How to Save Money on a Wedding: 35 Tips From a Wedding Expert
The average UK wedding costs £20,604. That’s a significant amount of money, and if you’re feeling the pressure and trying to figure out how to save money on a wedding, you’re definitely not alone. The good news? You don’t have to compromise on the wedding you actually want. You just need to know where to spend and where to save.
“The couples who pull off the most beautiful, memorable weddings aren’t always the ones with the biggest budgets,” says wedding expert Zoe Burke. “They’re the ones who’ve made intentional choices about what actually matters to them – and found clever ways to make every pound work harder.”
Below, you’ll find 35 practical, specific tips for saving money on your wedding – organised by category so you can focus on the areas that matter most to your budget. And before you dive in, use Bridebook’s free wedding budget calculator to set your baseline – it’s the single most useful thing you can do before booking anything.
💡Bridebook tip: Use our free wedding budget tool to see exactly how your costs break down – it’ll help you identify the biggest saving opportunities for your wedding.
How to Save on Your Wedding Venue
Wedding venue costs will most likely make up the biggest part of your overall wedding spend.
Most couples tend to spend about half of their total wedding budget on their dream wedding venue. That means even a modest saving here will have a big impact!
1. Go Off-Peak
Venue prices are lower outside of peak wedding season (May – September), as demand is lower.
By choosing to marry in November or February, or opting for a Thursday instead of a Saturday, you can save thousands of pounds on your wedding.
Winter weddings also have their own distinct magic, making them well worth considering.
2. Book a Mid-Week Date
Saturday is the most expensive day of the week to get married, as it’s the most popular. Tuesday is one of the cheapest!
If your guest list is flexible, and the suppliers you want can accommodate it, you can save £££ by avoiding weekends.
3. Ask About Twilight Weddings
Twilight or late afternoon wedding packages are growing in popularity! A twilight wedding is when your wedding starts later in the day – usually from 4pm onwards.
It’s a cheaper option as you’re not hiring the venue and the staff for as long – sometimes twilight wedding packages can be as much as half the price of full day ones.
4. Combine Your Ceremony & Reception Venue
Hiring a separate ceremony venue adds cost – not just for the venue itself but for transport between the two. Choosing a venue that can host both means one hire fee, no coach or car hire, and a much simpler day-of logistics.
Civil ceremonies can take place at any licensed venue, so you have more options than you might think.
5. Consider Non-Traditional Wedding Venues
You can get seriously creative with your wedding venue – there are so many unusual wedding venues out there that charge less because they’re not your traditional choice.
Think gorgeous pubs with private dining rooms, restaurants and even breweries!
6. Check the Corkage Policy
Some venues allow you to bring in your own booze for a corkage fee, some don’t charge corkage, and some don’t allow this at all.
If you’re working to a really tight budget and want to save money on your wedding, ask your wedding venue about their corkage policy, as if there isn’t one, you could stand to save a lot!
7. Ask About Last-Minute Availability
If you’re not the kind of person who needs a full wedding planning checklist, ask at your favourite wedding venues about late availability!
Venues offer dates they haven’t filled yet or have had cancellations for at short notice for an absolute steal.
💡Bridebook tip: Bridebook works with thousands of incredible UK wedding venues, and the best way to find genuine off-peak savings is to search our directory with your preferred dates and talk directly to venues about what packages they can offer.
Most are genuinely flexible – particularly for mid-week and winter bookings
How to Save on Wedding Catering
Catering is one of the biggest wedding costs – wedding catering costs on average, £5,406 for the reception, and £2,002 for the evening reception, according to Bridebook’s average cost of a wedding data.
Small changes to your wedding catering plans can save you significant sums!
8. Be Strategic About Your Guest List
Catering is usually priced per head, so every guest on your list could add between £60 to £150+ to your bill, depending on your catering costs. That’s before you’ve even factored in their place setting, favour and evening meal!
Having a smaller wedding is the easiest way to save money on your wedding catering.
