Congrats! You and your partner decided to take the leap and get married. Next up: planning. The average wedding can cost a couple $30,000. That’s a LOT of money to spend on a single day. Of course, you want your wedding to be special, fun for guests, and memorable. But that doesn’t mean you need to go broke to have a once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Spending less on your wedding does NOT mean you have to sacrifice any of those things.
One of the easiest ways to spend less is to have your wedding during the winter. The cold months offer lots of financial advantages and savings. January, March, and November are the cheapest months to get married. The biggest negative for these months is the weather. They can be rainy, snowy, and/or cold. If you’re not afraid of a little cold or snow, or you’re totally fine with an indoor venue, these months might just be your ticket to saving a ton of money on an otherwise expensive day.
Finding a venue for a winter wedding date will be much easier. Because fewer weddings take place during that time, you’ll find more dates and venues available to you. Also, because wedding venues aren’t in high demand in the winter, the costs may be lower.
Venues are also likely to be more flexible about when you come in to set up or when you need to tear down. In peak seasons, they’re hosting events back-to-back and may not be able to accommodate a more flexible or relaxed schedule.
A cost many people forget to factor into wedding planning is the honeymoon. After months of planning, a much-needed break with your new spouse is a welcome respite. Honeymoons can quickly become a huge expense. Traveling in the off season is a fantastic way to reduce costs.
November through March marks the off-peak travel season for the U.S. and Canada, Europe, and parts of Asia, South America, and Africa. You can get great deals on hotels, transportation, and shopping. Additionally, you’ll be able to experience unique winter traditions wherever you’re visiting!
Also, the cost for your wedding guests to travel to and stay in town for your celebration should be less. This will make the members of your wedding party much happier!
Just like your venue, vendors like DJs, florists, caterers, bakers, photographers, and event rental companies slow down during this time period, particularly if your wedding takes place after the holidays.
Their prices might just be lower in the winter, or, because the volume of work they have has slowed, you may be able to negotiate with a vendor to get the best price possible. Of course, choosing in-season food and flowers also help to ensure costs don’t climb on some of the more expensive items for your big day.
Even if you’re conscious of keeping costs low while planning your wedding, you might just find yourself in need of some extra funds. PSECU has personal loan options with competitive interest rates, up to $20,000, if qualified, that can give you some wiggle room when planning your winter wedding!