Strategies To Plan A Wedding On A Budget

Planning a wedding can be an expensive affair, but there are ways to make it more affordable without compromising on style or quality. Here are some tips to help you save money on your big day:

- Choose a non-traditional, budget-friendly venue like a park, backyard, or city hall.

- Opt for a small, intimate wedding with a limited guest list to reduce costs on food, drinks, and rentals.

- Shop around for wedding vendors and negotiate prices to get the best deals.

- Consider renting a wedding dress or buying a second-hand one to save money.

- DIY your wedding decorations, centrepieces, and favours using affordable materials like candles, flowers, and mason jars.

- Serve a buffet-style meal instead of a sit-down dinner to reduce catering costs.

- Have a cash bar or limit alcohol options to save on drink expenses.

- Use digital invitations and save-the-dates to save on printing and postage costs.

- Create your own playlist instead of hiring a DJ or band for entertainment.

- Skip the wedding cake and opt for a dessert buffet or alternative sweet treats.

- Buy flowers in bulk and arrange them yourself, or use natural decor like greenery and branches instead of expensive floral arrangements.

- Ask friends and family to help with tasks like photography, music, and coordination.

Choose an affordable venue

Choosing an affordable venue is one of the most important aspects of planning a wedding on a budget. The venue is likely to take up a large chunk of your budget, so opting for a more affordable option can make a huge difference to your overall spend.

Opt for a non-traditional venue

Non-traditional venues, such as a friend's backyard, a public park, a city hall, or a restaurant, can be a great way to save money. These venues often have lower site fees than traditional wedding venues, such as hotels or resorts.

Choose a small, intimate venue

Smaller venues are generally more affordable, so consider opting for a cosy, intimate space for your wedding. This could be a small local church, a historic library, a community centre, or even a city hall or courthouse.

Look for natural beauty

Venues with natural beauty, such as parks, gardens, or beaches, can save you money on decorations. You can make the most of the stunning backdrops these venues offer and skip the extra decor.

Host your ceremony and reception in the same place

Booking one venue for both your ceremony and reception can save you money on site fees. Many venues offer discounted rates for ceremonies if you also book the reception at the same location.

Consider an all-inclusive venue

All-inclusive venues, which include services such as catering, rentals, music, and flowers, can be a great way to save money. National parks, for example, often offer special use permits for a fraction of the cost of a traditional venue.

Be flexible with your date and time

Venue prices can vary depending on the day of the week and time of year. Opting for an "off-peak" date, such as a Friday in January, can be a great way to save money.

Do your research

Research is key when it comes to finding an affordable venue. Compare prices, read reviews, and don't be afraid to inquire about special promotions or discounts.

Remember, when choosing an affordable venue, it's important to consider your own financial situation and priorities. What matters most is that you create a meaningful and memorable experience for you and your partner, surrounded by the people you love.

Keep the guest list small

Keeping the guest list small is one of the most effective ways to make your wedding more affordable. Here are some tips to help you stick to a small guest list:

Make your wedding adults-only

While some venues and caterers offer discounts for children, you still need to account for them in your final headcount. If you're aiming for a small, intimate wedding, it's best to make it a kid-free event. If you feel bad about implementing this rule, you can invite kids to other wedding-related events, such as the engagement party or rehearsal dinner. Alternatively, you can organise a babysitter to watch the kids during the wedding. However, be consistent with this rule and avoid allowing only certain guests to bring their children.

Limit plus-ones

Restricting plus-ones is a common strategy to keep weddings small and costs low. If you decide to go down this route, it is recommended to offer plus-ones exclusively to guests in long-term relationships. Be prepared for potential pushback from guests who may request or expect a plus-one. In such cases, kindly explain the situation, whether it's due to space or financial constraints, or simply your preference for an intimate gathering.

Only invite immediate family members

If you dream of a smaller celebration but have a large extended family, you may need to be selective with your guest list. Consider limiting family invitations to immediate family members, such as parents, siblings, and grandparents. You don't need to invite distant relatives or family members you're not close with, even if they invited you to their wedding. Remember, your wedding day is about celebrating with your closest loved ones.

Keep it to your close friend circle

When it comes to friends, focus on inviting only those within your close circle. You don't need to invite co-workers, old acquaintances, or friends-of-friends. The key factor is the current state of your relationship. If you've lost touch or had a falling out, they don't need to be on your guest list. If you're unsure, create a B-list to reconsider once you've finalised the rest of your list.

Keep your final list private

Once you've finalised your guest list, avoid sharing it widely. Sharing it with family and friends may lead to pressure to invite additional people. If you do share your list, set clear boundaries and let them know that your list is final. If your parents or in-laws are contributing financially, you may want to allocate them a certain number of invitations to avoid any conflict.

Be strategic with your guest list

Ask yourself if you would take the person out for a nice dinner or host them in your home for a weekend. This will help you gauge the strength of your connections and ensure that you're surrounded by your closest loved ones on your special day.