9. Rethink the Format
A formal, three-course sit down meal is the most expensive option when it comes to your wedding catering – but it’s not the only option.
Food stations, sharing platters, afternoon tea, grazing tables, food trucks and BBQs are just some of the alternative wedding catering options that will taste amazing, delight your guests and keep costs down.
10. Eat Your Wedding Cake!
Your wedding cake often gets served up in the evening – when everyone is already full.
Discuss the possibility of serving it as dessert after your wedding breakfast to save the cost of an extra course, and to make sure it all gets eaten.
11. Realistic Evening Catering Numbers
Not every guest will want to eat in the evening. Some will still be full from the wedding breakfast, some will leave early, some will be too tipsy to even clock that there’s food, and some of those who arrive later will eat before they get there.
It’s a safe bet to cater for about 70% of your guests in the evening – your caterer will be best placed to advise you based on their experience.
12. Discuss Your Drinks Package
Open bars might be becoming more popular, but they’re by no means expected at UK weddings, as they come with a significant cost.
Look at the set drinks packages your venue or caterers offer – most guests will be thrilled with a welcome drink, wine with their meal and a glass of fizz for the toast. You don’t have to go overboard.
13. See if You Can BYOB
As mentioned previously – check if your venue charges corkage. Dry hire venues often let you bring everything in yourself, so you can source your own wine and beer, which can save you hundreds.
How to Save on Wedding Photography & Videography
Your wedding photography and videography are the main details from your wedding that will last forever, so you don’t want to cut corners here.
But there are ways to save money on your wedding photography if you’re working with a very tight wedding budget.
14. Book a Half-Day Package
Full coverage wedding photography runs from getting ready in the morning, to the first dance. But if you’re looking to save money on your wedding, think about what photos you could live without.
You can find wedding photographers who do half-day packages, covering the ceremony, couple portraits and key reception moments such as the speeches.
15. Combine Your Photography & Videography
Lots of pros offer photography and videography in one package – opting for a deal like this will save you money, compared to hiring two separate vendors.
16. Go Off-Peak or Mid-Week
If you’re planning a Thursday wedding, or a winter celebration, ask your photographer if they offer any discounts for off-peak bookings. This will help you save money on your wedding overall!
17. Compare Quotes
If you are working with a smaller wedding budget, make sure you shop around – ask for multiple quotes and deliverables and opt for the one that works best for you.
Just don’t ghost the photographers you don’t end up going for – a polite note goes a long way!
18. Discuss the Deliverables in Advance
Talk with your photographer of choice about what they include – they might have add-ons such as albums, photo booth set up, smoke cannons etc.
It might be that including these things saves you money as you don’t need to pay for it separately, or you might ask if you can skip them to reduce the overall cost.
💡Bridebook tip: Professional wedding photographers price their work based on skill, experience, insurance, equipment, and the significant editing time that happens after your wedding day.
When you find someone whose work you love, their pricing reflects that value. The tips above are about buying smarter, not undervaluing the people who make your day unforgettable.
How to Save on Wedding Flowers & Décor
Your flowers and your décor can completely transform your wedding – these choices are very emotionally loaded! But, if planned carefully, they can be one of the most flexible parts of your wedding budget.
The key is to be strategic with your choices – this can help to reduce your wedding flower costs.
19. Opt for In-Season Flowers
Seasonal flowers are cheaper because they don’t need to be imported or specially sourced.
For example, if your wedding is in November, calla lilies, dahlias, and chrysanthemums will be abundant and affordable.
Ask your florist which flowers are in season for your wedding month – they’ll know, and they’ll be glad you asked.
20. Prioritise Impact Over Volume
One large statement piece can make a huge impact, and can be repurposed. A floral arch that your guests walk through can then be used in your ceremony, and for photos at your reception.
Talk to your wedding florist about the best way to make an impact, and whether one bold investment will work better for you than spreading your budget thinly.
