Oftentimes, the financial commitment is the reason why many lovers can’t make their union official. After all, one of the fastest ways of rake up bills and expenses is through weddings. The cost of food, logistics, venue, outfit, décor, and more can leave you financially drained. Fortunately, it is possible to have your wedding on a budgetwithout sacrificing class.
It is all about knowing how to allocate your finances and finding alternatives that suit. The good news is that we have curated some cheap wedding ideas that are not only budget-friendly but sophisticated. Keep reading to learn about some of the best low-cost wedding ideas.
Pool in the money & prioritize
Pooling in your money from all sources and prioritizing ranks first on the wedding budget checklist. Find out what everyone is bringing to the table and pool your resources together. In some cases, the couple is responsible for sponsoring the wedding. When you have your cash sorted, create a list of the essentials and unimportant. This way, you will know how much is available, what you can or can’t do without at your wedding. It should be a mutual agreement to enable you to work as a unit.
For the favors
While t is okay to ditch favors, especially if it’s not your thing, any couple will love to give meaningful but budget-friendly gifts. As a symbol of appreciation, put in your time by taking the homemade route. Give out herbs, spices, cookies, jams, chocolates, soaps, etc. if you aren’t great at creating these items, ask grandma or old Aunt Sally to help out. She would be glad.
For the venue
One of the cheap ways to get married is by saving on your wedding venues. Choose to host it at home, village halls, charity centers, local farms, woodland trusts, etc. Weigh the cost to hire your vendors and venue vendors for a better bargain.
For the outfit
Visit a bridal thrift shop for your pre-loved wedding dress and save over half the price. You may also rent it while borrowing the veil or tiara from a friend who has just a wedding. The same goes for the groom. You may also monitor your favorite bridal shop on social media for when sales happen. Let the wedding party wear what they have.
For the jewelry
Wedding jewelry can take a large chunk of your budget, so find alternatives. If you wish for diamond and gold wedding rings, sterling silver, tungsten, and cubic zirconia are great options. For accessorizing, opt for simplicity and elegance so that you can save money or wear them again. You mustn’t wear a necklace, earrings, bracelet, headpiece, rings, and tiara in one day.
For the cake, food, and drinks
Let family bake your wedding cake or opt for desserts. For food, choose a picnic style of grazing tables and platters. Accumulate your drinks by buying whenever it is on sale throughout the year. You can also create signature recipes.
For the décor
Use stem vases, tins, and jam vases filled up with wild and seasonal flowers. Get foliage from your garden instead of costly blooms. Opt for small crates or wooden pallets made into signs, table plans, cake stands, etc. You can also repurpose décor by moving them from wedding to reception/for example, put bouquets in vases as centerpieces.
For the floral arrangement
One of the most affordable wedding ideas for saving money is through floral arrangements. Opt to buy blooms at the floral section of your grocery store. These stores may have pre-arranged centerpieces or offer floral packages that contain boutonnieres, corsages, ceremony flowers, and more. If you are artistic, order the flowers wholesale and arrange them by yourself. Test your skills months before and enlist helpers so that there is no rush.
For the stationery
If you are artsy, DIY your wedding stationery. But be sure that it doesn’t cost the same or more than when done by a professional. You can also go paperless and create a wedding website instead. Alternatively, email video invites to the guests. For table numbers, place cards, escort cards, etc., use large boards to display the necessary information from ceremony to reception.
For the transportation
One of the cheap ways to get married is by cutting down on your transportation. Designate a friend or parent to drive you down to the venue with their decorated car. If you have a car, drive to the location or walk if it’s close. When all else fails, order a cab.
For the entertainment
One of the best entertainment wedding ideas on a budget is hiring a DJ instead of a band. However, with the Dj, stick to their playlist, or risk paying more for something new. You can also go for local musicians, students, or a well-curated Spotify playlist.
For the beauty
Consider cheaper manicures like the French polish, which is also sophisticated, instead of gel or acrylic. Opt for a regular makeup artist, preferably one you previously hired. However, have an emergency makeup kit on standby for touchup. If you want to retain a makeup artist for the day, choose beauty students. Choose your hairstyle and go to your favorite salon for your hair. This way you will pay regular prices. In all these, never mention that you are getting married.
For the film coverage
Consider a student photographer who will charge you less or videographers who offer engagement shoots in their packages. You may also enlist family or friends who have a creative side to take your pictures. Alternatively, you can find them on places like craigslist, etc. another way to preserve your bid day is by creating a hashtag for friends to snap and tag with on social media.
Stay on budget
It is possible to have a wedding under $5000 if you stay within your budget. So the idea is to set a realistic budget that you can work handle. Prioritize and allocate costs to every item before you start checking them out. This way, you are careful not to look at materials beyond your budget.
Slice the guest list
Having a low-budget wedding requires a smaller number of guests. This way, you will rent a smaller hall and have food, drinks, and attention to go around. Moreover, it will be an intimate affair with just your nearest and dearest in attendance. You would have saved almost 50% of your budget in the process.
Final Thoughts:
Above are 15 small wedding ideas on a budget showing you how to have an inexpensive wedding party. Check them out, get inspired, and host a beautiful affair.
Author: Anastasia Beluschenko, with a specialty in wedding dresses, joined Wedding Forward over five years ago. She knows everything about wedding dresses from styles to trends, fit, and designers. Her great sense of style makes it easy for her to expertly predict the newest and hottest wedding dress trends. For leisure, she loves court tennis and stretching.
