3 tips on how to find an affordable wedding venue

From: Claire and Tammy's wedding at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante; wedding planner: Eternal Emotion Weddings. This wedding was first published in Her World Brides September - November 2014.

Time your wedding

If you marry on a weekday, you can save loads of moolah. It just wont be as convenient for guest who have to come straight from work. 

SAVINGS: A wedding table in a hotel costs about $900 on a weekend (plus tax) and $700 on a a weekday (plus tax). Certain hotels can even go as low as $500 (weekday). You’ll save about $200 per table. Ten tables will give you $2000 extra for something else. And if you’re like most brides with 20 tables, you’ll be saving more.

Choose your venue carefully

The locations or type of a hotel will affect your charges. The more central the location, or if the hotels is upmarket, charges will be higher. 

SAVINGS: Central or upmarket hotels charge between $900 to $1100 per table (plus tax), while smaller, boutiques hotels can go for about $600 (plus tax) for weekdays. That’s about $500 you can save on each table.

Dishing up a deal

When discusing menues with a hotel, always check if there’s a more affordable deal than the current menu offered. Most hotels are uable to put an extact dollar saving as the cost depends on the choice of food.

SAVINGS: Common sense will tell you how to negotiate a better bargain. For instance, a lobster entrée will certainly cost more than chicken, so you may want to order that instead.

Consider an alternative to the Chinese nine-course dinner too. If you stay with basic chicken or fish, a five-course dinner may cost less than a typical nine-course meal. Some caterers suggest this: Approach the hotel or caterer, state your budget, and ask what kind of menu that amount will get you. They should be able to advise you on the best possible deal.

This article was first published in Her World Brides March - May 2002.

See also: Save on your wedding banquet with these tips.