21. Go for Greenery
Foliage as filler makes a lot of sense when you’re trying to save money on your wedding, and it looks so chic.
Eucalyptus, ferns, ivy, and other foliage cost a fraction of blooms and can look genuinely lush. A flower arrangement that’s 60% foliage and 40% flowers isn’t a budget arrangement – it’s a design choice.
22. Be Honest About Your Budget
When you’re enquiring with wedding florists, be honest about your wedding budget. Know what you can spend, and tell them upfront. They’ll be able to advise you with a realistic brief based on that budget – just don’t go in expected a wall of roses when your budget is more inline with baby’s breath.
23. Repurpose Your Bouquets
“I’ve been a bridesmaid several times now,” explains Zoe Burke, Bridebook’s resident wedding expert and Head of Brand, “and every time I’ve handed my bouquet over to be part of the centrepieces after the ceremony!”
It makes perfect sense – your bouquet can go on the top table, and your wedding party’s bouquets can go on the other tables. This way they stay in water throughout the day, and serve two purposes!
24. Let Your Venue Do the Heavy Lifting
Be intentional when you’re choosing your wedding venue. If you are working with a smaller wedding budget, choose a venue that you love the appearance of even without decoration.
This will mean you won’t have to allocate as much of your budget to décor.
How to Save on Your Wedding Outfits
Your wedding dress is one of the most personal purchases of your entire planning process, and wedding suits can be a timeless buy you turn to time and time again.
Here’s how to make sure you get outfits you love without overspending.
25. Explore Pre-Loved
There are so many great options out there when it comes to pre-loved wedding dresses. Charities such as Brides Do Good resell premium wedding dresses at a lower price, with the funds going to amazing causes, and Oxfam has a dedicated wedding dress section.
26. Check Out Sample Sales
Lots of bridal boutiques hold sample sales – they sell the dresses from their showroom at a reduced rate to make room for the new collections. You can grab as much as 70% off the RRP when you buy off the rack at a sample sale!
27. Rent Your Outfits
It used to be just the wedding suits that were rented, but wedding dress hire is on the rise too! Consider renting your wedding outfits if you only ever plan to wear it once. You can get a seriously high end outfit for a fraction of the price.
28. Shop on the High Street
You won’t get the same curated experience you get when you visit a specialist bridal boutique, but if you’re looking to spend under £500 on your wedding outfits, the high street is a good option.
Brands such as Coast, Rixo and Nobody’s Child all do bridal – it won’t be the same as a custom-tailored wedding dress, but you’ll still get a chic option that fits you and your budget.
29. Skip the Wedding Party Outfits
And when we say skip the wedding party outfits, we mean skip buying new ones – not asking them to show up in the nude!
Ask bridesmaids to wear dresses they already own, ask groomsmen to wear suits they already have. It’s a great way to keep costs down, and honestly, it’s really fashion-forward to have a mix-and-match wedding party.
30. Travel to Your Hair & Makeup Artist
Hair and makeup costs can be reduced when you travel to them and have your hair and makeup done in salon.
Part of the fee you pay covers the stylist’s travel, and the fact they will spend a chunk of their day with you. If you can travel to them, they can still have other appointments that day, so it should reduce costs.
The only downside is that you won’t have someone on hand for last-minute touch ups at your venue after you’re ready and dressed, but if you’re on a tight budget, needs must!
How to Save on Your Stationery, Favours & Extras
The little details of a wedding often cause budgets to quietly spiral. Individual items can seem small, but when you tally them up, it all adds up fast.
Here’s how to keep this category under control when trying to save money on your wedding.
31. Use a Wedding Website
A wedding website is a great way to give your guests all the information they could possibly need – reducing how much wedding stationery you need to order.
Luckily for you, you can make a stunning free wedding website with Bridebook!
32. Check Out Etsy
Lots of independent UK wedding stationers will sell digital designs on Etsy or Not on the High Street, which you can then send as PDFs, or get printed.
