Wedding planner Oliver Stanton offers practical tips for couples planning their 2026 celebrations to cut costs significantly without sacrificing quality.
Opt for a Weekday Ceremony
Oliver Stanton, a freelance wedding planner and on-the-day coordinator, highlights a straightforward strategy: schedule the wedding on a weekday. Couples can secure the same venue, catering, and suppliers at a reduced price, potentially saving thousands.
“There is quite an easy way to save a few grand on your wedding,” Stanton explains. “You can have the same venue, same food, same suppliers, but it’ll just be a few grand cheaper.”
He acknowledges this approach suits freelancers and flexible schedules more readily but encourages all couples to consider it.
Consider Off-Season Dates
Another cost-saving method involves choosing off-season months from November to March. While Stanton prefers warmer weather and longer days, he notes a weekday wedding in June offers better value than a weekend in the off-season.
“I would much rather get married on a Wednesday in June to save some money, rather than a Saturday in November,” he states.
Couples Report Major Savings
Viewers resonate with these ideas, sharing their own successes in comments. One couple married on a Thursday and saved £9,000 on the venue alone. Another planned a Monday wedding, slashing thousands from their budget.
A third opted for a Thursday in August, benefiting from lower package prices and no minimum guest requirements. Couples also praise weekday choices for enabling weekend extensions, like staying over in the Lake District.
One attendee noted a cousin’s Monday wedding saved a fortune, with the bride covering wedding night accommodations while guests handled the prior evening. Early notice allowed everyone to take time off work.
Additional strategies include Friday weddings in early October, saving £3,000 on venues, and Thursday twilight ceremonies at 4 p.m., eliminating expensive wedding breakfasts. Weekday bookings also provide greater supplier availability.
