Big Wedding On A Small Budget

Planning a wedding on a budget is completely doable, but it requires couples to compromise and prioritise. If you and your partner are able to do these two key things, you can absolutely plan a gorgeous budget wedding. It's also worth considering booking outside of the typical wedding season, as prices tend to be lower outside of the peak time for weddings.

- Keep the guest list small. A smaller guest list means lower costs for food, beverages, tables, table settings, linens, and invitations.

- Choose an affordable wedding venue. Opt for a backyard wedding, a town hall, a restaurant, a village hall, a pub or bar function room, or a vacation rental.

- Go to a thrift store for your wedding attire. You can find beautiful, vintage wedding dresses and suits or tuxes at thrift stores for much less than the cost of a new dress.

- Pick a wedding venue close to home. Destination weddings are expensive for you and your guests because they involve travel and overnight accommodations.

- Time your wedding for the off-season. Wedding venues tend to be cheaper during the winter months, except in winter resort towns.

- Skip Saturdays. Fridays and Sundays are typically more affordable days for weddings, and mid-week weddings are even cheaper.

- Have the ceremony and reception in one venue. This will save on transportation costs and simplify logistics.

- Opt for a food truck or cater your own food. Food trucks can cost substantially less than traditional caterers, and catering your own food can save a lot of money.

- Do your own hair and makeup. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, ask a friend or family member to help, or go to a department store for a free makeup session.

- Make your own wedding cake or buy a small wedding cake from a supermarket. Alternatively, serve cupcakes or other desserts instead of a traditional wedding cake.

- Get flowers at a grocery or big-box store, or buy your flowers in bulk online. Choose seasonal or local flowers to lower your cost.

- Get creative with decorations. Pinterest has unlimited ideas for decorating with items like mason jars, wine bottles, and other inexpensive objects.

- Send digital invitations. Not only can designers, card stock, and print shop fees add up, but digital invitations can also make your life much easier.

- Enlist a friend for wedding photos. Chances are you have a friend with a decent camera and some experience editing.

- Skip the wedding planner. The average cost of a wedding planner is around $2,000 for a hometown wedding, but you can save big by planning the wedding yourself.

Venue: Choose a backyard, town hall, or a non-traditional venue like a pub or bar function room

One of the most significant expenses in a wedding is the venue. Opting for a backyard wedding, a town hall ceremony, or a non-traditional venue like a pub or bar function room can be a great way to save money. Here are some tips and ideas to help you choose and create your dream wedding venue on a budget:

Backyard Wedding:

If you have access to a suitable backyard, consider holding both the ceremony and reception there. Renting a tent, chairs, and tables are relatively low-cost options that can transform a backyard into a beautiful wedding venue. You can also decorate the space with fairy lights, ribbons, or lace for an elegant touch.

Town Hall Wedding:

A town hall wedding is an excellent option for an intimate celebration. These buildings often feature historic architecture, providing a charming atmosphere and a beautiful backdrop for your wedding portraits. After the ceremony, you can head to a nearby affordable restaurant for a celebratory meal with your guests.

Pub or Bar Function Room:

Choosing a pub or bar function room as your wedding venue can be a unique and budget-friendly option. Many pubs offer rental spaces for celebrations and can provide a warm and inviting atmosphere. Opting for a pub or bar with Celtic-inspired food and drinks can add a cozy and whimsical touch to your special day.

Other Non-Traditional Venues:

In addition to pubs and bars, there are other non-traditional venues you can consider, such as community centers, parks, small event spaces, museums, or recreation centers. These venues often have lower rental fees and can be just as memorable as traditional wedding venues.

Remember, by choosing a budget-friendly venue, you can allocate more funds to other aspects of your wedding that are important to you, such as music, food, or decorations. With a bit of creativity and planning, you can have a beautiful and affordable wedding venue that suits your unique style and personality.

Catering: Opt for a food truck, or ask friends and family to help with food

Catering is often one of the most significant expenses in a wedding budget, but there are ways to save money and still have a unique and memorable celebration. Here are some tips for keeping catering costs down while adding a fun and laid-back element to your big day:

Opt for a Food Truck:

• Food trucks offer a unique and memorable dining experience for your guests and can be a more affordable option than traditional catering.
• Shop around for food trucks that fit your theme and budget. You can find options serving everything from classic street food like tacos and lobster rolls to sweet treats such as gelato and ice cream.
• Consider hiring more than one food truck to provide a variety of cuisine options and reduce the risk of long lines.
• Ask about early preparation to ensure smooth service during the dinner rush.
• Be mindful of your venue's policies regarding food trucks and parking availability. Some rustic venues may not allow food trucks due to concerns about damage to dirt roads.
• Inquire about power sources and generators, as some food trucks may require a certain type of outlet or voltage. Generators can be loud, so plan their placement accordingly.
• Have a rain plan! If your wedding is outdoors, ensure the food truck can accommodate last-minute weather changes.
• Provide printed menus at each guest's seat to streamline the ordering process and reduce lines.
• Hire waitstaff or bussers to manage dirty dishes and keep the area tidy.
• To prevent guests from doubling up on meals, consider having them RSVP with their meal choices or providing "dinner tickets" as place cards.

