A Budget Wedding: Tips For Cost-Effective Nuptials

Planning a wedding on a budget? You're not alone. Many couples struggle with the financial burden of their big day, with the average wedding costing upwards of $30,000. But don't despair—it is possible to have a beautiful and memorable wedding without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to help you plan your dream wedding on a shoestring budget:

- Choose a non-traditional venue: Opt for a restaurant, a friend's backyard, a local park, or even a vacation rental for your nuptials. These options can be more affordable than traditional wedding venues.

- Keep the guest list small: A smaller guest list means lower costs for food, beverages, invitations, and rentals. Consider trimming your guest list by 20% or more to save significantly.

- Go non-traditional with the food and drinks: Instead of a sit-down dinner, opt for a food truck, a potluck, or a buffet with vegetarian options and low-cost proteins. Skip the hard liquor and stick to beer and wine, or make it a cash bar.

- DIY your wedding attire and decor: Shop at thrift stores for your wedding dress or suit, or rent your outfit to save money. Decorate with second-hand items, dollar store finds, or fresh flowers bought in bulk.

- Streamline your photography and entertainment: Hire a student photographer or ask a talented friend to capture your special moments. Create your own playlist instead of hiring a DJ, or ask a musically inclined guest to perform.

- Send electronic invitations: Save on stationery and postage by sending electronic invitations through websites like Joy, or create your own using templates from sites like Canva.

- Get creative with the cake: Opt for a smaller cake or alternative desserts like cupcakes, pies, or donuts. You can even dress up a store-bought cake with fresh flowers.

Choose a small guest list

Keeping your wedding guest list small is a great way to keep costs down. Here are some tips to help you stick to a small guest list:

Be selective with plus-ones

Limit plus-ones for your guests to keep numbers down. You could have a "plus-one rule" and only allow plus-ones for those in long-term relationships. This is a common method to keep weddings small and costs low.

Only invite immediate family

If you have a large family, you may need to limit your guest list to immediate family only. This could mean keeping it to your parents, siblings and grandparents. You don't need to invite distant cousins or family members you're not close with.

Keep it to your close friends

Don't feel obliged to invite acquaintances, old friends or friends-of-friends. If you've lost touch or had a falling out, they don't need to be invited. Ask yourself: will not inviting them negatively impact your friendship? Do you care? If the answer is no, don't invite them.

Make your wedding adults-only

If you don't have children in your family or life that you're very close to, make your wedding kid-free. While kids' food and drinks may be cheaper, you still have to factor them into your final headcount. If you do invite children, you'll need to make sure there's something for them to eat and do, which could add to your costs.

Be upfront and honest

Be clear with friends and family that your small guest list is due to budget constraints and has no bearing on the person. Reassure loved ones that they are still valued and that there will be other opportunities to celebrate with them in the future.

Create a 'must-haves' list

Start with a list of immediate family members you absolutely want to include, then decide if it's a priority to have a few friends or extended family members in attendance.

Keep your final list private

Once you've finalised your guest list, keep it between you and your partner. Sharing it with others may lead to pressure to invite more people. If your parents or in-laws are contributing financially, you could give them a certain number of people they can invite.

Don't overthink anyone's reaction

Remember, you're not obligated to invite anyone. If you're not thrilled at the thought of someone being at your wedding, they don't need to be there. Chances are, if you're not close, they won't be offended.

Keeping your guest list small will help you save money and create a more intimate wedding atmosphere. It may be a difficult process, but it will be worth it in the end.

Opt for a non-traditional venue

Opting for a non-traditional venue is a great way to save money on your wedding. Here are some ideas to consider:

Government-owned Properties

Parks, old buildings, and community centres are often overlooked as wedding venues, but they can be some of the most affordable options. These venues can offer stunning settings for a fraction of the price of traditional venues. For example, you could reserve a gazebo at your local park for as little as $15, or get married at Niagara Falls for $450. If you're a local resident, you may be able to get a discount, and many of these venues are beautiful as-is, requiring minimal decoration.

Private Spaces

Renting a private home or backyard can be a more personal and intimate option. Airbnb and similar services allow small weddings, and renting a private home is often cheaper than booking a full-scale wedding venue. You'll have more flexibility with the schedule, decorations, and catering, but keep in mind that you may need to rent tables, chairs, and other essentials.

Unique Wedding Venues

If you want your wedding to stand out, consider a museum, art gallery, zoo, aquarium, or botanical garden. These venues can be surprisingly affordable and offer a memorable, unique setting. For example, state capitol buildings are often free to use and have beautiful interiors and exteriors.

Other Creative Ideas

Sports venues, dance studios, boat houses, campgrounds, fairgrounds, summer camps, bowling alleys, churches, beaches, and nature preserves are all unique and affordable options for couples looking for something different. For example, many churches only charge a small fee, especially if you're a member of the congregation, and beaches and nature preserves usually require little decoration due to their natural beauty.

When choosing an alternative venue, be mindful of hidden costs, such as rentals for tables and chairs, and be prepared to put in more time and effort into planning and coordinating. However, with a little creativity and flexibility, you can have a beautiful and affordable wedding at a non-traditional venue.

Send e-vites

Professionally designed wedding invitations can be expensive, with the average cost being $530. If you're looking to save money, e-vites are a great alternative.

