Budget and Low Costs

Diy decorations.

The main thing to focus on when trying to keep your budget low, is also keeping your guest list low. Each head = $$$. Also recoginizing which things are cheaper to DIY and which things are cheaper to buy or rent. People always assume that DIY and renting are cheapest, but that's not always the case. Explore prices on things like linens and dishes. Also each BP member is an expense, so keep it to your nearest and dearest. Cut out unecessary expenses like favors.

I am trying to keep it under $7,500-8,000. We decided on a local state park pavilion with a supplemental tent rental for a venue, which has helped keep costs down. I am planning on buying a less expensive dress, small wedding party, DIY decor and florals, and a buffet to keep costs lower as well. We are splurging on the DJ and Photography!

Food/alcohol will always be the largest expense for a wedding! I would look into bbq or Italian catering as those are usually cheapest. Also beer/wine only can be cheaper than liquor.

I agree on the food choices. However, we do have.l a full event staff at the wedding to prepare food and serve since this is a venue owned by a family member. Because of this we’re basically paying a tip and that’s all. She ensured us that it should be no problem to keep our budget $5,000 or below, but it’s adding up quick and i’m worried.

View Quoted Comment We’re also splurging on the photography. So far, she has been the most expensive out of everything.

We originally decided on 10k but that completely failed when we booked the venue. So we're spending somewhere around 20k We're saving costs by me making alot of the things myself. The flower arrangements, center pieces, invites (shutterfly), my brother is a makeup artist and my sister is a hair dresser so that saves tons. I would recommend doing as much "crafts" as possible!

View Quoted Comment Our bridal party is fairly small with 4 people, so I don’t think that the cost of that will be too much. However, the bridal party is upset because they’re having to pay for their own hair and makeup.

View Quoted Comment Holy moly!! How did the bill become so high? My FH’s cousin had her wedding at the sameness venue, and hers cost around $7000 but they insisted on buying things that were already available to them for free simply because they didn’t like them.

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Have you given them the option of doing it themselves? You're responsible for their hair and makeup if you're requiring that they do it a certain way, or requiring that they have it done by a professional in general. If you're not requiring it, they should have the option to use your HMUA at their expense, use their own HMUA, or do their own.

View Quoted Comment I am requiring that their hair be done professionally but not their makeup. I

View Quoted Comment I was originally going to pay for it myself then my sister offered to do them for free. They can still get whatever style they want, and no one has to pay. The makeup will probably be the same, just free b/c my brother offered to do it.

View Quoted Comment Yeah, our photographer will be the biggest cost item for us as well, but I think a good photographer is worth it!

View Quoted Comment I agree, what was the cost of yours if you don’t mind me asking? Ours is $1200 and i’m crying over it still.

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If you're requiring them to have it done, you should be prepared to pay for that expense.

Ditch the save the dates and send your invites a couple months earlier, you save money on postage and the actual save the dates. Have one small cake for you to cut and for pictures and then the rest sheet cake.

View Quoted Comment I don’t mom’s! Ours is $1625, for 7 hours, two photographers for 3, and all rights included. That will go up of course if we need to ask them to stay for longer 🤦🏻‍♀️

We spent $29k on our wedding.

If you're requiring bridesmaids to have their hair OR makeup a certain way, you should pay for it. Their only requirement is to buy a dress. I spent $900 on my and my bridesmaids' hair and makeup because I'm a control freak and didn't want to leave it up to them.

Our photographer was $2600 for 7 hours, so you did really good with that expense!

We had 192 invited, 148 RSVPed. I thought we could keep it at $8000, and my mom was like we'll be lucky if it's $15,000. We made it somewhere between $13,000 and $14,000 with guaranteed money back on unused Lyft event codes and leftover alcohol.

I know everyone says DIY and renting isn't always the cheapest, but it definitely was for us. And the biggest things that knocked off expenses was a wine, beer, and hard cider only bar and catering through an affordable restaurant (we chose Zoe's Kitchen). We used Gig Salad to find our two servers and bartender.

Don't buy things that are unnecessary like ceremony programs, favors that no one will take, etc.