Cairns weddings: Expert tips on how to save money on tropical wedding

This wedding season is set to be a boom with industry professionals providing tips on how future bride and grooms can cut back expenses.

FUTURE brides are hurriedly planning their weddings with the upcoming season set to be “excellent” but industry professionals say there are ways to cut back costs for the big day despite the demand.

South Pacific Bridal director Peter Ford said with the combination of last year’s postponed weddings and this year’s bookings, the season was set to be “excellent.”

He said the best way future brides and grooms could cut down on costs was to get married on a weekday.

Bride-to-be Michelle Arthur tries on dozens of wedding dresses at Quaid Auctioneers ahead of her big day later this year. Picture: Brendan Radke

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“You’ll have a much bigger choice of wedding suppliers. Everyone on the weekend tends to be pretty much booked out so if you look for a weekday or even a Sunday is often better than a Friday afternoon or a Saturday,” he said.

Mr Ford said a lot of suppliers offered weekday rates.

“The majority of people obviously would prefer a Friday or Saturday but there are people working hospitality or retail. Not everyone’s weekend is the same anymore so we do have locals getting married throughout the week,” he said.

Mr Ford said smaller, more intimate weddings were popular this season which would also decrease the bill.

“One trend we’re seeing this year is groups are generally a little bit smaller than what they would be, so it’s just friends and family,” said Mr Ford.

He said people shouldn’t be concerned about a price hike during this year’s wedding boom, with suppliers maintaining their usual prices.

“Get in touch with the wedding planners, discuss your needs, they’ll be able to point you in the right direction.”

Rachelle Reed from Quade’s Auctioneers with some of the wedding dresses which went under the hammer at auction on Tuesday. Picture: Stewart McLean

He said there were still bookings available with many people now making late bookings since the COVID situation had become more stable.

Palm Cove Wedding Hire owner Hara Vardy said her best advice to decrease wedding costs was to prioritise.

“My tips are always choose what’s most important to you, if it’s the food or the flowers or the decorations, and go crazy on that part and maybe leave out or go minimal with stuff that you’re not fussed about,” she said.

Ms Vardy said while planning her own wedding, she decided the cake wasn’t of great importance so she put more energy and money into flowers and decoration.

“There are lots of places that you can go still but the really popular ones are all booked out … people are having to get creative.”

Quaid Auctioneers provided another way for future brides to save some cash with more than 50 high-end bridal gowns being auctioned off for a fraction of the retail value in a sale on Tuesday.

Originally published as Cairns weddings: Expert tips on how to save money on tropical wedding