Using the hashtag #budgetbride, TikToker Michel Janse (@michel.c.janse) shared a two-part video series about the “semi-controversial” ways she is planning to save money on her wedding.
“I wanna break rules this time,” Janse announced with a big smile while also sharing in the comments that this would be her second wedding. “I can’t wait.”
Money-saving strategies
In the first video, Janse detailed the first five “non-traditional” ways she plans to save money for her upcoming wedding:
1. Doing virtual PDF invites only.
“This might give the older generations a literal heart attack,” she admitted, explaining that she was not “about to spend thousands of dollars on stationery and hours writing addresses.” She also shared that she and her fiance may also include a video message to guests, which would also be free.
2. Skipping bridesmaid bouquets.
Janse noted that while she was exploring opting out of bridesmaid bouquets, she may change her mind about this strategy if the bouquets can be “repurposed as table decor.”
3. Feeding people with a backyard taco truck.
“It’s $14 a person, and it’s way, way cheaper than catering,” Janse described, adding that because taco trucks have become “a lot more popular,” she didn’t think people would “get weird” about the choice.
4. Offering pre-mixed, self-serve cocktails only.
To go along with the tacos, she plans to set up self-serve “batched” cocktails stations around the yard. “I think that will save a lot of money,” she noted.
5. Not using a registry.
While she is skipping a bar, Janse explained she would have a bartender mix up the cocktails, thanks to her other money-saving strategy of asking loved ones to “contribute their talents” instead of giving gifts or money. For instance, her fiance’s brother is a bartender, and his sister is a musical theater teacher, so she will be emceeing.
Some of her budget-friendly ideas were a hit with her followers, while others were a miss.
“I had a taco truck for my wedding and it was awesome!! Loved it so much,” shared @kens_sick_livin.
“Feel soooo strongly about the virtual invitations. Great idea. Spent $0 on ours,” agreed @ohheymp.
“Some of them are cool ideas. Although with the ‘talent’ thing I feel like they couldn’t unwind/enjoy your wedding w/ you if they’re more/less working,” @haileybc17 pointed out.
“Just remember you want your close friends and family to have fun not work at your wedding,” added @dogsarecool014.
“Love all of this except the last one 👏🏼 utilise your guests gifts in preparation for the day but not on the day! Guests aren’t free vendors!” wrote @jane_ebmocnats, adding, “Being MC is a lot of pressure and will definitely take away from enjoying the celebrations.”
More money-saving wedding planning tips
Even with the mixed reactions, Janse’s original money-saving wedding video garnered over 82,400 views, so she shared a part two with even more budget-friendly ideas she hopes to utilize:
Choosing a tax-deductible venue.
Calling this a “sneaky little something,” Janse shared that she learned that if you have your ceremony or reception at certain places, like a historic building, museum, state park or national park, it can be a tax deduction.
Along with reducing her tax bill, Janse also feels this strategy allows for more variety in the wedding.
“Honestly, I’m kind of bored with the venues that were built just for weddings, but that’s a ‘me’ thing,” she added.
Booking an Airbnb for the rehearsal dinner.
After getting quotes from area restaurants that were “so much money” for a rehearsal dinner, Janse instead booked an Airbnb with permission from the host and is using the space as both a rehearsal dinner venue (with catering brought in) for the night before the wedding and a bridal suite for the day of the wedding.
The total cost? $400.
“I’m personally looking more forward to that than being in the corner of a restaurant as an experience,” she pointed out. “Also gonna use it to change into outfit #2 for the afterparty,” she added in the comments.
Buying and decorating her own cake.
Because Janse has celiac disease, which she said made finding a gluten-free wedding cake “stressful” and “hard to come by,” she and her fiance are doing donuts as their main desert and for their cake, ordering a gluten-free Milk Bar cake online for $67.
She also found edible dried flowers off Etsy for $6 that she may add to the cake with her own white frosting the day of if — and only if — she’s “feeling ambitious.”
Posting one big sign rather than multiple little ones.
Instead of printing “little things” like menus and programs, Janse is planning to do one big sign that will lay out the “general timeline of the night,” including feeding times so people don’t “panic eat” and end up costing the bride and groom more money.
She’s also tying this tip back into her original plan of using a graphic designer friend and “friends that do lettering” to actually make the sign as their gift to her.
Using herself as decor.
Janse’s last money-saving tip is to skip the “expensive backdrops” and use her “videographer friends” to record clips at their engagement photo shoot and then project those clips on the wall as wedding decor instead.
“We have a projector, so it’s basically going to be free, and it’s going to take up a whole wall of interesting decor,” she explained. “I love not spending so much money on a wedding!”
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Future bride shares her ‘semi-controversial’ ways of saving money on her wedding
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