Ask Friends and Family to Help with Food:

• Enlist the help of talented friends and family members to save money on catering. This can add a personal touch to your wedding and create a sense of community.
• Think about the people in your life who might be willing to help and what their talents are. For example, a family friend who loves to bake could create your wedding cake, or a musically inclined cousin could provide entertainment during the ceremony.
• Be mindful of their time and talents, and don't force anyone to donate their services if they are uncomfortable or unable to commit.
• Set clear expectations and communicate your needs and wishes. It may be helpful to draw up a simple agreement or contract.
• Show your appreciation with a thoughtful gift or token of gratitude, and be willing to pay them if they allow it.
• Ensure the quality of their work meets your standards for your wedding day.
• Ask for help politely and be open to offers from excited friends and family members. You may be surprised at how many people are willing to lend a hand.

By choosing one of these options or a combination of both, you can significantly reduce catering costs while still providing a delightful dining experience for your guests.

Ceremony: Keep it small, and consider a weekday

Keeping the ceremony small is a great way to save money on your wedding. A smaller guest list means lower costs for food, beverages, service, tables, table settings, linens, and invitations.

If you're looking to save money, consider having a small, intimate ceremony on a weekday. Weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, are the cheapest days to get married as they are less popular. Fridays and Sundays are also more affordable than Saturdays.

Having your ceremony at a town hall is a good option for a weekday wedding. You can invite a few guests to be witnesses and then head to a nearby restaurant for a celebratory meal. This is a simple and affordable option, and you can always have a bigger, more informal ceremony later with more guests.

If you're looking for something a little more unique, you could consider getting married in a friend's back garden, a warehouse, a village hall, or a pub or bar function room. These options are usually cheaper than traditional wedding venues, and you can decorate the space yourself to create a more personal atmosphere.

Having a small ceremony and a bigger reception at the same venue is also a good way to save money. This means you can skip the cocktail hour, and it simplifies the logistics of the day.

So, if you're looking to keep costs down, consider a small, weekday ceremony. This will not only save you money but will also allow you to create a more intimate and personalized experience.

Cake: Go for cupcakes or a small supermarket cake

When it comes to wedding cakes, there are plenty of ways to save money without sacrificing taste or aesthetics. Here are some tips for achieving a cheap yet delightful wedding cake:

Opt for Cupcakes or Small Cakes

Cupcakes or small cakes are a fantastic alternative to a large, tiered wedding cake. This option often works out cheaper, and it gives you the opportunity to experiment with multiple flavours and styles. Cupcakes are also self-serve, eliminating any plating or serving fees. If you have a large guest list, consider ordering a small, simple tiered cake for the wedding party and a sheet cake or cupcakes for the rest of your guests. Most guests won't mind not eating the tiered cake, especially if their slice tastes just as good.

Supermarket Cakes

Your local supermarket is a great place to look for affordable wedding cakes. While the flavours and designs may be limited, supermarket cakes generally taste good and offer a select number of design options at a low cost. For example, M&S offers cupcakes and rainbow cakes that serve many people at reasonable prices.

Simple Decorations and Flavours

The more intricate the design and the more special requests a cake has, the higher the price tag. Keeping decorations simple can save you a lot of money. Buttercream typically costs less than fondant or ganache, and basic flavours like vanilla and chocolate are usually cheaper than more exotic options. A simple tiered cake adorned with fresh flowers or frosting accents will be far more affordable than a custom design with sugar flowers or intricate piping.

Homemade Cakes

If you or someone you know has baking skills, consider making your own wedding cake or asking a talented friend or family member to do it as a wedding gift. While a homemade cake can be a risky endeavour, it's a great way to save money and have creative control over the design and flavour. Just make sure to have a backup dessert option in case of any last-minute baking disasters.

Other Tips

• Buy a plain cake from a bakery and add your own topper.
• Slice the cake into smaller portions to stretch the serving numbers.
• Pick up the cake yourself to save on delivery fees.
• Decorate the cake display table instead of spending money on an extravagant cake design.
• Serve the cake right after the ceremony to ensure it gets eaten and maximise your investment.
• If you're having a small wedding, a giant Colin the Caterpillar cake from M&S, serving 40 people for £40, could be a fun and affordable option.

With a bit of creativity and flexibility, you can have a delicious and beautiful wedding cake without breaking the bank.

Flowers: Buy in bulk, or get creative with greenery and supermarket flowers

Flowers are an essential part of any wedding, but they can be expensive. Here are some tips to help you save money on your wedding flowers:

• Buy in bulk: Buying wholesale flowers is a great way to keep your wedding flower costs down. Look for bulk or wholesale flower sales in your area. This way, you can bypass the mark-up a florist will charge and make your own custom bouquets.
• Get creative with greenery: Greenery is often cheaper than flowers, and it makes a great impression. You can use a long garland of ivy to add a pop of green over a trestle or doorway. You can also use greenery for table centrepieces and bouquets.
• Shop at grocery or big-box stores: Choosing seasonal or local flowers from grocery or big-box stores can lower your flower costs. Ask friends or family to help you make simple arrangements for the reception, and buy vases at craft stores using coupons or buy them second-hand.
• Substitute greenery for flowers: Greenery is usually more affordable than flowers, and it can make a beautiful statement at your wedding.
• Buy flowers at a flower market: Go to a flower market early in the morning and buy a large quantity of flowers at a discounted price. Hang them in bunches around the venue or pop them in vases.
• Ask guests to bring flowers: Instead of gifts, ask your guests to bring flowers and leave them on their table.

Frequently asked questions