Budgeting

Hi Corrine, the biggest way we saved money was a smaller guest count. We had an average scale wedding planned, down the middle (loved it, very nice and not overly fancy, not located in a big city). Pre-covid we had guest list of 280 and post-covid had 110. Saved $20,000 was the difference (less meals, less alcohol, less centerpieces, less favors, etc.). Wish we would’ve kept it around 100 to begin with 😂

Avoid the word wedding whenever possible because the price skyrockets. You can find many high quality lower priced alternatives if you know where to look


Rent whenever possible. Buying may seem cheaper but you have to factor in that your time and sanity also equal money.
Blank slate venues are looked down upon on WW but they tend to be less expensive because they do not have required food/beverage minimums and other aspects that the venues will not eliminate to save money. With a blank slate that you can find through the parks dept or eventective.com they provide tables/chairs/kitchen and you bring the rest and have 100% control over your budget. Guests don't drink champagne? Skip it.
Sit down with fiance and find 3-5 areas to focus your money and attention on. Toss out the rest. Most go for the guest experience(good food, drinks no guest pays out of pocket for, good dj) plus photos.
Restaurant corporate catering is much tastier, cheaper and larger quantity than a wedding caterer. Purchasing your own alcohol through Bevmo, Costco, TotalWine is the cheapest. Get a bartender on Thumbtack
Fiftyflowers.com or Costco.com for fresh flowers that are cheaper than silks.
Skip programs and favors.
Cake from a local grocery store.
Only invite those nearest and dearest to you. Do not let anyone pressure you into inviting anyone you do not want in attendance.
Keep your wedding party to a minimum of nearest and dearest closest people.
Thumbtack.com or Instagram for vendors.
DIY invites on Canva.com and take the file on a flash drive to the local Staples to be printed. Or go through Costco.com or Annsbridalbargains.com for invites

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much! This is so helpful!

Don't be afraid to borrow things. there are things people may have that you can borrow. for instance i borrowed easels from my friends to hold up signs.

I was quoted $3K for flowers - went to Michaels and spent $1K. I couldn’t find any other way to save on anything else... never want to be cheap on photography/videography in my opinion. Don’t forget to include tips in your budget, which I forgot... Officiant, photographer/videographer, HMUA, day of coordinator, transportation, venue staff/bartenders; nearly $1,000... Have fun!!!

The first rule is always smaller guest list = smaller budget! It affects the budget in so many ways you don’t even think about! You can have a smaller, less expensive venue, less money for catering and alcohol, smaller wedding cake, fewer servers & bartenders needed, fewer tables, chairs, linens, plates, decor and favors. And a smaller wedding party means less money on gifts (and attire, hair/make up, if you plan to provide those services as well). If you choose a venue that has a beautiful interior or landscaping, you can save a lot on flowers and decor by letting the beauty of the location speak for itself. You can also save on flowers by only getting those that are in season. If you are not traditional, you can wear an alternative to a wedding dress (ie, special occasion, red carpet, etc.), or or you can purchase one on one of the many used wedding dress sites (some of them are still brand new with tags, or sample dresses). You could have a friend or family member become ordained to marry you.

Don't worry about tips until after the honeymoon when you have an objective mindset to assess how the vendors performed Only tip those who went above and beyond the call of duty. Bad service/no shows and simply doing their job does not warrant a tip.

Make your guest count as small as possible. Consider doing DIYing as many things as possible.

Our venue has a storage room that has supplies that we can use. They have signs, decorations, flower girl baskets, ring bearer pillows etc. When you book your venue, see if they have anything life that.

I got my dress at a sample sale - I got a $2000 dress for $199.

I borrowed my earrings, used a necklace that used to be my grandmothers, and bought my shoes on sale.

Fake flowers.

Don't do extras - no favors, no photo booth, etc.

Get a venue that either has a view or is already decorated to your taste.

Get recs from your friends, they may be able to get you a discount.

If you can't afford the photography/videography in your area, reach out to your local college. They may have students looking for experience, with lower prices.

Think about weddings you've been to - whatever you remember is what you should spend your money on, whatever you don't, isn't important to you.

Hey girl congrats!!

For me it was definitely the smaller guest list.

Went with Michael's and dollar tree for all flower and decor stuff.

No party favors since no one cares about them anyway lol.

Simple yet beautiful save the dates and invites (also if they're heavy you might need more than 1 stamp).

Since you have plenty time, save stuff you wanna get for gifts or decor etc in your favorites and wait to buy it when it goes on sale. I did that for tumblers for my bm, the robes, centerpiece stuff, flowers, wedding rings, decor, etc. I didn't pay full price for anything lol.

ALSO, most bridal stores give discounts if you pay cash. I got $300 off my gown for paying cash.

There is a spreadsheet called Brideside somewhere floating around the internet and you can download it for free and it’s a free excel template that lets you put your own info in. It’s awesome.

View Quoted Comment Google Sheets has a template already set up of everything a couple needs for planning. Similar to Excel but can easily be shared with anyone with a Google account