With digital websites like Canva, Cards and Pockets, and Koala Ray, it's easy to design and customize templates for professional-quality invitations without the hefty price tag. You can send them out via email, saving on postage fees, and track RSVPs online using free services like Free. No, Seriously. While these services offer premium upgrades, they're not necessary to send out awesome e-vites.

If you play your cards right, you can come out of this wedding expense completely free!

DIY your wedding cake

A bakery-made wedding cake can cost upwards of $500, but a DIY cake is a great way to save money and add a personal touch to your special day. Here are some tips and tricks for creating a beautiful and delicious wedding cake on a budget.

Planning and Preparation:

• Research professional wedding cake bakers to understand the process and costs involved.
• Order supplies early, including pans, cake boxes, parchment paper, piping bags, food colouring, and cake decorating tools.
• Practice baking and decorating cakes ahead of time to improve your skills and confidence.
• If making a traditional white cake, freeze your egg whites in advance, as they freeze beautifully.
• Prep dry ingredients and sugars weeks ahead, clearly labelling them for each tier and flavour.
• Cake layers can be baked and frozen up to a month in advance, then thawed slowly in the fridge the day before icing.

Baking and Assembly:

• Make each cake tier separately to avoid overwhelming your mixer and ensure even baking.
• Line your pans with parchment paper to ensure the cakes release seamlessly.
• Use a simple, rustic design that you are comfortable with. Naked or semi-naked cakes are easier to decorate and still look elegant.
• Use cake dowels and cake rounds to provide stability and support when stacking tiers.
• Apply a crumb coat of frosting to protect the outer layer from crumbs, then chill the cakes to set the crumb coat.
• Use a bench scraper and icing spatula to create a textured, ruffled look by spinning the cake while applying frosting with a small spatula.
• Add fresh flowers, berries, or other decorations to enhance the cake's beauty and disguise any imperfections.

On the Big Day:

• Transport the cake in separate tiers to the venue and assemble it there with the help of a friend.
• Bring extra frosting to the venue in case of any last-minute touch-ups.
• Enjoy your beautiful and delicious DIY wedding cake, knowing you saved money and added a personal touch to your special day!

Choose a non-traditional dessert

There are many ways to save money on your wedding, and choosing a non-traditional dessert is a great option. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are a classic, comforting treat that can be elevated for your wedding day. You can stack concentric cookies, with attractive icing techniques to secure each layer, leaving the edges exposed to give guests a glimpse of the treats inside. Alternatively, opt for French macarons, some of the classiest cookies around. These can be displayed on their edges in a tiered serving platter, or in a unique conical "cake" which shows off the cookies' hand-painted tops.

Crepes

Crepe cakes are a fun alternative to a traditional wedding cake. These paper-thin French pancakes can be stacked high with whipped cream or fruit preserves between each layer. A dusting of powdered sugar is a perfect topper, but you can also decorate with fresh flowers or fruit for a more traditional look.

Cupcakes

Cupcakes have serious staying power as a wedding dessert option. They satisfy your guests' sweet tooth with a variety of flavour and icing combinations, and can be displayed on a tiered stand, perhaps with a small wedding cake on top.

Cheesecake

A cheesecake is a top choice for an alternative wedding dessert. You can dress it up with a graham cracker crust and purple rose-bedecked tiers, or go for a cheesecake made from stacked wheels of cheese, decorated with fresh fruit.

Doughnuts

Doughnuts are a fun, easy-to-serve dessert that your guests will love. You can stack them on a tiered stand, perhaps with a small cutting cake on top, or hang them on a wall of treats, alongside pies and milk and cookies.

Ice cream

An ice cream cake can be tiered, frosted, and decorated just like a traditional cake, but without the sponge. Choose complementary flavours and layer them with crushed cookies for a textural contrast.

Madeleines

Golden, crispy-edged French madeleines are visually stunning and don't need much in the way of icing or toppings. A black velvet bow at the base of the stand is a cute, on-trend addition.

Pie

Substitute wedding cake with wedding pie for a truly personalised dessert option. Whether you prefer apple, pumpkin, or cinnamon-laced pie, using pies as creative cake alternatives is a no-brainer. Stack them in a cake-like shape and adorn with chocolate-covered strawberries.

Pancakes

There's no need to have a brunch wedding to swap in pancakes as an alternative wedding cake option. Stack them in a tower of various sizes, and pour syrup together for a photo-worthy moment.

Rice Krispies Treat Cake

A Rice Krispies Treat Cake is an unexpected alternative to a traditional wedding cake. You can dress up the layers with ribbons and fresh fruit.

Croquembouche

A croquembouche is a traditional French wedding dessert. It's a triangular tower of cream puffs, drizzled with strands of caramelised sugar, with wheels and peels of citrus or small flowers in between the pastries.

Millefoglie Cake

Millefoglie cakes are traditional Italian wedding cakes. They consist of circular layers of puff pastry, alternating with light diplomat cream, and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and fresh fruit.

Kransekake

Kransekake is a traditional Scandinavian sweet, made from concentric rings of almond cookie and royal icing. It's a popular choice for weddings and other celebrations, and you can go as high as you like with the number of rings.

Fruit

A simple, affordable option is to send guests home with a ripe apple or pear, or fill glass containers with candy.

Frequently asked questions