Small Wedding Is it Possible???

It's definitely, absolutely possible to have a nice wedding for 35 guests for $4,000. But probably not possible if you have already spent nearly that much on a venue that only proves a place plus chairs and tables. Catering costs are usually around half of a reception budget. Even if you manage to find a restaurant to deliver meals for $10/person, that's still $350 and that doesn't account for tax/tip/set-up/cleanup or drinks or dessert.

I would go back and reconsider if that expensive venue is truly non-negotiable. It would be fine to forgo a DJ for a small wedding, but you'll still need to think about your attire, photography, any decor, transportation, etc.

It is totally possible and people do it everyday. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.


The local parks department has venue rentals which include tables, chairs, kitchen. Call up your favorite local restaurant (Chinese and Mexican will be cheapest) to deliver party pans. You can get a sheet cake and flowers from Costco. If you want to go super inexpensive, the Costco food court has amazing full size pizzas you can order ahead and someone pick them up.
Instagram is great for locating vendors. Some people have good luck finding deals on Facebook local groups. Let the vendors know what your budget is and ask what they can offer in your price range.

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Thank you so much! I really don't want to change the venue. It's beautiful and I've already put a deposit on it. I just don't want to spend a lot of money on food and music. The photographer is already taken care of. I just need food, music and tables and chairs. The rest of the stuff will be taken care of by my mom and bridal party

Maybe use Bluetooth for the music, get the catering from a local restaurant or even ask a family member to cook, get a cake from a grocery store (Walmart, Costco, shoprite etc). It's definitely possible!

View Quoted Comment Make sure your family and friends do as little work as possible on the day of because you want them to enjoy the day. If they are cooking for example, they will miss the entire event.

Do a cake and punch or lunch reception? That would definitely lower costs!!

Go out to lunch or dinner after (don't tell them it's a wedding), and just enjoy your guests after.

One idea for music that is classy is a steel drum soloist. We hired one for only $200 for an hour and a half and it was so exceptionally beautiful for our rehearsal dinner.


We rented tents, chairs and tables for the rehearsal dinner and for 40 guests it only cost us $800.
To keep costs low on a wedding cake, the simpler the design, the less it costs. There are beautiful all white cakes that are so affordable.
Food and alcohol is where it can get pricey. Perhaps do just a champagne toast to reduce the alcohol costs.
Hope this helps ❤️🥂

We are just about done with everything. If you take the honeymoon/weekend getaway stuff and gifts for everyone out, we are at about $4,000 for our wedding. It is 21 guests. That included food, drinks, cake, and all of the vendors. Look, look, look for deals.

Try the thumbtack app for vendors. You may be able to find an inexpensive DJ/photographer. I would use a local Italian/Mexican/Chinese restaurant for a caterer. I wouldn’t tell them what the occasion is, just the number of guests that need to be fed. Use tea light candles and a single flower for table decor it will help drive down costs.

It's totally possible. Our wedding was under $1,500 everything included for about 30 people. Some things we did to keep cost low:

-We didn't do a formal dinner. It was more of a "high tea" type vibe with sandwiches, quiche, salad and fruit. When doing some research on food there are several chain restaurants like Olive Garden that will cater including chaffing dishes and everything else that can keep costs really low.

-Our cakes were not traditional. They weren't sheet cakes but we ordered them from our venue (which is a café and bakery) and they were just fancy cakes. One was covered in strawberries and toasted almonds and the other one was chocolate with a molded chocolate topper.

-Minimal decoration and florals. Just bridal party flowers. Our centerpieces were a single rose in a vase and it turned out great.