Expert Tips for How to Save Money on Wedding Rentals

If you're looking to save money on your wedding, opting for affordable wedding decor rentals is one of the most straightforward ways to cut back, and it rarely impacts the overall flow and look of your day. But knowing exactly how to save money on wedding rentals requires a little insider know-how.

From opting for more affordable wedding decor rentals to holding your wedding on an off day when you aren't competing with other couples to simply picking more basic decor, there are tricks that wedding professionals know to save money without feeling like they're cutting corners. As you search for rentals and calculate your budget, there are a range of options available across different wedding budgets on The Knot Vendor Marketplace. Filter by the type of rentals—chairs, dinnerware, glassware, etc.—as well as priorities like award winners or companies that support diversity. And, if you want expert help navigating vendor negotiations and money-saving ideas as you plan out your vendors, look into hiring a planner. They've been through this dance many times before, and understand how to set priorities in a way that makes the most of your money. Ready to start planning your affordable celebration? Here are eight ways to save money on wedding decor rentals.

1. Hire a Planner

While hiring a planner comes with an upfront cost, the savings could be worth it when it comes to looking for affordable wedding decor rentals. A planner has the connections to know where you can save money on a tent or the best day of the week to rent your dream dance floor. If there's a way to get a less expensive bathroom rental, they have the hookup. Wedding planners know you can throw a fabulous occasion while also carefully considering how to save money on wedding decorations—you just have to be willing to pay for their help.

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2. Consider an Off-Day Wedding

Australia-based etiquette expert Jo Hayes recommends couples looking to save money on wedding rentals to consider weekdays to tie the knot. "Rentals of all kinds are less expensive Monday through Thursday, including linens and lighting," Hayes says. "Fewer people are getting married and needing rentals on these days, so vendors are usually more than happy to offer discounts or negotiate with couples on 'low demand' days."

She adds that even if a vendor does not explicitly offer weekday discounts, a couple should still ask. "It always pays to ask, and vendors are often willing to negotiate a deal on off-peak weekdays. It's advantageous for all involved, as couples save money and vendors are locking in business on days they wouldn't ordinarily have business."

3. Disclose Your Budget Up Front

Vendors can't always meet your magic budget number, but it's in your best interest—and theirs—to disclose your budget upfront. If they can make something work, they will. And if they can't, no one's time will be wasted looking at rentals that will never fall into your budget. Plus, knowing the number upfront helps them show you the options that are best suited for your wedding day vision.

4. Bundle Rentals Together

Kari Bjorn, owner and lead photographer at Kari Bjorn Photography in West Hartford, Connecticut, suggests bundling rentals together. "When a vendor offers another service, it is typically less expensive to book that secondary service with them as well," she says. "For example, photo booths may have a travel fee based on your venue, but that travel fee will most likely be waived if you book the photo booth through your photographer."

This could go for any number of rentals—think a DJ and lighting, furniture and florals, or affordable table linens and glassware. Many vendors become one-stop shops as they get further into the rental industry, and that can work out advantageously for you. Plus, Bjorn adds, "Not only does this save money, it also makes planning and communication easier as you'll have fewer vendors to keep track of."

5. Look for All-Inclusive Vendors

There's even a step beyond bundling when you're looking for affordable wedding decor rentals. "See if the vendors have an all-inclusive deal," recommends Brit Nicole, owner of Brit Nicole Photography based in Amarillo, Texas.

She explains that she works with clients on a set price that includes access to a single vendor that provides setup, teardown, decor, chairs, tables, string marquee lights, dance floor and a getting-ready tent. The more services and rentals bundled into one price, the more the couple saves.

6. Prioritize Which Rentals You Care Most About

The oldest trick in the book for how to save money on wedding rentals is to not feel like you need every single decoration for your celebration. You may not care about chalkboard signs or fancy chairs. Maybe you'd rather dance under the stars than a tent. Consider all the little things most people rent for a wedding, then decide what you actually care about. You only need to rent the items that speak to you, and you can skip everything else.

7. Keep It Basic

Everything looks sparkly and magical by candlelight, so consider opting for more basic rentals, like simple glassware, plain white dinnerware and inexpensive table linens for your wedding. The difference in cost between a glass with a gold rim and one without can be significant, especially when you're adding up dozens or even hundreds of guests.

8. Splurge Only on the Head Table

It's not unusual to have a head table that is fancier than the rest of the guest tables. Splurging on just a handful of place settings is much easier on the wallet than going to the nines for every guest, and it's simply because you're reducing your numbers.

Go for the inexpensive chargers for your wedding guests but then doll it up for your table. Trust us, no one is going to care that they didn't have a place setting that's as over-the-top as the wedded couple.

9. Look Into Buying or Thrifting

Renting isn't always the cheapest option. If you're looking at anything from glassware to chargers to linen napkins to candle holders, it could be less expensive to purchase them either from a wholesaler or Amazon. And, if you love the thrill of the hunt, looking for the perfect decor at thrift stores adds another layer of fun to the wedding planning process.

The downside of this, of course, is what do you do with 100 candle holders after the wedding? You could sell them or decide that the cost of your time in getting rid of them is worth the upcharge of renting.