As many of my couples and everyone worldwide are experiencing – it isn’t cheap to get married! Especially if you’re planning a destination wedding or inviting many guests. I’ve seen it as a PNW elopement photographer and wedding planner. It’s tough planning an affordable event! However, throughout my years of experience, I’ve figured out the easiest ways to save money while planning your PNW elopement. Elopements are a unique way to get the wedding experience in a more intimate and budget-friendly manner. Throughout the blog, we’ll discuss my top tips for saving money!
Skip the Wedding Venue When Planning Your PNW Elopement
When couples decide to elope and land in the Pacific Northwest, there’s no need for a venue! We are so fortunate to be in an area with incredible sights. Just within a few hours, we have access to mountains and beaches. The Pacific Northwest is anyone’s dream location!! While planning your PNW elopement, consider skipping the venue and eloping outdoors. Find a spot on the beach or in the mountains with an incredible view! Not only are venues one of the more expensive pieces of wedding planning, but you don’t have to worry about working around the venue’s schedule!
Skip Catering
While planning your big day, consider skipping the caterer. Not only will your elopement have fewer guests, but you may not have a traditional venue – no need for a caterer. Invite your guests to join you for an intimate dinner at a restaurant after the ceremony. Catering is often a HUGE expense that many couples don’t realize will consume most of their budget. By skipping a caterer, you’ll leave room in your budget for other, more important things.
Hire a Day of Coordinator vs Wedding Planner
As a photographer and wedding planner, I understand the importance of having a support team on your wedding day. Often, a wedding planner or day coordinator holds it all together. They help bring your vision to life while ensuring everyone is where they need to be. If you’re on a budget and looking to keep costs low, consider hiring a day coordinator instead of a complete wedding planner. A day of coordinator is an excellent option for couples looking for help managing their elopement day. While they won’t help you plan the day, they’ll help you finalize your day timeline, ensure it’s followed, and communicate with vendors on the day of your elopement so you can enjoy the experience of marrying your love!
Save Money with Specialty Florist When Planning Your PNW Elopement
Next on my list of top ways to save money while planning your PNW elopement is to look into a specialty florist. Often, these florists cater more towards elopement couples and have smaller floral packages that suit your needs. Before calling the florist, write down a list of who needs flowers and what you specifically need. Another budget-friendly option is to look at grocery stores and wholesale clubs like Trader Joe’s and Sam’s Club. These stores often have beautiful flowers at great prices.
Rent or Buy Wedding Dress Second-Hand
Coming from a town in Idaho filled with college students, many brides rent their wedding dresses. It’s a simple way to save money on another considerable expense, especially since you’ll only wear it once! Many brides are looking into renting wedding gowns to get the dress of their dreams for the day and save tons of money in the long run. Another simple money-saving tactic is to go thrift shopping! Thrift stores have been known to get stunning gowns and price them super low. It’s worth a shot!!!
Set a Budget When Planning Your PNW Elopement
Next, when planning your PNW elopement, set a budget. You may think setting a budget isn’t a money-saving technique, but it is! There’s so much power in budgeting and understanding how much you can spend without getting in too deep. A budget allows you to come together with your partner and decide what is essential for you. What is a non-negotiable on your wedding day? The other things can be obtained on a smaller scale. Allow yourself to use your budget to the fullest, getting precisely what you want while staying in control.
Get Married on a Weekday
Another simple trick is to get married on a weekday! When traveling or working with vendors, they offer weekday discounts to try to book those days. Venues sometimes do this, as do photographers. As you can imagine, weekends are the most popular days for a wedding, especially for a destination event. Couples are traveling for their big day or have guests working during the week. Many people may not be able to attend a weekday wedding, however if you’re eloping it won’t matter. Elopements are typically smaller, and the people you want to be there will be there.
Hire a PNW Elopement Photographer
Lastly, while planning your PNW elopement, contact an elopement-specific photographer. Not only will they have specific packages to accommodate your needs, but they’ll have schedule availability when you need them! Most of the time, elopement photographers leave their schedules pretty open for last-minute events that may arise. As a PNW elopement photographer, I always do my best to make sure I’m available when you need me, offering affordable packages and supporting you on your big day. Look into my elopement packages here!
While planning any event can be a lot of work, it’s always worth it in the end!! Let me know if any of these tips help your planning process or if you have more questions. Reach out to me on Instagram, and I’ll do my best to help in any way I can!
Are you ready to meet your dream PNW elopement photographer? Reach out today!
