Weddings on Budgets

Most prices are high because of the magnitude of the event. It’s a one shot thing with no do-overs if there’s an error (a photographer misses the first kiss? There’s no way to get that back in its natural moment). There’s quite a be of work on the vendor’s end to make sure the outcome is what has been paid for, hence the high prices (as well as your location; So Cal is more expensive than Ohio, for example). The best way to stretch your budget is to cut your guest list. The fewer people you host, the less expensive it’ll be. If you keep your list to under 100, I definitely think it’s doable on your budget.

View Quoted Comment Thank you!

It’s going to depend greatly on your guest list size, what part of CA you are in, and overall vision. A DIY park wedding for 50 people can be doable for that budget whereas a 250 person wedding at a beachside venue is not.

Here’s an example of a $15,000 budget that I originally followed before I raised the budget a bit and some ideas to help cut it down to $12,000:

Reception: $7,200 - This includes venue, food, beverages, decorations, and rentals. It is all together because different venues come with different things. Start with the element is most important to you, figure out how much it costs and then go from there with budgeting the rest of the money. To give you a starting point, if you divide that budget into thirds, it would be $2,400 for each element (not counting rentals or decorations). Adjust as needed from there and you can come up with a broken-down budget for the reception. You can save on catering by going with affordable food like barbecue or pizza. You can find great venues by searching for city and county-owned venues and parks. They’re cheap and many times, they come with tables and chairs. Also check out Peerspace. A lot of venues there charge by the hour and can be very affordable, with some even coming with tables and chairs. If you are having a smaller wedding, check out “private events” on restaurant websites. Many times, they don’t charge a facility fee, it’s just food and beverages. Save on alcohol by doing a beer and wine only bar, and/or buying the alcohol from Costco or another store. Don’t forget the bottle waters and sodas!

Ceremony: $300 - This could be combined with the reception budget, especially if the venue can do both.

Photography: $1,800 - If you really want nice pictures, you definitely want to invest in the nicest photographer you can afford. You could see if a photographer you like can create a package with less hours. Otherwise, contact your local college photography program and see if they have any photography students they could recommend. You could get a group of students for cheap.

Stationary: $600 - To fit your budget, I’d try cutting from here. Cut the programs, print your own invitations, go with a simple invitation design, and do RSVPs through a wedding website.

Flowers: $1,050 - If you are crafty, cut from here as well. DIY your flowers by getting them from Costco, your local grocery store, or if you are near LA, the LA Flower Market. Your flower choices and season your wedding is in are huge factors here. A wedding with a rose bouquet will be much cheaper than one with a peony and calla lily bouquet.

Apparel (bride and groom): $1,500 - Cut costs here by shopping used wedding dress websites, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist. Also shop sample sales, bridal outlet stores, and online places like Lulu’s. Amazon has cheap veils and accessories. Keep in mind that alterations would also be coming from this budget. For men, some places allow for the groom’s rental to be free if the groomsmen rent from the same place. Otherwise, have them wear suits they already have.

Hair/Makeup: $150 - Cut here by DIYing hair and makeup or going to a beauty school salon.

Rings: $300 - You can find great rings at affordable prices online, like on Amazon.

Gifts/Favors: $300 - Can cut the favors entirely or do something fun, like lotto tickets or custom labeled chapstick.

Emergency Fund - $600 - Since you never know what will pop up, an emergency fund is a must.

I hope this helps!

Hi there, Maria.

Once you start pricing out a wedding, it can certainly be a sticker shock. Try not to feel disheartened by this. You can still have an amazing, beautiful day on a budget.
As Nicole mentioned, the main place you can make the biggest difference to your budget is the guest list. A smaller guest list affects so many of your other costs; catering, bar, etc.
Here are some fantastic articles for you from the WeddingWire ideas section which may help you -

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget
9 Go-To Ways to Save Money on a Wedding
5 Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Day

6 Costs to Eliminate from Your Wedding Budget Right. Now.

Budget Tips from Real Couples

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much! It’s just hard finding a venue all together that will keep you at your budget! But I’m definitely not giving up!