Wedding Hacks: How to cut costs for your big day
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- We are in the thick of wedding season, and if you're finalizing some plans, you can still find little ways to save big.
Celebrity wedding planner Darryl Wilson has been featured in "People" magazine and has planned weddings for reality stars Ray J and Princess Love and Houston Astros slugger Evan Gattis. And while he loves lavish, it's not always in the budget.
Wilson shared some ideas on how to cut costs on that wedding bill:
Don't get married on a Saturday. Wilson said Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday are ways to save on the venue. You can actually save as much as 60 percent.
Those multi-layer wedding cakes aren't always what they appear. Sometimes, fake layers of Styrofoam are added to make the cake look bigger, which will also cost less for the couple.
Music is an important element if you want a fun reception, but instead of hiring a DJ, Wilson suggests to go simple and make use of someone's iPhone.
Wedding decor doesn't have to be expensive. If you want to use flowers, try buying from a wholesaler or if you have a crafty family member or friend, ask them to help with some DIY flowers.
Wilson said that he's not a big fan of flowers, so he recommends doing a beautiful place setting or candles.
And we all know that the perfect wedding dress is crucial for a bride, but it doesn't mean it has to be new. You can save a lot of money if you buy your dress used. You would be surprised at what you find.
In April, Consumer Reporter Patricia Lopez showed us how to find designer dresses at local thrift stores, saving the bride thousands of dollars.
For your bridesmaids, have them shop for their own dress. That way they can choose their own color and style.
Alcohol for a wedding could be one of the most expensive parts of a reception. Instead of providing liquor, just offer your guests beer and wine. Wilson also suggested to cut the time for your bar.
"The bar doesn't have to go for four hours. It can go for one hour or don't open the bar after dinner," Wilson said.
For the food, couples can save if they choose a brunch menu rather than dinner or buffets instead of plated meals.
And we know that some people are eager to invite everyone that they know to the wedding, but if you want to cut the bill, you need to cut the guest list. A cool way for others to still be part of the wedding without actually being there is to offer a live stream option.
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