Small budget wedding tips and advice

The biggest way to save money is to keep your guest list to a minimum. Also having fewer bridal party members. Look at unconventional venues like public spaces, parks, and VFW halls. Friday and Sunday weddings are usually less expensive than a Saturday. Italian, Mexican, and BBQ are typically the lowest cost catering options.

View Quoted Comment I have looked into renting our local community center. I told her it was only 550 for 8 hours. Her reply was, “you don’t wanna have it at a community center” she says I shouldn’t have it somewhere that I have to decorate myself or provide my own food, clean up, etc 🙄

You absolutely could have a beautiful wedding within your budget, in fact I've been to gorgeous ones for even less. I'd say if there's no contract, plan your wedding yourself, no wedding planner should be trying to discourage you from having a wedding. Pinterest will be your best friend with finding ways to make your day special without breaking the bank. It sounds like the planner wants to plan what she wants, not what you want anyway

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Doesn't sound like she really has any interest in what you want. Tell her that you appreciate her help, but you would like to handle the planning from here on out.

Just wanted to say I'm going through something similar, and it's exhausting. We have about $12,000 and I'm finding it nearly impossible to host an 80 guest wedding reception. I am in CA though and everything here is like triple priced 😩

I have three venue tours today, back to back to back. I'm up early on my day off to do this, same as last Sunday. Planning a wedding on a budget has become like a second full time job because it's seriously taking over my life lol.

I will say I agree with your FSIL(?) about the community center. It's a GREAT idea if you're super creative and artsy and involved, and want to get on there and physically set up the whole room yourself. Or if you have BMs who you trust to do it. But there's no way I could do that, flowers and decorations and the least important things to me.

If I don't like any of the venues today (or can't afford them) FH and I are going to look into a restaurant reception.

View Quoted Comment That’s ridiculous! When you are on a budget those are the best places to use. It means that you can get a great caterer for less and diy some decorations. Yes they are a little more work but the price is usually worth it. Are original budget was around 7k. It’s more like 9K but I added stuff I could have done without like a videographer and a second photographer. Definitely look into parks and camps around the area. And don’t settle for the courthouse if you don’t want to!! Also try to go to bridal shows around you, vendors there are often giving discounts. I got my photographer $750 off because of it. A smaller budget requires a little more research but you got this! Don’t let anyone make you settle for less than you want!

Maybe try to do some research and price it out on your own. (Depending on where you are located & how many people you’re inviting) 7,000 should be able to cover a beautiful wedding. It sounds like she’s not trying to help you within your budget. Once you do your research (which it sounds like you’ve already started with the community center) you can thank her but just say you’ve selected something and you’re all set. And maybe give her some other task to help with so she can still feel involved and no feelings are hurt. Good luck!

My budget is $2000 and I’m trying to plan my wedding as well...so the 9-10 grand is ridiculous. My fiancé’s sister planned hers for 4 grand..a cheap but nice wedding can be done it’s just you have to cut out things instead of catering we are doing potluck instead of a dress that’s $800 I’m getting a cheap 99-250 dress that I can wear again. You’re only going to wear it once anyway. But as a bride to be it’s whatever you want.

I agree with the other ladies, your budget is totally doable if you minimize your guest list and wedding party. The largest expense for us is the venue space. After that, the photographer. Depending on where you live you could do a garden ceremony or something outdoors. Many national parks allow ceremonies for a low price. The natural beauty of nature can make up for not having tons of florals and decor.

Our budget is 10,000 not including travel expenses. We’re having a DW, no wedding party (was never going to have one) and a very small guest list of 25 people. For flowers, we’re only doing my bouquet, his boutonnière, and two large floral arrangements at the ceremony altar. We’re getting married in Hawaii so the natural beauty is our main decor. For dinner, we’re deciding between renting a private dining space in a restaurant or having something catered at our vacation rental. For dinner decor, I’m making a few arrangements with Costco florals and using clear vases from Michael’s that I already have from helping plan a friend’s wedding. For dessert we’re doing a naked cake 🍰 and fancy donuts arranged in tier (dish from Michael’s) with some fresh roses.