This allows you to shop around more when it comes to pricing.
33. Be Intentional with Wedding Favours
Don’t do wedding favours for the sake of it. If you’re going to do them, make sure they represent you as a couple, and that they’re something your guests will actually use.
Edible items, miniature drinks (check your venues rules on this), wildflower seeds etc. are all good options. “Wedding favours should be small enough to slip into a pocket or a bag, to avoid them being left behind,” advises Zoe.
34. Set Up an Experience Gift List
This won’t save you money on your wedding necessarily, but by using a wedding gift list that allows your guests to contribute to your honeymoon or other experience, you’ll be starting married life without needing to fork out for travel or date nights!
35. Be Honest About Your Budget
Whenever you’re getting quotes or contacting vendors, look for their minimum pricing, and if you can’t find it, be honest with them about your wedding budget.
“The worst that will happen if you’re open about your wedding budget is that they’ll say no – but they might be able to recommend someone else.” Says Zoe.
“The best case scenario is that they offer to make something work for you. You don’t have to haggle – just be open and see what they recommend.”
💡Bridebook tip: Looking for more budget-friendly ideas? Our cheap wedding ideas guide is full of creative inspiration for couples working with a smaller budget.
It’s distinct from the tactical advice above, it’s all about what a budget wedding can look and feel like when you approach it with intention
About the author
This guide was written by Zoe Burke, Head of Brand, Content & Social at Bridebook – the UK’s leading wedding planning platform.
Zoe has spent 15 years working in the wedding industry, including at some of the UK’s biggest wedding platforms, and now leads the editorial strategy behind Bridebook’s expert content.
She’s written extensively on wedding planning, budgeting, and trends, and regularly speaks at digital marketing and wedding industry events. When she’s not writing about weddings, she’s talking about them on TikTok at @wedding_editor.
All cost figures in this article are drawn from Bridebook’s annual UK Wedding Report, based on data from thousands of real UK couples.
FAQs: Saving Money on Your Wedding
Looking for ways to save money on your wedding? Zoe Burke, our resident wedding expert, answers the most commonly asked questions about how to save money on a wedding.
How much should I save before I start booking wedding suppliers?
There’s no single right answer, but a useful rule of thumb is to have at least 20 – 30% of your total budget saved before you start placing deposits.
Most venues and photographers require a deposit of 20–30% to secure your date, so having that available – plus a buffer – means you can commit without immediately overextending.
Use Bridebook’s budget calculator to work out your target number, then work backwards to a monthly savings figure from your chosen wedding date.
How can I cut wedding costs without it looking like I’ve cut corners?
The key is making intentional choices rather than across-the-board reductions. Spend on the things guests experience directly – food, drink, music – and look for savings on the things they notice less, like stationery, favours, and décor.
A wedding with extraordinary food and modest table centrepieces will be remembered far more fondly than one with elaborate centrepieces and disappointing catering.
How far ahead should I book suppliers to save money?
For popular dates and peak season, booking early gives you the best choice of suppliers – though it doesn’t always mean a lower price.
For off-peak dates or mid-week weddings, you may actually find better deals by booking later (3-6 months out), when venues and suppliers are keen to fill their calendar. The exception is photography: good photographers book up 18-24 months ahead regardless of the date.
Is it worth using a wedding planner if I’m on a tight budget?
Possibly – particularly a day-of coordinator rather than a full planner. A coordinator typically costs £500-£1,500 and means you don’t spend your wedding day managing logistics.
For full planning, a good planner’s supplier relationships and negotiating experience can sometimes offset their fee in money saved – but this only works if you find a planner who genuinely works with your budget.
What should I definitely not cut from my wedding budget?
Photography, catering, and good entertainment are the three areas most couples who’ve been married will tell you not to compromise on.
Your photos are the only thing that lasts. Bad food is what people will remember for all the wrong reasons.
Still looking for budget advice? Don’t miss our ultimate wedding budget breakdown.
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