Wedding Planning on a Budget.

A wedding can be one of the most expensive events, but many people just assume it has to be. There are many people out there who have managed to plan an amazing wedding without having to spend a lot of money. There are some sacrifices you have to make if you want it to fit your budget, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a great wedding. Trying to plan a wedding on a budget can be stressful, but there is little you can do. Here are ten tips to help you out when planning for a wedding on a budget.

1. Make your guest list as small as possible

Having more guests means having to spend more on food, alcohol, dessert, table, seating, centerpieces, invitations, etc. it will be tough to exclude people from your wedding, but keeping the guest number small will help you budget much easier. This is your big day, don’t waste time trying to worry about hurt feelings.

2. Instead of a venue, use a home or public park

If you have a friend or family member willing to share their home and backyard with you for your wedding, take them up on that offer. You will be able to save a lot because many venues will charge you for booking, then they require you to use their chairs, tables, bar, linens, and catering. This will add up and take a large chunk of your budget, going DIY will prove to be the cheaper option. The other option is public parks, there are some that will let you use the park and you just have to pay a small fee.

3. Source your food from the local restaurant instead of a catering company

The food per person will be more affordable if you go to a local restaurant. You can easily get delicious food for your wedding without having to spend much. Many of your guests will not remember or care about the food (unless the food was very bad), so you should not be stressed up trying to pay for a three-course dinner.

4. Buy alcohol on wholesale from stores like BevMo and Costco

Having a full bar at a wedding is costly, having beer, wine, and a signature cocktail is enough. The upside of serving beer and wine is that your guests can serve themselves, meaning you don’t have to spend on a bartender. Make sure you make the signature cocktails ahead of time, then leave it in pitchers.

5. You can skip wedding favors

You can decide not to follow some certain traditions. Favors are usually the perfect way of thanking the guests for attending the wedding, but this is never important these days. Cutting out this can help you save a lot of money. More and more people are opting to use the money on other things instead of wedding favors.

6. Buy a wedding dress from a previous bride or less-traditional retailer

There are many affordable options when it comes to wedding dresses today. There are some online retailers like ModCloth that offer dresses ranging from $50 to over $300. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a wedding gown that you can spend a fraction of that. There are sites that will help you find former brides selling the same dress in your size.

7. Use rental services for suit or a tux

If you or the wedding party needs a tux or suit, consider using online rental service because it will save on costs. The wedding guests won’t be able to tell the difference, and you will end up looking like a million bucks on your big day.

8. Use Spotify or other apps

You can cut costs by going DIY when it comes to music, just borrow or rent speakers. You can make a playlist on Spotify (ensure that you use Spotify Premium so that ads don’t play), or any other app that can streamline the process.

If you decide to follow this route, have a designated guest to manage the switching between the playlist and also basic emcee work (like announcing the first dance or dinner). Prep them so they will be able to do it well.

9. Hire a photographer for fewer hours

There is one thing you don’t want to skip on, and that is a wedding photographer. Having your talented friend take the photos can save you on costs, but you need to have a professional do it, and the best way you can do it without spending much is hiring them for fewer hours. You can save up to half if you have them take photos just during the ceremony and start of the reception.

10. Consider hiring a wedding coordinator

Doing this can seem the opposite of what you are after, but it can actually help you. Wedding planners have connections to vendors and venues and can get discounts. They will also help you allocate the budget basing it on your needs, and provide you with ideas on cutting costs.