23 Realistic Wedding Ideas On A Budget That Saved Us Thousands!
Wedding planning is exhausting, and most wedding ideas on a budget online are unrealistic. A quick list of the venue, gown, food, and flowers gave us sticker shock, to say the least, but that didn’t discourage us. Instead, we leaned into our frugal roots. By focusing on our “must-haves” and what mattered most, we saved thousands of dollars without sacrificing our daughter’s dream day. Here are the 23 exact strategies we used to keep our sanity and our savings!
My daughter was amazing, open to ideas, and the furthest thing from a bridezilla. She jumped right into DIY mode, accepted plenty of help, and in the end, her wedding day was absolutely perfect. If you have a small budget, you are in the right place to learn how to make every detail count, from venues and flowers to the dream dress!
As I mentioned, we saved thousands, but we had help and a lot of it. Some truly amazing people offered to do things for free or at an affordable price. So, you’ll see this advice suggested a lot below. In our experience, people are happy to help – they want to help! In addition to accepting these generous gifts of time and energy from family and friends, we bought the wine from Costco and Trader Joe’s, ordered the cake from Publix, and let go of some of the things we wanted.
We were fortunate to have a low-cost wedding photographer and saved tons on the wedding flowers thanks to a good friend (more on that below). For the food, my amazing sister cooked for almost 100 people, her gift to my daughter. Her food was so good, in fact, that one of the venue staff members told us it was delicious and “this is the kind of food that people really want at a wedding”. See what she made below!
Wedding Ideas On A Budget
I’m no wedding expert, so this isn’t a comprehensive guide to having a budget wedding. However, it’s how we saved money on my daughter’s wedding, so we know these strategies work.
Be Willing To Compromise
Being open-minded and willing to compromise is crucial when planning a wedding on a budget.
- For example, instead of focusing on having the best and most expensive things, be willing to compromise and choose a few things you want the most. For example, my daughter wanted fireworks at the reception. They were an extra $500, so we budgeted for that by saving money in other areas. She and Drew were easy to work with and willing to compromise, which made the entire process more enjoyable and helped save money.
Your Perfect Day Wedding Planner
The Complete Wedding Planner – A 132-page wedding planning book and organizer with an 18-month countdown calendar and a 12-month bullet point checklist. Track appointments, fittings, vendors, food tastings, and more. A great engagement gift!
Affordable Wedding Food
A simple, approachable menu and help from friends and family will save money on food.
- Ask for help. Do you know an excellent cook? Ask if they would be willing to prepare the food. My sister was a caterer and graciously offered to cater my daughter’s wedding. It was her gift to the kids. Don’t know anyone? Local Facebook groups are a great place to find wedding ideas on a budget, and they often have recommendations for local chefs and caterers.
- Choose simple and affordable food. We chose good old-fashioned Southern comfort food for the menu, and here’s what may surprise you. Several venue employees pulled us aside and said the food was the best they’d ever seen. When the professionals who help execute weddings daily tell you people want easy, unpretentious food – that’s a big statement! If you’re set on fancy, expensive food, you might want to rethink that.
- For the cocktail hour, we served cheese and crackers, charcuterie, nuts, and fresh fruit. It was easy to grab and eat while the guests mingled. We decorated the food tables with extra flowers and greenery we bought for the wedding. We purchased the wine from Costco and Trader Joe’s, and the cake was from Publix because, as everyone knows, Publix makes the best cakes!
Dollar Tree is THE place for plate charges! Those beautiful place settings shown above were a combination of borrowed pieces from the venue and from Dollar Tree. If you need a large quantity, order online, as they may not have enough in stock.
Related: 52 Week Money Saving Challenge + Free Printable PDF
Wedding Flowers On A Budget
Buy your florals and either do it yourself or ask for help.
- When my daughter did the Disney college program, she made the best friends for life. One of those friends had a mother who was a florist, and she offered to do all the flowers for the wedding, which was incredibly generous and kind. She sent us a list of what she needed, and we purchased everything from a local wholesale flower shop. It saved us so much money, and she did a fantastic job, as you can see in the photos!
