Talk

Spend 2 weeks (or a month if you can) writing sown where each penny goes - count all the "little bits" as well as the big or regular spends.
Once you see where you are spending stuff, then you will be able to think about what you can do without for 12 months, or at least cut back on.
As well as looking at spending less, have a think about bringing more money in. No idea what you do or what your circumstances are, but could you both do some overtime, or get a job working in a bar one night a week or do some babysitting or dog walking or some other small job you can fit round your own?

....... ^ This is presuming you mean saving up for the wedding

....... If you are talking about how you can cut costs on the actual day, then , once again, it depends what you are already planning.

Whichever the question is about, we need a bit more detail!

The actual wedding

Catering50005000
Cake300
Photographer /videographer630
Florist250
Entertainment700
Favours100
Gifts for wedding party50
Guest Book35
Wedding Insurance70
Best Man Suit120
Maid of Honour Dress30
Bridesmaid Dresses150
Flower Child Clothing50
Ushers Clothing480
Page Boy Suit25
Hair and Make up400
Lingerie50
Save the dates70
Invitations80
Registrar costs/ licence25
Wedding Rings300
Stag350
Hen50
Dress / Veil / 50
Alterations80
Shoes100
Bridal Jewellery50
Grooms Suit120
Reception decor250

Contin£500
Stationary£200
Wedding transport£500
£15,015

This is my projected spend, The wedding will be in a golf club

Dear god the night - £15k! I'm looking at £1k lol

Registrar costs/ licence25

That is extremly cheap. Are you getting married in church?

So, are you asking what, from your list, you could do cheaper / do without ?

I'd start straight away by cutting out the favours - you save £100. Nobody wants them. Nobody can remember what they were from weddings they have been to. They are just something created by the wedding industry to encourage more spending.

Is that the kind of help you are looking for ?

How come the Stag is going to cost £350 but the hen just £50? Can't his only cost £50 as well?

Hair and make up sounds pricey - could you do it yourself?

The registrar costs are way too low. I also got married in a golf club, they charged us ceremony room hire which was £300. Then to the council preliminary checks it was £35 each and then I think we paid around £450 (possibly more) to have the the actual registrar come out to marry us. Plus £4 each for copies of the marriage certificate

In fact, looking at your list. Quite a few of those costs seem out, you might want to relook at your budget and tweak it

If you are looking at cutting costs at the wedding based on those numbers ( rather than looking for ways to save money in general) I'd start by looking at the biggest numbers.
You say £5k for catering - that's a third of your budget. How many people are invited and what is on offer food wise? If that's a sit down meal, would a buffet be cheaper? Could you be stricter with the guest list?
Can you call in favours from friends or family with regard to wedding transport? A decent well polished and beribboned saloon car would be fine- it's only seen by people when you drive away from the wedding, brides arrival car is only seen by you!
Do you know someone who is a keen amateur photographer who will be at the event? A friend of mine has the best wedding photos- taken by her 19 year old niece who did A level photography and now at art college.
Expense for ushers suits- DH has been an usher three times and has always either hired his own morning suit or just worn a suit.
Wedding favours- I wouldn't bother- they mostly get left on the table.
Equally can you find a friend or maybe a beauty therapy student who could help with hair and makeup and who are you paying for? I've been to several weddings where friends did hair and everyone did own makeup- visit makeup counter in good department store for a new makeup look saying it's for a wedding and then buy a few bits and practice at home.
Don't bother with save the date cards just email or get the word out through family and friends
That's all I can think of for now

If it's all in one venue, do you need to spend £500 on transport? Surely nobody is going to see it? If you want something nice, ring local cab firms, most have a 'premium' offering so you get a nice Merc or similar for much cheaper than a formal wedding hire car.

Actually, have you missed something? If you add up those numbers it comes out more like £11k than 15.

PigletWasPoohsFriend we will be getting married in a church, is that still too little?

BackforGood Yes - so literally dont have anything? eekkk

HarrietKettleWasHere this is from a google drive document me and DP share - its him being a funny arsehole

Our church is around £500, plus extra if you want bell ringers, the organist or the choir.

lydiangel83 - I probably couldn't but that is for bridesmaids as well, can I ask them to pay for themselves or is that rude?

Schoolchauffeur - that is based on 48 adults and 16 kids on the day - my partner has a massive family and is also from a culture that a wedding has to be lavish to show how well you are doing in life.

My friend is doing photography and did us a discount and friend is going to do the cake too. My boss drives a bentley do you think its rude to ask him to help?

The wedding will be in a church

PigletWasPoohsFriend we will be getting married in a church, is that still too little?

Yes. My DSis is getting married at church and it is more like £500

Save the date 70 pounds - just send an email.

Is there anything I can get crafty with and save money, Invitations I am making

At weddings I've been a bridesmaid for we bought our own dresses. Could you cut down there? Also flower girl/ Paige boy do you need them? Had flower girls at my wedding and yes they did look super cute for about 5 minutes then got bored/ grumpy (not my choice was assumed by MIL who already told them they would be - but that's a whole other thread)

Flowers can you move arrangements from the church to the venue? Could you do some yourself? My mum did some of our flowers after doing a evening class she now does it fairly regularly for friends and is doing nearly all of them this week for my brother's wedding.

PigletWasPoohsFriend oh god thank you

MrsBartlettforthewin - Bridesmaids dresses are £25 from ebay - Flower girl I dont think we will have one as no one springs to mind when I think about it. Paige boy is our son and I really want him to be involved in the day some how

Evening class is a fab idea, we wont be having flowers on the tables for centre pieces just the top table. - Do I need flowers at the church?

I asked bridesmaids to pay for themselves if they wanted their hair done otherwise said just do it how they wanted it done

I've also been asked to pay for my own bridesmaid dress, which I think is ok as long as you give people some choice over what they wear

At weddings I've been a bridesmaid for we bought our own dresses.

I think that's fine if you are allowing them to chose. If you aren't then imo you can't expect them to pay.