significant area for savings. When you consider that many couples pay over $100 per plate, reducing as little as 10 people from your list, will save you $1,000.00, on catering alone.
Florals and decor
Quantity is also a factor when it comes to floral arrangements. By scaling back, the amount of tables needed for your reception will be minimized, therefore you will require less centerpieces. The same is true for table linens and favors for your guests.
Paper goods
Wedding stationery is another area where quantity matters. Between save the dates, invitations, place cards, programs, menus, thank you cards and postage, you can expect to see a reduction in your costs by ordering less of everything across the board.
Transportation
Many couples offer their guests a means of transportation from the hotel to their reception site. A few less guests may mean the difference between one and two vehicles, drivers, and a several hundred dollars.
Need help reducing your guest list? Check out our article on Making the Cut.
Don’t forget to check back for more tips in our money saving series!
