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Planning out a wedding is tough, but paying for it is even harder. There are just so many ways to make the day memorable, but each and every one of these cost money. The whole process basically costs money each step of the way. While it may be worth it to make this day spectacular, sometimes it is not the best idea to start the marriage off with increased debt.
Even though there are hundreds of ways to make a wedding expensive, there are equally as many ways to limit expenses. Some ways are pretty creative while others seem like no-brainers. Here are just few hacks that can save thousands on weddings.
Airbnb Venue
This idea blew my mind, but the more I think about it, the more I realize how genius it is. If you have no interest in dropping thousands on an expensive venue, then the best idea is to have the wedding at home.
What if your place is not big enough? Or your friends house is not big enough?
Well have no fear because Airbnb has you covered. Apparently, you can rent out someone else’s house and backyard through Airbnb. It is entirely plausible, and it can cost less than $1,000. You can rent out multiple rooms for the whole weekend.
The only tricky part is finding the right home owner, but this is nothing good communication cannot handle. Look for the perfect venue at someone else’s home with Airbnb.
Ditch the DJ
You may be kicking yourself if you have already booked an expensive DJ for your wedding. There is a very simple and easy alternative to this expense: free online radio. If you have Pandora or Spotify, then you can simply rely on you and your friends’ music tastes to liven the party. On top of this, anyone who happens to have Pandora One or Spotify Premium can eliminate all of the bothersome commercials and ads.
Ditch the Ordained Priest/Minister
This is a pretty common short cut when planning marriages. Instead of trying to get an official priest or minister to preside over the marriage, you can recruit a friend to get ordained themselves. This is extremely cheap. Anyone can get ordained online, and they can bless a marriage with legal authority. Have your friends fight over this responsibility because it is a cool one.
Send Out Email Invitations
This option lacks a bit of class in terms of wedding invitations. Opting out of expensive, handwritten invitations can save a ton of money which is a perfect alternative for the financial conservative. You can spend a little bit of money on a special online invite servicer, or you can literally write the invitation in Google mail yourself.
Use an Amateur Photographer
Most people want to record every living moment of a wedding with a professional photographer. This is ok, but you end up spending anywhere from $1000, $2000, or more depending on event length. Sometimes amateur photography is a cheaper alternative that produces similar results. If you happen to have a friend with a knack for photography, then throw them a camera and let them snap away. They may even do it for free.
Author: Jeff Gitlen
