Weddings are beautiful. And they can be an amazing way to start off a marriage on a positive note. And they also can be a great way to start off a marriage in tremendous debt. Fortunately there are ways to have absolutely gorgeous weddings without breaking the bank. While I didn’t make a wedding, I did host a big fancy party on a budget and here’s how I made the food cheap.
Here are some more ideas how to keep down the costs of a wedding.
Not all weddings need a bedazzled $30,000 price tag; some couples prefer smaller gatherings with close family. And even low-cost wedding ideas can look expensive on the day, with guests gasping in awe.
When figuring out how to plan a wedding on a budget, you can soon realize how much you can save by avoiding the ‘trend’ pitfall. After all, during your research for the day, you’ll see hundreds of clips from other happy newlyweds. So, while wedding budget tips like careful tracking and fund allocation are essential, skipping certain expensive customs can also be a blessing for your wallet.
Luckily, we discuss everything on how to plan a wedding on a budget, from realistic spending expectations and prioritization to vetting the guest list and booking more affordable venues.
How can you create a budget for affordable wedding planning?
One of the most crucial wedding budget tips is to have realistic expectations for your spending. After all, you want to avoid starting your married life in debt or worrying about the high interest rate. Thus, it’s crucial to focus on the funds you can spend without relying on anyone.
The following wedding planning checklist on a budget shows the steps even before you set the date:
- Set a realistic total amount you can spend on your wedding. Consider your savings and determine if your family would like to contribute.
- Prioritize what you want, not what’s popular. You can skip the gigantic cake, fancy installations, multiple outfits, or lavish wedding favors if you like. There’s no rule on what you must include (and pay for).
- It’s also crucial to allocate specific amounts for particular categories, such as the wedding dress, suit, decorations, venue, and catering.
- Focus on low-cost wedding ideas, such as a smaller guest list, DIY decorations, and renting wedding attire.
- Use a wedding budget calculator (even a simple Google Sheet template will suffice) to track your expenses and monitor upcoming payments. If you’re looking for more budgeting-focused apps, consider Goodbudget or PocketGuard. These apps will also be helpful even after your wedding, letting you keep track of your daily spending.
Why affordable wedding planning loves intimate weddings
The ultimate wedding cost-saving tips include keeping the guest list reserved for family and close friends. As a result, you can save in multiple areas:
- You can book cheap wedding venues with a smaller capacity.
- It also reduces your bill to caterers and bar service. Providers usually provide the costs per person.
- Fewer expenses on accommodations (if your wedding involves overnight stays).
- You will also spend less on invitations and wedding favors.
Lower catering expenses
Food is an essential aspect when learning how to plan a wedding on a budget. As mentioned, fewer guests mean a smaller bill. However, there are other wedding cost-saving tips regarding the food selection:
- Evaluate the price of plated dinners and a buffet. A buffet might seem cheaper, but you’ll need to consider what to do with the leftovers.
- If your selected venue offers in-house catering, it may be more cost-effective than hiring a third-party provider.
- Be creative! What about food trucks for your wedding?
- To keep bar expenses to a minimum, start bar hours a bit later (serve just a limited selection until then).
Ideas for budget-friendly wedding decor
Learning how to plan a wedding on a budget can mean you focus more on DIY wedding ideas for decorations. In other cases, you can utilize the resources you already own or, if you end up buying, consider their reusability potential.
Here are some budget-friendly wedding decor ideas to show how to make your wedding stand out without high costs:
- Use potted plants from your or your parents’ homes for decoration.
- Get creative with your photo backdrop. Go by your taste, but a simple idea is to use beautiful draping, add candles, and hang some lovely lights.
- You can find numerous tutorials for DIY wedding ideas, including instructions on how to create acrylic wedding signs, cake toppers, or welcome signs.
- One of the most effective wedding budget tips for decor is selecting a venue that already aligns with your intended aesthetic. Venues come with default decorations and include different rentals in their price (which may consist of some decoration elements, such as chair covers).
How to find affordable wedding venues?
Another key element of how to plan a wedding on a budget is to start your venue and vendor search in advance. Think 12–18 months for the best prices (and availability). Affordable wedding planning also means considering off-season dates, which often result in lower prices.
You can start your search on sites like Breezit, The Knot, Wedinspire, or Bridebook. These wedding venue finders have special filters for showing more affordable wedding venues specifically. Additionally, specific searches allow you to specify a minimum and maximum budget you want to spend on a venue.
Venue examples
Wave Street Studios (Monterey, CA) is an enchanting venue that dazzles guests with its lush greenery and elegant setting and pleases couples with its reasonable price. The average cost for 100 guests (excluding food and beverages) is over $7,000. One downside might be that it requires outside catering, meaning there is no option to keep everything in-house.
Bombay Events Center on Breezit also caught our eye as a more inclusive option. Located in Ontario, CA, it is one of the cheap wedding venues you can consider. The average cost for 100 guests (with food and beverages) is approximately $4,900. Additionally, the standard event duration is six hours, with the option to pay extra for an extended duration.
So, if you don’t have specific catering preferences, you can use in-house venue services for more affordable wedding planning.
Conclusion
Having a clear wedding budget breakdown is crucial for ensuring that you stay within your intended spending. Thus, focus on having realistic expectations, considering off-season dates, starting your research and booking in advance, and opting for a smaller celebration. Crafting a wedding planning checklist on a budget also helps you stay on track with your expenses and avoid missing any payment deadlines. In general, affordable wedding planning can result in just as fabulous and enjoyable a celebration!
