Planning A Beautiful Wedding On A Shoestring Budget

Planning a wedding on a small budget is possible, but it requires careful consideration and creativity. It's important to align your vision with your budget, as formal weddings and those with lots of florals tend to be more expensive. To save money, you can be flexible with your floral choices, opting for seasonal flowers and utilising existing venue features. You can also ask guests to contribute to a 'go fund me' page instead of giving gifts. With the right approach, you can create a beautiful and affordable wedding day.

Venue selection

• Rely on a free venue, such as a friend or family member's home.
• Utilise a venue that offers an hourly rate for their space to keep costs down.
• Opt for a non-traditional hotel or home rental. You may be able to find a picturesque location for a fraction of the typical price.
• If you're a couple who loves art, history, science or books, then a museum or library could be the ideal budget-friendly venue.
• Consider eloping. Choose a gorgeous location that means something to you and invite a small handful of guests to witness your wedding.
• If you're planning to get married in your backyard, keep in mind that this will take much more planning and upfront legwork than a wedding at an all-inclusive venue.
• Take a look around your venue. Is there an existing arch or focal point you can hold your ceremony under instead of building out a floral arbor? Take advantage of any natural beauty and frame it with some smaller pops of decor.

When it comes to venue selection, it's important to prioritise and be flexible. By choosing a venue that fits within your budget, you can allocate more funds towards other aspects of your wedding, such as florals or decor.

Floral arrangements

If you have a particular floral arrangement in mind, such as a floral arbor, consider whether there is an existing arch or focal point at your venue that you can use instead. This will save you money on building a floral arbor from scratch.

Another way to save money on floral arrangements is to choose a venue that already has beautiful floral displays. That way, you won't need to spend as much on additional flowers.

Hair and makeup

If you're planning a wedding on a small budget, you may want to consider doing your own hair and makeup. There are plenty of bridal makeup and hair tutorials on YouTube and TikTok to help you perfect your look. If you already have all the hair and makeup supplies you need, this option is free. However, if you want to look absolutely stunning in your wedding snaps, you may want to consider booking a professional hair and makeup artist. They know how to make you look great for the camera, but they can be expensive, costing $250 or more. If you're working with a $1,000 budget, doing your own hair and makeup is likely your best bet.

Wedding gifts

When it comes to wedding gifts, there are plenty of thoughtful options that won't break the bank. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• A small tree, such as an apple or pear tree, to symbolise the couple's growing love.
• A customised cutting board engraved with the couple's names or initials. This is both practical and sentimental, and will serve as a reminder of their special day every time they cook together.
• Personalised wall art that reflects the couple's unique love story. This could be a print with their names, the coordinates of where they first met or got engaged, or a quote that holds special meaning for them.
• A small plant or terrarium to bring some greenery into the couple's new life.
• Personalised thank-you notes, a printed photo from the wedding, a pressed flower, or a tiny trinket like a keychain or bookmark with the couple's names or wedding date.
• A set of personalised coffee mugs featuring a picture of the couple or their pet.
• A DIY adventure fund jar made from a mason jar, where the couple can save for trips or a new home.
• A compact survival kit with essential safety supplies inside a military-grade aluminium LED flashlight, perfect for the outdoorsy couple.

If you're looking for more ways to save money on your wedding, consider the following tips:

• Be flexible with florals. Suggest a colour and overall look, but leave it up to your florist to determine what's in season, which will cut down on costs.
• Take advantage of existing features at your venue, such as an arch or garden, and frame them with small pops of decor.
• Instead of offering guests the chance to give wedding gifts or money, invite them to contribute to a 'go fund me' page to help pay for the wedding.

Budgeting

One way to save money is to be flexible with your floral choices. Suggest a colour scheme and overall look to your florist, but let them choose what flowers are in season, as this will be more affordable. You can also take advantage of any existing features at your venue, such as an arch or a garden, and use smaller pops of décor to enhance the space.

Another way to save money is to be mindful of your hair and makeup budget. The average cost of hair and makeup for a wedding is $250, but you may be able to save money by doing your own hair and makeup or asking a friend to help.

If you are comfortable with it, you can also ask your guests to contribute to your wedding costs instead of giving gifts. You could set up a 'go fund me' page and let your guests know that their generosity will go towards making your special day possible.

Finally, it is important to create a detailed budget and stick to it. Break down your costs into categories such as venue, flowers, catering, etc., and allocate your funds accordingly. This will help you stay organised and ensure that you don't overspend.

Frequently asked questions