Wedding expenses can be very high, dauntingly so in these recessional times. But a wedding day doesn’t have to involve your breaking the bank. There are a number of ways that you can cut back on costs, and still have a wedding that’s really wonderful. Here’s a quick guide to helping you budget, and budget well, on your big day. 

Know what matters to you: According to the couple, certain things will matter more than others on a wedding day. Some couples will really take pride in the food served, and want to make it really perfect. For others, the flowers decorating the church pews and party table-tops are paramount. Other couples prefer to prioritize the after-wedding party—music and dance are valued above all else. Thinking hard about what it is you want to be really special on your important day will help you to justify expenses, and not spend silly money on things you know you don’t care about. 

Cut down the guest list: Couples on a budget should not feel bad about trimming their invite list. It’s a lot better not to get into a load of debt just because you don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. Couples can gently explain to their colleagues, acquaintances and distant relatives that they are welcome to come to the post-dinner reception. Most people will get your reasoning, especially if they’ve had to deal with a similar problem.  

Recycle flowers: A really good way to have beautiful flowers both at the church and at the reception, at low cost, is to re-use them! You could hang bouquets on the end of pews and then have a florist or a friend take them to the reception hall or party venue after the ceremony. People don’t take into account how much money this can save. In addition, bridesmaid bouquets can also go on to the table for decoration—this is handy not only because it’s a lovely decoration, but it also gives the girls a place to put their flowers when they want to dance. The bouquets look great in silver vases. 

Plan: Of course, another way to not be to hard hit by the heavy weight of wedding expenses is to be financially savvy. With a good bank, such as Santander, you can benefit from really customisable personal loans. At the moment, for example, the bank offers for existing customers a personal loans package of 8.9% APR on loans from between £7, 500 and £14, 950, with the flexible option of paying money back in monthly repayments for a duration of anywhere between 1 and 5 years. Finally, Santander make it really easy for you to sign up if you’re not already a customer.