Having your Wedding Sponsored Can Save you Thousands of Dollars
A sponsored wedding is not a new concept but a practical one. As the cost of weddings increase so does the realization of sponsorship. What does sponsorship actually mean? It can be as simple as getting a 70% discount on the purchase of invitations or as involved as a large cash injection of $10,000. So why would someone discount or for that matter give cash when they don't even know the wedding couple. It is commonly referred to as "cross promotion" where you bring on common interest partners that tastefully share in the success of your wedding day or event.
Most sponsors are looking to somehow tie their products or services in with the event itself. Like any advertiser the end product must be to heighten the awareness of the Sponsor and their level of participation in the event. Such as, if a Sponsor gave you 70% off of a service that would have cost you $1900 , the level of participation for that Sponsor is $1330 ( which is your net savings). Now the question is, how do you give that value back to the Sponsor ? This can be done in many different ways but the main objective to remember is the level of awareness the Sponsor has traded in services. Such as offering the Sponsor advertising opportunities on a web site specifically set up for the event, a combination of print and web, tie in to a press junket ( a theme pre-event gathering where press are invited ), or many other combinations. For more information on wedding sponsorship visit www.sponsoryourwedding.com
About the Author
Brian Leslie is CEO of "The Wedding Sponsors", a company which provides sponsorship services to wedding couples looking to save money on their "big day" The author of this article, Leslie, has spent many years in Film Industry as an Executive Producer specializing in cross promotion and financing.
How are people able to afford weddings?
My really good friend is getting married next year, so I've been doing research around the cost of planning, and the figures are like north of 25K. I want to get married in 2012 if possible (fingers crossed), but the cost of a wedding scares me. How are people able to afford weddings? The cost of the average wedding is higher than the median income in the US. What are good ways to cut costs?
These are all cost-cutting proven, not opinions of how your wedding "should be", FYI
Having your wedding in the "off-season" helps tremendously, so avoid May, June, September. Getting married on a Friday or Sunday is a great way to cut costs- I saved $5k just by moving my wedding to a Friday night. Thursdays are even cheaper.
Be sure to ask! You will never get what you don't ask for! I asked every vendor:
1. Do you discount for my day of the week/time of year?
2. Do you discount based on my location (preferred vendor program)?
3. Can I swap anything out within my package?
(This one worked insanely well for my photographer, I traded my bridal portraits for a 2nd photographer)
REFER! Before you sign the dotted line, get in writing that you want to receive a discount for referrals given. Example: My stationer gives me $5 per referral and 5% off for every booking. It's adding up! My photographer gives me $100 print credit for every referral, % discount for bookings.
Trade it in. If you have a business or trade skill that you could provide them, they may trade or discount. I am helping my photobooth guy get in to some parties I am planning and helping with his trade video.
Negotiate & strike a deal... The price they offer means they are making a profit. Negotiating down won't hurt their bottom line. Ask to even out the $3200 price tag on something to "an even $3000". Or, ask them to pay the sales tax?
Have friends and family help set up, assemble favors, tie ribbons, iron table cloths, etc. Having them set everything up can be a strain, so use your facility.
Keep the wedding smaller and more intimate.
Limit booze from a full bar to beer & wine only.
Avoid shrimp an other shellfish/seafood on your menu, they drive up the price.
I really hope this helps! Good luck!
Gig Log -- August 14, 2010: Wedding
Having your wedding in the "off-season" helps tremendously, so avoid May, June, September. Getting married on a Friday or Sunday is a great way to cut costs- I saved $5k just by moving my wedding to a Friday night. Thursdays are even cheaper. Be sure to ask! You will never get what you don't ask for! I asked every vendor: 1. Do you discount for my day of the week/time of year? 2. Do you discount based on my location (preferred vendor program)? 3. Can I swap anything out within my package? (This one worked insanely well for my photographer, I traded my bridal portraits for a 2nd photographer) REFER! Before you sign the dotted line, get in writing that you want to receive a discount for referrals given. Example: My stationer gives me $5 per referral and 5% off for every booking. It's adding up! My photographer gives me $100 print credit for every referral, % discount for bookings. Trade it in. If you have a business or trade skill that you could provide them, they may trade or discount. I am helping my photobooth guy get in to some parties I am planning and helping with his trade video. Negotiate & strike a deal... The price they offer means they are making a profit. Negotiating down won't hurt their bottom line. Ask to even out the $3200 price tag on something to "an even $3000". Or, ask them to pay the sales tax? Have friends and family help set up, assemble favors, tie ribbons, iron table cloths, etc. Having them set everything up can be a strain, so use your facility. Keep the wedding smaller and more intimate. Limit booze from a full bar to beer & wine only. Avoid shrimp an other shellfish/seafood on your menu, they drive up the price. I really hope this helps! Good luck! Gig Log -- August 14, 2010: Wedding