Weddings can be one of the most expensive events of a person’s life. Instead of dropping thousands of dollars on your big day, there are ways you can cut corners.

Kris Labang, the owner of Hawaii Wedding Photography, just offered some advice to brides and grooms with their wedding day coming up.

Consider a backyard wedding or borrowed venue

Wedding venues can be upwards of $10,000 to $20,000… for one evening.

You can save a lot of money by considering a backyard wedding if your guest list is small enough. A borrowed venue will also work.

Rent your dress instead of buying it

Save money on your wedding dress by renting instead of buying.

The only issue here is that you won’t be able to make any alterations to the dress. If you can live with that, renting is a superior option!

Use your florals more than once

The flowers used at your ceremony can (and should) also be used at your reception.

There’s no reason to buy double the amount of flowers since they’ll maintain the same visual theme and appeal at both the ceremony and reception.

Take your priorities seriously

It’s crucial that you identify what your wedding priorities are with your soon-to-be spouse.

Start dividing your budget in accordance with your wedding day priorities. If spending more money on the photographer than the cuisine is important to you, you’ve got to stick to your guns.

DIY it up

There are tons of things that can be done by hand for your wedding.

DIY is the way to go if you’re comfortable with handmade wedding favors, entryway decorations, centerpieces, and more.

Learn how to negotiate for better deals

Different wedding vendors might be open to negotiations based on your budget.

Get comfortable with negotiating so you can land better deals that fit into your price range. If negotiating simply isn’t your cup of tea, have a talk with your partner about seeing them step up in that way for the both of you.

Get picky with your guest list

The longer your guest list is, the more expensive your wedding is going to be.

It’s totally fine to be picky about the people you’re inviting to your wedding. Limiting the guest list can make a huge difference.

It’s your day, so try not to concern yourself with the opinions of folks who won’t be included on the guest list.

Research all-inclusive venues in your area

All-inclusive venues are wonderful for brides and grooms who are looking to save money.

Since all-inclusive venues often offer bundle packages that include the venue, catering, and decor, it’s a clear way to make sure you’re staying under budget.

Look into photography and videography packages

Pictures and videos for your wedding day are absolutely crucial.

You definitely don’t want to skimp out on paying your photographers and videographers what they’re worth, but you can always find great packages that will allow you to save money compared to à la carte options.

Think about getting married on a weekday

It will always be more expensive to get married on a Saturday or Sunday.

If you are willing to get married on a weekday, you will undoubtedly save loads of money!

Keep in mind that some of your guests won’t be able to make it to your wedding if you schedule it on a weekday, though.