WEDDINGS ON A BUDGET | How to create a beautiful wedding without going bankrupt

Hey, today I'll be sharing a few tips that might make wedding planning on a budget a little bit easier.

If you're here then it's quite obvious what your problem is... you have expensive taste but you don't have the funds to match. Don't worry, you're not alone!

I'm sure you've heard that weddings can be expensive. Maybe you've heard some couples go into extreme debt for their weddings. I don't want you to think spending upwards of a million is the only way to impress your guests. That's just not true!

So, without wasting more time, let's jump straight into, what I hope will be, helpful tips to save you a few pennies.

1. Venue

Instead of renting a crazy expensive castle or banquet hall, why not host your wedding in a local park, or even a family member's back garden? The cost of renting a gazebo for a few nights is much cheaper than renting a function room for a few hours...

2. Catering

Instead of having a 3-course sit-down meal with a catering company, why not get your guests involved and ask them to bring something that can be included on a buffet table?

3. Wedding Dress

You don't need a designer wedding dress to look beautiful on your special day! Just because a dress is pre-loved or rented doesn't mean you can't feel like a princess and wow your guests.

4. Photography

Professional photographers are great and if I'm being honest I would highly recommend you hire one for your day, however, if you're trying to cut back on expenses then perhaps consider hiring them for a shorter time frame - maybe just the ceremony. The rest of the night can be captured by your guests on disposable cameras or even by a talented friend.

Many couples opt for a custom wedding day hashtag or QR code to a private folder where guests can upload all the images they take of the day so that everyone can share their memories.

5. Invitations

I must admit I love the idea of sending off my wedding invites with multiple inserts and the hope of RSVP cards being mailed back to me, but in reality that just isn't practical. Most couples do digital RSVPs now anyway with a custom wedding website (they can be more affordable than you might think).

DIY invitations aren't too difficult to make if you have a basic understanding of Canva or Photoshop—just something to think about.

6. Flowers

Large floral centrepieces are nice for the pictures but can make it hard for guests to see over and talk to each other.

I'd recommend going for seasonal, locally sourced flowers and incorporating more greenery than flowers as this can still look beautiful.

7. Music

Live bands are good don't get me wrong, but a DJ can be just as good and much more affordable. Alternatively, you can hire a good sound system and create a playlist yourself. At least this way you don't have to worry about the DJ playing a song you hate or your partner had as "their song" with an ex...

8. Decorations

I don't know why more people don't think of repurposing decorations from their engagement parties or the ceremony. It saves time and money plus it's likely the engagement party was at least a year ago. Chances are no one will remember what decorations you had because they were too busy enjoying themselves.

9. Wedding Cake

Instead of buying the 5-tier wedding cake from a high-end bakery, opt for a smaller or 'fake' cake. This means saving the expense of the actual cake for eating but still getting the beautiful-looking cake for pictures and guests to admire.

Offer your guests a simple sheet cake or even cupcakes.

10. Favours

There's no need to personalise everyone's table favour, you could decide to skip favours altogether but if you'd still like to give guests a little something then why not leave something small such as homemade treats?

There you have it. Those were a few tips that I hope could help save a few pennies when planning a wedding on a budget.

Have you got any more tips? Why not share them in the comments?

Until next time...

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