Ten Tips To Plan An Affordable Wedding

How To Plan An Inexpensive Wedding

To help you plan your wedding economically, here are ten tips to consider.

1. Set A Budget

Determine how much you can afford to spend on your wedding and stick to it. Having a clear idea of your budget before embarking on your vendor shopping expedition will not only prevent overspending, but also give you the leverage to negotiate with vendors and secure the best deals. 

2. Prioritize 

Decide which elements of the wedding are most important to you and allocate more funds towards those.

3. Choose A Less Popular Day & Time

Opt for a weekday or Sunday wedding, and consider having your reception earlier in the day to save on venue costs. 

By booking a wedding from Sundays through Thursdays, clients can often secure discounted rates from many venues. Since venues often struggle to fill weeknights, they are willing to negotiate lower prices to ensure their entire week is occupied. Additionally, hosting a wedding during weekdays often results in fewer guests, leading to cost savings in various areas.

4. Cut Down The Guest List

Invite only close friends and family members, and consider having a smaller ceremony and reception.

5. Choose A Non-traditional Venue

There are various options for wedding venues that may not immediately come to mind, such as botanical gardens, national parks, a park or a beach. Even if these places are not specifically advertised as wedding venues, they can still be booked for a wedding. In fact, such venues are often more affordable compared to traditional wedding venues due to the fact that they are not typically used for weddings.

6. Have A Friend Officiate

Having a friend officiate your wedding can be a cost-effective alternative to hiring a professional officiant, who can sometimes charge from $200 to $800 per hour. Instead, consider helping a trusted friend obtain an online license, which allows them to legally perform your wedding ceremony at a fraction of the cost.

7. Skip Party Favors

Wedding favors can be expensive, and many guests end up leaving them behind. Consider skipping the favors and putting the money towards other aspects of your wedding.

8. Opt For A Buffet Instead Of A Plated Meal

Buffets can be a more affordable option than a plated meal. They also give guests more flexibility in choosing what they want to eat.

9. Choose Beer & Wine Instead Of An Open Bar

Consider opting for beer and wine instead of an open bar, if possible. Purchasing beer and wine in bulk off-site and bringing it to your venue can be a more affordable alternative to an open bar. Not only is hard liquor more costly when served at a bar, but you can frequently obtain better deals on beer and wine when purchased in large quantities.

10. Choose A Chic Wedding Dress Instead Of A Gown

Choosing a chic wedding dress over a traditional gown can be a great way to save costs on your wedding day. While the average cost of a wedding gown can range anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or more, a chic wedding dress can be found at a much more affordable price point. Depending on the style and brand, a chic wedding dress can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, making it a much more cost-effective option. Not only can you save money on the dress itself, but you can also save on alterations and accessories since a chic wedding dress is typically more simplistic and requires less embellishment. By choosing a chic wedding dress, you can still look and feel beautiful on your special day without breaking the bank.

If you have a wedding planner or are being helped by friends and family, make sure you communicate your budget to them clearly so they can help you cut costs when necessary and keep you aligned with your initial budget. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the flair of it all.