Getting Married On a Budget

It’s easy to get caught up in the expenses of a wedding whether it the floral arrangements or the best DJ in town. There are easy ways for you to save big bucks and still have the amazing wedding you dreamed up in your head when you were 12. 

Venue is Everything 

Choose a venue with a lot of character of its own. Some possibilities: an aquarium, zoo, museum, gallery, botanical garden or historical site. It’s also important that the location you select is easy for the majority of your guests to get to, so don’t neglect hometown options. According to party rentals Toronto specialists, you could even rent a vacation home or private estate for a small, intimate affair. It’s possible that they will charge a week’s worth in rent, but it may still be equal to or less than renting a traditional reception venue.

Colour is Your Best Friend

Using a rich hue such as chocolate brown or deep eggplant can give any colour palette a stylish look without costing you any extra green stuff. They work with a variety of shades, like apple green, light blue, orange, pink or red. 

Keep the Centerpieces Small but Loud                             

Go for chic and simple centerpieces. Instead of paying $75 to $125 each for elaborate table arrangements, purchase tall, clear cylinders from the local dollar store to use as containers for single orchids or rose petals in water with floating candles on top. In place of pricey flowers for centerpieces, consider romantic candelabras draped in crystals. Even varying the height, size or shape of centerpieces can add a nice effect on the overall look of your wedding. Doing so creates dimension and keeps the eye flowing throughout the room. You could also play around with centerpiece containers for a more custom look. 

Light It Up

One of the most overlooked décor elements when planning a wedding is lighting. Wedding lighting can completely transform your venue from ordinary to spectacular and make everything look even more beautiful on your big day. Lighting can have a very powerful impact on the overall look and feel of your event space as well as the mood of your guests all at a reasonable price. The proper wedding lighting not only enhances the look of your venue, it also highlights the important elements of your décor, like the centerpieces, or makes certain areas of the room focal points, like the dance floor or head table. Photographers love wedding lighting because it gives them additional visual elements to use in their pictures and makes for beautiful wedding photos. You could even use candlelight to give your room a rich, romantic look 

Return to Nature

Adding natural elements into your wedding décor can add a certain zest to the entire look of your wedding. You can use natural elements with earthy, upscale appeal. To make flower arrangements seem grander and more stylish for just a few dollars, wrap inexpensive glass containers in handmade paper, wallpaper or fabric and add a ribbon.

You Can Rent More Than You Think

For today’s budget-conscious brides, that sentimental feeling is quickly replaced by the real issue of savings. If you want a designer wedding you can afford, there are ways to rent instead of buying. You can rent nearly anything now-a-days from napkins to tables to chairs. You can rent napkins in a colour or pattern for about $1 each, adding a pop of vibrant colour and a more custom look at the same time. 

Plate Settings Make a Difference

A unique napkin fold can make a statement and most venues won’t charge for it. One option is to fold the napkin to create a pocket to hold a menu. You can accent your table’s plate settings with pretty napkin rings. You can rent them in different styles for three or four dollars each or buy them for as little as 99 cents apiece. You could even place a coloured or textured charger, for $1 to $1.50 each, underneath the dinner plates. If you (or someone else you know) is handy, create your own table runners. You can go for something extra luxury in your fabric because you won’t need a great deal of it. 

DIY is Worth It

Yes, you can DIY items for the wedding (which isn’t a bad idea at all), but you can also have your guests DIY for themselves. It’s a smart idea to create a DIY Bar. Whether it’s an outdoor cigar bar, a build-your-own-biscuits bar during cocktail hour, or a sundae bar at dessert, your guests will love making (and eating!) their own treats. 

Paper Magic 

It’s a good idea to get creative with escort cards and/or place cards. In some cases, party rentals Toronto members say that you can do a different shape or colour for less than you’d pay for the typical tented fold-over cards. You could place a beautiful menu at each guest’s place. Many venues will print them for you for free, or you can make them yourself without spending much. Dress up your escort cards and table numbers by choosing paper with a metallic sheen rather than a flat card stock.

The Look Is Everything

When selecting butler-passed foods, go for visually pleasing nibbles. Red gazpacho shooters with a green garnish look great lined up on a tray. A miniature caprese salad for everyone to munch on is a great way to incorporate colour into your appetizers while making it easy for the guests to enjoy something small. Presenting food in eye-catching ways creates a chic impression but doesn’t have to add costs. Most chefs enjoy creating unique presentations. If they have items available, like shot glasses, ceramic teaspoons and so on, they can use these at no further cost to you.

 The Unexpected Accent

To add an elegant and visually appealing accent, place an unexpected accent to dishes with pretty herbs or edible flowers, such as pansies or squash blossoms. In everyone’s champagne glasses, drop a single raspberry into the glasses for extra effect. You could also float a slice of lemon, orange, lime or a strawberry or raspberry in each guest’s water glass. While working with your budget, you can also order a tent from your nearest party rental tents specialist at AS Special Events. Did you know that over the past few months, party tents have become 10x more popular? Let’s explore why.