Image via WikipediaOne of the factors that can have a major influence on the cost of your wedding is timing. Timing in relation to:The Season
The most popular seasons for weddings is spring and summer in cooler climates or spring and autumn in warmer climates.
Winter is the least popular season in northern hemisphere countries because it clashes with the holiday seasons.
Costs can rise considerably during the most popular seasons and around the holiday weekends. So to save money it's best to plan your wedding outside these times.
The Time of The Week
Saturday is still the most popular day of the week for getting married. However, with people's busy schedules and tight budgets, there is a growing trend to host a wedding on less popular days and times.
If you want to save money on your wedding reception, some other popular choices would be:
A Friday wedding - usually held as an evening event so that guests have to take less time off work.
A Sunday wedding - save costs on the amount of time you need to hire the venue, as Sunday functions usually finishes earlier than a Saturday wedding because people have to go to work on the Monday. This may also mean that you could also save money on drink costs if people drink less alcohol.
The Time of Day
The most popular time of day for a wedding is in the mid-afternoon for the wedding ceremony then the early evening for the reception. Here are some cheaper alternatives that will give your wedding a bit of interest and a more personal yet elegant touch:
A Wedding Breakfast
You would be able to save money on the two most expensive aspects of the reception: the food and the alcohol. You could serve a buffet style breakfast and serve sparkling wine for the toasts.
A Morning Brunch
The menu could be a little more conventional than the breakfast menu but still be a little less formal than a dinner menu. You could also serve lighter beverages besides alcohol to keep the costs low.
An Afternoon Tea
Similar to the popular "high tea", you could serve finger food such as dainty sandwiches, hor d'oeurves and cakes with tea and coffee. The only alcohol you'll need is the sparkling wine for the toasts.
A Cocktail Reception
This is an evening affair and tends to last for only 2-3 hours. There are no formal seating arrangements and guests tend to wander around mingling in groups while the food is served on trays.
TIP: If food is just placed on tables and guests are left to help themselves, you risk some people hogging the food tables and not leaving enough food for other guests.
It's important that you make it clear on your wedding invitation, as to what type of reception they can expect.
The biggest advantage of this type of reception is that people can socialize more freely that at a formal reception. The key to a successful cocktail reception is to make sure that the food is good quality.
Good luck with your wedding planning.
Regards,
The Wedding Fairy
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