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Planning a wedding can be exciting, but the costs can add up quickly. The good news? You can still have a beautiful, memorable wedding without breaking the bank! With smart budgeting, creativity, a little bit of elbow grease and prioritization, you can plan your dream wedding while keeping costs under control. In this blog post, we are going to go over steps on how to plan your wedding on a budget!
Set a Realistic Budget
Before you start booking venues and vendors, determine how much you can afford to spend. Are you and your future spouse saving to buy a home? Do you have student loans and other outstanding debt you want to tackle? Weddings have a lot of emotional investment and it is your one special day, so I completely understand wanting to have a memorable day, and you can! Here are some actionable items you can start working on when you are creating your budget:
Start with your savings and any contributions from family. This will give you a number of what you can spend. Typically a low budget will be between $5,000 - $10,000.
Breakdown costs for major expenses like the venue, catering, and attire. The venue and catering will be the highest cost. The Knot has a pie chart visual from real brides and grooms on how much they spent on their weddings.
Add in a buffer for unexpected expenses. It might be hard to anticipate every last minute pop-up expense, but just create some wiggle room in case something happens you need to pay for. For example, I bought my wedding dress a year before our wedding, and I didn’t realize I would lose weight and need my dress to be taken in, and that was a pretty penny!
Use a spreadsheet or budgeting tool to track expenses and stay on top of spending. I have used Google Sheets in the past for basic budgeting, I used it for my wedding budget!
Prioritize What Matters Most
Make a list of your top priorities. Ask yourself: what wedding elements are must-haves? (e.g., venue, photography, food) and where are you willing to cut costs? (e.g., decorations, favors, invitations). We cut costs by not sending out save the dates (in my opinion that is a waste because people just throw them away, especially since a formal invitation is to follow). We also saved money by sending out postcard invitations I designed on Zazzle and using my own envelopes for our invitations. We also didn’t spend money on buying printed menus, seating charts, or wedding programs.
My goal was to avoid spending money on things that would ultimately be thrown away. By focusing your budget on what’s most important to you, you can save on less essential areas.
Choose an Affordable Venue
Your venue can be one of the biggest expenses, but there are several beautiful and unique budget-friendly options!
Backyard or Home Wedding – If you have access to a spacious backyard, this can save thousands. Ask around - a friend of a friend that would be willing to let you rent their space.
Parks & Community Centers – Many parks have pavilions or gazebos available at a low cost.
Off-Peak Dates & Times – Weddings on weekdays or in the off-season (winter months) often cost less.
DIY Whenever Possible
A little creativity can go a long way in saving money. My husband and I got a bunch of twigs from a tree in my backyard and we stained them with a deep brown wood stain and used them as decor in vases for our centerpieces. He had the stain, I had the twigs= super cheap!
Consider DIYing:
Invitations (use online templates or e-vites to save on printing and postage)
Cake toppers: I made our cake topper with some cardstock on my Cricut!
Centerpieces made from simple flowers, candles, or greenery can create a beautiful look. My bridesmaids and I bought flowers from Albertson’s and Trader Joe’s and we made our own bouquets the day before the wedding. It was a fun bonding experience!
Wedding favors (homemade treats or small, meaningful tokens of appreciation). Remember, try not to stress this too much, people have lots of little “things” that can end up in their car, the junk drawer, or even the trash. Your wedding guests won’t be offended if they don’t leave your wedding with candy coated almonds (remember that trend from the 90s?!).
Find Affordable Attire
You don’t have to spend thousands on a wedding dress or suit:
Shop sample sales or pre-owned wedding dresses on sites like Stillwhite (check out this link on how to sell your wedding dress!) or Poshmark.
Consider renting a dress or suit instead of buying. My husband was able to rent his suit from the Men’s Wearhouse.
Look for off-the-rack options at stores like ASOS, Lulus, or Nordstrom.
Keep the Guest List Small
A smaller guest list means lower costs for catering, invitations, and venue size.
Ask yourself:
Do I really need to invite distant relatives or acquaintances? I wish my husband and I didn’t feel pressured into inviting distant relatives. Your wedding should be surrounded with people you love, admire, and want in your lives. If I could do it over again, I would probably make my list a tad smaller.
Could I have a more intimate ceremony and a larger reception later? What I love about modern day weddings is you can do whatever you want to do on your wedding day without following customs and traditions. I love how weddings have gotten so creative from when I was a young girl in the 90s to now. No one will fault you if you have a small family only wedding and then a larger reception a few months later. Hey, I have even seen a double wedding where two sisters combined their weddings to save money.
Opt for Budget-Friendly Catering
Food and drinks can be a huge expense, but there are ways to cut costs: buffet-style or food trucks can be more affordable than plated meals.
DIY or potluck-style catering for small weddings can save thousands. I had a friend bring us donuts from a donut shop she worked at, at a low cost, instead of buying donuts through the venue.
Having a dry wedding is okay - you will not be the black sheep of your friends and family, or if you must, look for affordable beer/wine. We do not drink, so it was a no brainer to not have alcohol at our wedding - it saved us a lot of money!
Save on Photography & Videography
Professional photographers can be expensive, but you have options:
Hire a talented amateur or student photographer. Shop around and see what price range you can reasonably afford on a photographer. I personally didn’t mind spending a lot for pictures because I know they will last me a lifetime!
Book a photographer for fewer hours to capture key moments.
Use a photo-sharing app and ask guests to take and upload photos.
Simplify Your Decorations
Use seasonal flowers or even artificial flowers for cost savings.
Rent decor items instead of buying new ones.
Use string lights, candles, or greenery for an elegant but affordable touch. One of our friends was able to bring us a bunch of Eucalyptus leaves from their backyard, which we used in our arch!
Skip the Extras
Some traditional wedding expenses aren’t necessary. You can save by:
Skipping expensive wedding favors (guests won’t miss them).
Using a playlist instead of hiring a DJ or band.
Sending digital invites instead of printed ones.
Skip sending save the dates
Don’t buy expensive wedding shoes (ladies) unless you have a short dress, most people will never see your shoes!
Final Thoughts
A beautiful wedding doesn’t have to cost a fortune. By being mindful of your budget, prioritizing what matters most, and using DIY and cost-saving strategies, you can plan a stunning, meaningful wedding without going into debt.
Are you planning a budget-friendly wedding? Share your tips in the comments below!