Opt for a buffet instead of a sit-down meal

Opting for a buffet instead of a sit-down meal is a great way to save money on your wedding. It is a more affordable option, as plated meals at weddings tend to be more expensive due to the attention to detail, teamwork, and organisation required to ensure each guest's meal is correctly prepared and served. With a buffet, the chef prepares trays of various dishes, rather than creating each guest's plate individually. This also means you won't need to worry about accommodating any dietary restrictions or picky eaters, as guests can choose their own meals.

A buffet-style dinner also offers more flexibility with seating arrangements. You can choose to have assigned seats, assigned tables, or open seating, whereas a sit-down dinner requires assigned seats so that waiters know which meal to serve to each guest. A buffet also allows for a more relaxed atmosphere, where guests can mill around, chat, and please themselves.

However, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider. A sit-down dinner ensures that everyone is served at the same time, whereas a buffet can cause people to eat at different times due to long lines. This can be mitigated by creating different buffet stations so that not everyone is waiting in the same spot. Additionally, older guests or those with limited mobility may prefer a sit-down dinner as it may be more comfortable for them to remain seated and have their meal served to them.

When deciding between a buffet and a sit-down meal, it's important to consider your venue size. A sit-down dinner takes up less space since the food is kept warm in the kitchen, allowing more room for guests to walk, dance, and mingle. With a buffet, you will need to ensure that your venue has enough room for walking and the food tables.

Overall, opting for a buffet instead of a sit-down meal can be a great way to save money on your wedding and offer your guests more variety and flexibility.

Choose a wedding dress on a budget

The average cost of a wedding dress in the US is $1,000, but prices vary, ranging from $280 to $1,650, and can go far above and below that range. If you're looking to save money on your wedding dress, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Don't try on dresses that are above your budget: Be upfront about your budget with your bridal salon consultant and ask about the cost of each dress you try on. Avoid the temptation of trying on a dress that's out of your price range.
• Keep it simple: A simple and relatively unadorned wedding gown will cost less than an extremely detailed dress. If you're on a budget, consider finding a simple dress and accessorizing with a beaded sash or a brooch.
• Buy off the rack: Look for a dress that fits you off the rack and offer to pay in cash to bring the price down even further.
• Rent a dress: Websites like Borrowing Magnolia, e Tradesy, and eBay allow brides to rent out their dresses. This can be a more affordable option than buying a new dress.
• Buy a used dress: Websites like Once Wed offer used wedding dresses for a fraction of the cost of a new dress. You can also ask friends if they have a dress you could buy from them.
• Alterations: Keep in mind that alterations can be expensive, especially if you're making major changes to the dress. Try to find a dress that you love as is, to avoid costly alterations.
• Shop early: A wedding dress can take several months to arrive after ordering. Start shopping early to avoid rush charges, which can add to the total cost.
• Sample sales: Bridal salons often offer sample sales, selling dresses from past seasons at discounted prices. If you fall within the sample size range (usually sizes 6 to 12), you may be able to find a gorgeous gown at a low price.
• Trunk shows: If you have a specific designer in mind, consider attending a trunk show. These are events where a bridal salon features the collection of a particular designer and usually offers a discount.
• Buy a bridesmaid's dress: Instead of a traditional bridal gown, consider buying a bridesmaid's dress in white or ivory. Most dresses can be ordered in these colours and will be more affordable than a wedding dress.
• Non-traditional options: Check out non-traditional options like Amazon or thrift stores for inexpensive wedding dresses. You can also look for dresses that aren't specifically made for weddings, such as evening gowns.

Save on decorations

Decorations can be a major expense, but there are ways to save money and still make your wedding look special. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• DIY your decorations: Get creative and make your own centrepieces, decorations and favours. This can be a fun and rewarding way to save money, and it adds a personal touch to your big day. You can find inspiration and tutorials online and in craft stores.
• Choose a venue with natural decor: Opt for a venue with natural beauty, such as a park or a backyard, which can provide a beautiful and unique setting without the need for extensive decorations.
• Use flowers sparingly: Flowers can be expensive, so use them sparingly and focus on other decorative elements. You can also buy flowers in bulk and arrange them yourself, or use seasonal or local flowers to save money.
• Shop at thrift stores and dollar stores: You can often find affordable vases, jars, candle holders, pretty materials, faux flowers and other decorative items at thrift stores and dollar stores.
• Buy decor items in bulk: Buying tulle, burlap, ribbons, lace, mirrors and votive candles in bulk can help bring down the cost.
• Get creative with lighting: Fairy lights and lanterns can create a magical atmosphere at a low cost. Collect mason jars or glass lanterns from thrift stores and fill them with battery-powered fairy lights.
• Ask friends and family for help: Enlist your creative friends and family members to help with decorations. They may have great ideas for low-cost options, and it's a wonderful way to involve your loved ones in your special day.
• Keep it simple: Sometimes less is more. A few well-chosen, elegant decorations can be more impactful than an abundance of flashy ones.

With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can have beautiful wedding decorations without breaking the bank.

Frequently asked questions