Planning A Dream Wedding: Sticking To A $10,000 Budget

Planning a wedding on a budget? It's possible to create your dream wedding for just $1,000. From venue selection to floral arrangements, there are many ways to make your big day beautiful and affordable. You can cut costs by asking friends and family to bring dishes to share, doing your own hair and makeup, and following online tutorials for simple updos and makeup looks.

Venue selection

• One of the most effective ways to save money on your wedding venue is to reduce your guest list. The number of guests will determine the size of the venue you need and the amount of food and drink you will have to provide, which are two of the biggest wedding expenses. By cutting down your guest list, you can book a smaller, more affordable venue.
• Opt for a full-service wedding venue that includes everything you need for your ceremony and reception, such as catering, bar service, linens, and rentals. Bundling these items into one package can result in significant savings compared to purchasing them separately.
• Keep the wedding menu simple. Rather than offering a wide range of appetizers and alcohol selections, pare down to just the essentials. This will help you save money on food and drink costs, which can be quite expensive.
• Ask about upgrades and inclusions. While most wedding venues are firm in their pricing, it doesn't hurt to ask about potential upgrades or inclusions that could add more value to your package. For example, they might be willing to throw in a complimentary champagne toast or an extra hour for your reception.
• Stick with the basics when it comes to tableware, linens, chairs, and glassware. While it may be tempting to upgrade to more luxurious options, keeping things simple can help you stay within your budget.

Floral arrangements

One way to save money is to choose affordable flowers such as carnations, hydrangeas, and eucalyptus. These flowers can create a beautiful and cohesive look without breaking the bank. You could also consider using silk flowers, which can be cheaper while still looking high-quality. If you want to add a pop of colour, sunflowers, calla lilies, and ranunculus are perfect choices.

To save money, you can also opt for flower packages and bulk flowers. This will cut costs without sacrificing style. For example, a bridal bouquet can cost anywhere from $190 to $800, depending on the size and types of flowers used. Bridesmaids' bouquets usually range from $75 to $125 each, while boutonnieres are around $20-$35 each. Wrist corsages for the mothers can be $30 each.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, consider seasonal flowers. Farm and Garden Flowers offer lovely seasonal flowers for less than $1000. For example, you could get a bridal bouquet, three bridesmaids' bouquets, three boutonnieres, and two wrist corsages for a total of $935.

Food

If you're planning a wedding on a $10,000 budget, you'll need to be mindful of how much you're spending on food. The average cost of food per person is $85, so if you're inviting 136 guests, you could be looking at a total food bill of $11,560.

To keep costs down, you could opt for a more casual menu and service style. If you're having a morning wedding, a brunch reception is a good option. For an evening wedding, you could serve a simple spread of cheeses, fruit and olives, and forego servers and fancy appetisers.

Buffet or family-style meal service is another way to save money, and bringing your own beverages or limiting drinks to non-alcoholic options will also help to keep costs down.

If you're inviting 50 guests, a high-end food truck is a fun and affordable option, costing around $20-$40 per guest. You could also ask your guests to bring a dish instead of a gift, or provide a home-cooked main dish and ask your guests to bring sides.

Full-service catering for 50 people will cost around $3,750, so if you're inviting more guests, or want to spend less on food, it's worth considering more informal options.

Hair and makeup

If you're planning a wedding on a budget, you can save money on hair and makeup by doing it yourself. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and TikTok to help you look your best for the occasion. You could also ask your usual hairdresser about your options, as they may be able to offer you a discount if they know your hair and style already.

If you'd rather hire a professional, it will cost around $250 for a hairstylist and makeup artist to style a bridal look for the day. You can save money by going to the salon, rather than asking the hair stylist to come to you, and by only paying for yourself to have it done. Hiring someone who can do both hair and makeup is often the more affordable option compared to paying for two separate experts.

Extras and expenses

Another way to save money is to do your own hair and makeup. There are plenty of YouTube tutorials that can teach you how to do a simple updo and a new makeup look.

If you're looking to cut costs even further, you could consider eloping. While it may not be the most traditional route, it's a way to have a memorable and unique wedding day that's within your budget.

Frequently asked questions