When to send out save the dates and wedding invites?
Sending out save the dates 12 months out from the wedding usually gives family and friends especially overseas ones, time to save and plan for your wedding day. 6 months is a good time frame to send official invites if you go down the paper route. And, this is the big one, 50% of your guests won’t RSVP, so chasing them up 2-3 months is the go to confirm final numbers for your venue/caterer. You may likely have some pull out the week of the wedding, that’s just kiwis for ya. Annoying if you’ve paid per head, so have a couple mates on stay by as last minute invitees if you don’t want those meals to go waste.
I’m getting married at the family farm or in the our own property!
Want to get married in a place with a bit more meaning is always nice. The big thing to think about is, if you’re getting married at your parents farm or your own property, that is a massive task to take on. You’ll need to bring everything onsite, Marquee, lights, portaloos, caterers, chairs, tables, cutlery, linen - plus the property prep and clean up. So think about that before dropping that bombshell to mum and dad. But you also can’t beat a backyard wedding.
Will doing things ourselves and DIYing save on costs?
Yes and no. If you value your families, friends and your own time, you’ve got to weigh up how much DIY you want to invest in. Self catering can seem like a cost saver, but at what expense - if that means your parents, aunties, uncles and friends are in the kitchen cooking food all day, the day before and day of, they won’t be around to enjoy and celebrate with you on your wedding day.
Same with wedding cakes. If you’re going to get a friend to make one, think about the 2-3 hours worth of their time plus the cost of ingredients, don’t just expect it all for free or atleast acknowledge and be grateful if friends and family do offer to lend a hand.
Some practical and good ways of saving is getting second hand dresses or letting your bridal party chose and pay for their own outfits and suits, even if you give them a colour palette, at least they will choose something they are happy and comfortable in. If you’re doing a private property wedding, then BYO saves a tonne too (just remember this can lead to it getting messy if old mate loves a 12% Codys).
Also, just a hot tip, having a rural rustic wedding doesn’t mean you need your guests drinking out of a old jam jar wrapped in hessian, a normal cup works a treat.