- Do you have a creative friend who makes beautiful arrangements for their home? Ask them to help with the flowers. They don’t have to be an expert. All it takes is creativity and a good eye. Social media is also an excellent source for tutorials and budget-friendly wedding ideas. Thousands of free videos show you how to put together gorgeous bouquets!
Little Book of Wedding Checklists
This portable wedding planner provides all the tools and tips you need to stay organized and stress-free. Streamlining the planning process into easy-to-navigate sections, like accessories and attire, venues and vendors, and flowers and décor!
Cheap Bridal Gowns
My daughter found her dream dress at a pop-up that came to town, and we ended up paying a fraction of what we would have at an expensive bridal boutique. Depending on your budget, you have many options.
- Consider altering the vintage gown your mother or grandmother wore.
- Shop at a department store to find gorgeous dresses at a fraction of the price.
- Ask to buy a floor sample at a boutique or department store. They can be highly discounted!
- Opt for a simple style, which usually costs less, and jazz it up with accessories.
- Local thrift stores often have unique dress options at low prices.
- Consider buying a used wedding dress locally or online at Stillwhite, Nearly Newlywed, Borrowing Magnolia.
Wedding Photography Cost
The photographer can be one of the most expensive things at your wedding, but there are ways to save.
- Look for photographers who specialize in courthouse weddings.
- Post your specific request and budget in your local Facebook group.
- Use Guestpix or put disposable cameras on the tables so guests can take pictures. Candid shots are fun!
- Skip the getting ready and after-party photos. You won’t frame these.
Book by the hour, not half-day or full-day. Choose the photos that matter most to you, and schedule them close together. For example, if you want the ceremony and the first dance photographed, do the dance before speeches, which consume a lot of time and aren’t typically photographed. Schedule your day strategically and book your photographer for the shortest possible window.
Wedding Venue On A Budget
This can either be the most expensive or the cheapest part of your wedding.
- Some of the best ideas for having a wedding on a budget come from people you know, especially when it comes to the venue. Do you have a friend who has a fantastic backyard? Do you know someone who lives on the beach or a beautiful farm? If so, you may already have the perfect venue that you could use for free! Local Facebook groups are another great place to ask about affordable venues.
- I looked at the photo above from my daughter’s wedding and thought this could be ANY farm. Just look at those views! Instead of thinking, “A farm wedding is all I can afford,” change your mindset to, “I’m going to rock this farm wedding, and it’s going to be PERFECT!”
Renting Wedding Supplies
Depending on the venue, you may or may not have to rent supplies and decor.
- Our venue included what we needed, but I threw my daughter’s bridal shower at my house and needed several large tables, chairs, and linens, which were surprisingly expensive to rent. I went directly to the Nashville wedding Facebook group and asked for suggestions. Ultimately, I found the sweetest woman who took care of everything, including delivery, setup, and returning to pick it up for less than $200. She was a lifesaver!
- Dollar Tree was a goldmine for supplies. All the gold chargers you see on the tables came from Dollar Tree, juice cafes for a mimosa bar, silver serving utensils, and so much more.
A Year of Us: A Couple’s Journal
Great for gifting! If you’re looking for unique gifts for a wedding. Covering everything from the lighthearted to the heartfelt, help the couple grow closer with a year’s worth of questions.
Utilize Local Facebook Groups
Local Facebook groups have some of the best wedding ideas on a budget, and they love to share them!
- Dozens of Facebook groups and forums already have people asking the same questions you probably have. Some of the suggestions in these groups are brilliant! These are the best sources for finding small, local businesses and creatives, and we would prefer to support them over big-box stores.
Honeymoon Budget
It’s all coming out of the same pot, so saving on your wedding will leave more for the honeymoon budget.
- Let’s say you have a total wedding budget of $10,000, but also want to take a honeymoon. Choose which one is more important. Consider leaving out some of the expensive details, such as a huge cake, paper invitations, an open bar, or valet parking. It can add up to significant savings, leaving you more in the bucket for your honeymoon!
⭐️ I hope this post has given you some helpful ideas for having a wedding on a budget. If you have any suggestions, please share them in the comments below!❤️
