Tips on Planning a Budget Friendly Wedding

Oh the joys of planning a wedding.  Getting married is perhaps one of the most stressful life events that a person will endure. All of the planning...expectations...decision making and let's not forget MONEY it takes to plan your big day.  

I knew early on, way before I even got engaged that I wouldn't have a big wedding. Both of us come from fairly large families so the thought of planning a huge wedding was exhausting.  When we finally decided to say "I do" this year I knew that I wanted a small and intimate wedding. 

Here are several tips on how to save big on your wedding day.

Keep it Small

One of the first things you should consider is how many people you want at your wedding. Numbers matter..especially when it comes to the venue, catering, gifts for guests etc.  Elopements are very popular nowadays and many couples are opting out for the traditional wedding.  Now don't be afraid of the word "elopement".  The Vegas drive through elopements are thing of the past. Many venues offer packages that can include everything from champagne and cake to a photographer. 

My husband and I found this historical chapel in Cave Creek that performed marriage ceremonies. We added a photographer and was able to get everything under $500.

If you truly want to elope, consider getting married at a courthouse. Hire a photographer to capture those special moments.

Do-It-Yourself 

This is perhaps the most common way to save on your big day. I found that it can also be one of the most stressful.  Do you have an aunt whose great at flower arrangements? Or perhaps you have a friend who has a catering company. Don't be afraid to reach out to your family and friends to see where you can save. 

If your pretty crafty yourself, consider making your own veil or bouquet. There are hundreds of YouTube tutorials on how to create your own wedding veil. Check out this cute birdcage tutorial below from Betty's Daughters.

Thankfully I come from a family with amazing creative women...some of that rubbed off on me. I ended up making my own veil using fabric I purchased from Joann's. It cost me less than $20 to make since I was able to get the fabric on sale. 

I looked to Pinterest for my cake inspiration and knew that I wanted a naked cake. I sent my mother a couple of photos and she made me this beautiful hummingbird themed cake. 

Tip: DIY projects are the cheaper route but can also bring on additional stress. Try and have a balance of things you can do yourself and projects your willing to hire a vendor for. 

Sales and Thrifting 

You can pull off an elegant yet affordable wedding by paying attention to the details and skipping out on the major items. I knew that I wanted a classic yet elegant dress but I wasn't willing to spend thousands of dollars on it.  I took to the websites months in the advanced looking for a vintage style dress. When I saw this all lace dress on Modcloth, I knew I'd found it. Even better the site was having a 20% off sale so I didn't have to pay full price. 

Tip: Ordering online can be risky. Consider ordering your gown a dress size up and having it altered. 

Remember to check out the the sales at your local fabric and craft stores. Many of decorations we used for my cake were purchased on clearance.

Consider thrift shops for unique pieces of jewelry or even shoes. I was able to get these navy blue heels for only $7 at my local Goodwill.

   

Tip: Take advantage of seasonal sales.

There were so many other areas that I was able to save including our wedding bands and my husband's attire. Throughout the whole ordeal I keep one thing in mind: It's about the marriage...not the wedding. The day itself goes by so fast but it's the marriage that'll sustain. 

I hope you find this information useful in planning your big day. 

Vivian