5 Wedding Budget Breakers to Avoid
As you dive into the planning process, watch out for these five major budget-drainers!

When you start planning your wedding, the options seem endless -- and they are. So keep your budget (every bride and groom has one) on track by cutting corners where nobody will notice. Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with these five tips on how to scale back without hurting your wedding vision.

Budget Breaker #1: Expensive save-the-dates
How to Avoid It: Go DIY with your save-the-dates.
Get creative with a card kit from craft stores like Michaels or Jo-Ann, or make life easy and print out free save-the-dates on a website like WeddingChannel.com. Remember: Your save-the-dates give guests their first glimpse at your wedding style, so consider using a postcard theme if you’re having a destination wedding or incorporating a black-and-white engagement photo for a more vintage vibe.

Budget Breaker #2: Bulky invitation suites
How to Avoid It: Ditch the inserts.
You know those blank pieces of paper that go inside most invitations? Guess what? They’re totally unnecessary! Save hundreds of dollars by skipping this super-formal tradition. The extra paper may be a little too much, especially if you have a casual wedding style, and your invites will be more eco-friendly as well. Plus, there are some details you can just put on your wedding web page, like lodging information.

Budget Breaker #3: Hidden costs on chairs
How to Avoid It: Say good-bye to chair covers.
Depending on your wedding vision, fancy chair covers might be one more “don’t really need it” item to scratch off the list. Skipping this decorative add-on can save you anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars. If you’re having a formal reception and want your chairs to have an extra detail, avoid renting or buying covers and go with a sash in your wedding colors instead.

Budget Breaker #4: Multiple Menu Choices
How to Avoid It: Minimize the menu.
It’s a wedding, not a five-star restaurant, so whoever said you have to offer fish, chicken, and steak at your reception needs a reality check. If you’re a foodie, then go ahead and splurge on your menu (and maybe save with smaller centerpieces or a DJ). If not, serve plates with duos, like a crab cake and small cut filet, so guests can have a taste of everything and you don’t pay for wasted entrees.

Budget Breaker #5: Favor Overload
How to Avoid It: Forget the favors.
Between the food, music, and drinks, most people won’t miss a tiny picture frame or deck of playing cards with your monogram on the box. If you can’t imagine your wedding without take-home treats, set up a table with a candy bar and cellophane bags so guests can get a quick sweet fix on their way out. -- Summer Krecke