Wedding costs are rising. It will be more expensive for couples to get married in 2022 than ever before. For the estimated 2.5 million people who will be married in 2022, we have put together a list of cost-saving strategies to combat supply-chain issues and rising inflation without compromising the wedding of your dreams.

Our ranch, while an expensive venue, helps couples save in multiple ways given our unique product offering, location, and lack of costly requirements. We will be increasing our prices beginning July 2022; however, these increases are only to cover some of our vendor increases we are already paying for.

Our best money-saving tips:

THE BIG ONE

Venue.  As we always say, it starts with the venue selection.  Even before picking a date!  There is no question that having your wedding at your home or parent’s home is an enormous cost savings.  Before selecting this option, make sure it will accommodate your guests and that there are no regulatory or zoning issues interfering with having your wedding in a residential setting.

The next venue idea is to rent a home via Airbnb or other like services. Again, be careful; not all Airbnbs allow for large-scale events like weddings. BHR fits this category nicely while offering multiple locations and a guest sleeping capacity of 44.  Unlike hotels, BHR and other home rentals don’t add extra costs and requirements you will find at hotels and resorts.

At Blame Her Ranch there are no resort fees, gratuity charges, or other add-ons to drive up the price. You can choose your catering and bar options versus being restricted to what the hotel offers.  Many hotels and resorts require you to use a wedding planner, shut down at 10:00 p.m., and don’t offer exclusivity or multiple events over a long weekend.  Your venue choice, without question, can save you tens of thousands of dollars by choosing a private residence versus a commercial operation.

Because of a backlog of weddings from 2020 and 2021, BHR is also offering a “quickie” wedding for couples looking to tie the knot in a hurry and at a greatly reduced price. The quickie allows five hours at Blame Her Ranch’s Cliffside Ceremony and Knotty Pine Barn.

SECONDARY COST SAVINGS

FLOWERS.  Flowers or florists are expensive. One way to save is by buying wholesale. Another tip is to choose and use in-season flowers. Before deciding on your flowers, do some research and find out what is in season on your wedding date.

If you really want to save and DIY, consider tasking the wedding party with collecting wildflowers if you are getting married in the summer or fall.

FOOD & DRINK. Get Creative with your food choices. A Buffet is typically less expensive than a sit-down dinner and you can offer guests a greater variety of food choices.

Consider self-catering with the help of family and friends. Most locations will not allow this, but BHR and our large gourmet-style kitchen are happy to accommodate a self-catered wedding.

Food Trucks. A seated, catered dinner costs, on average, $70 per person—while a food truck cuts down the cost per person to  $20-$50 per person. 

EMBRACE THE MICRO-WEDDING TREND.

While many people will want a big wedding, COVID introduced a micro-wedding concept, making it perfectly acceptable to have a small and intimate wedding with a limited number of guests. Right now might be the best time to get married if you want the perfect excuse to keep it small.

USE THE VENUES RESOURCES. We’ve got this! At Blame Her Ranch we offer couples much more than a venue.  All wedding packages include:

• Free log tables and benches for up to 250 guests
• Free 4 bars and 8 cocktail tables
• Free one-time table and bench set-up
• Free outdoor lighting
• Free wedding decor

We hope these tips help you get creative and crafty about saving money on your wedding. As always, we are happy to discuss any additional cost-saving strategies with you.