In my opinion, you would save money doing your own decorations, food and clean up.

I would say keep your guest list small and if you have any talented friends use them.

My bff did her daughter's wedding for around $5000 total. They had a church wedding with a reception in the fellowship hall.

They made all the food themselves. I did her flowers, His mother was the photographer.

Just pick a wedding time that you don't have to feed a heavy meal. Just do pick ups. If you have any cooks in the family do a pot luck.

You can do it. Don't let anyone take away the vision that you have. After all its your day!

I plan on doing a $6000 wedding. I'm hoping to do everything outside with tents and make some decorations. Venues are so expensive so you might have to get creative, but do what will make you happy and don't listen to debbie downers. 🙂

View Quoted Comment I totally agree! Our budget is $5,000 & thanks to pinterest aand research, were getting a gorgeous wedding under budget.

It’s possible. My budget and total cost is under $7000. Maybe throw the idea around to not have her as a planner. Look into low cost venues like parks, beaches and even some hotels that offer packages where they provide most of what you need. Keep guest list small and don’t stress over all the little details that end up adding to the cost.

That’s my budget and I’m in CA! I’m using a Wedgewood venue and they have been great in working with my budget. They have a $5,000 min. and I kept it there (added photography that bumped it up). However, my guest list is about 40 and a week day with all the bells and whistles, so if you’re wanting more for a Saturday they can downgrade some items to help. Good luck! It’s definitely tough in Cali lol

View Quoted Comment Oh no.

Drop the party planner. She dumb.

This is a happy medium place. It's not the courthouse, and it's not bleeding out money you don't have for one day.

If I had splurged less on my venue, photographer and party bus, I'd be under 7k for a 250 guest list. In fact, with all those splurges, and that many guests, I'm still hitting somewhere in the 9-10k range.

How many people do you plan on inviting to your wedding, and are you having a reception? Venues tend to be VERY pricey now-a-days. I’m having about 150 guests and finally found a venue that’s about $8,000. But cutting costs could be the little things here and there, making your bridesmaids pay for more things than just their dress and same with the groomsmen. Also, doing a lot more DIY things instead of buying of if Etsy will save TONS of money! If you stick to having vendors who you personally know, it may not be as professional as you want, but it will certainly cut costs!

We are planning our wedding in Colorado up in the mountains where everything is very expensive, and keeping to a $5k budget so it’s totally doable. You may just have to think outside the box on venue locations and get creative. We are looking at either a hall that is willing to give us a special rate or a group campground- parks are usually good options because rates are much cheaper than most event spaces. Definitely keeping the guest list small helps costs too. We’re also asking a friend to officiate for us, which will be his gift to us, and my best friend is making us s cake, which I will help bake in advance and she’ll do final touches to the day of.
If you want a wedding, don’t let anyone talk you out if it. My FH and I have been together 6 years and have two kids together. It’ll be both of our first marriages and I want a wedding not to just to go to the courthouse, and anyone who has a problem with it can just not come.

I would want the opposite of what she is suggesting. It’s your wedding day. Parties can happen anytime. You only get married once. I would spend the majority of the money on the ceremony of my dreams and then have a budget party afterwards. Go to dinner at a nice restaurant, then go out dancing at a local spot. It’s way cheaper than a reception. You can celebrate all night.

Stick to your budget!! You can plan the wedding you want and stay within budget! Have you looked at any venue’s?

View Quoted Comment Girl! Don’t b listening to her. This is your day!! Never forget that part. Especially with your budget you have to do what you can and make it as nice as possible with YOUR ideas. It’s ok to seek advice but please don’t get discouraged by outside influence. I literally block out the noise. It’s the only way to get thru it because this is such a stressful time. Fun but stressful. My coworker tried to talk me out of my honeymoon saying she can get it for cheaper umm listen Linda lol I was like it’s ok already booked so just thank her for help and move accordingly to what you need to do. Congrats and blessings 😘💜🦋