How To Plan a Wedding on a Budget: 4 Great Tips | the ReFab Diaries

Weddings get expensive (and wasteful!) quickly. Many couples spend as much money on their dream wedding that they might on a down payment on their first home! There are plenty of reasons to minimize your wedding costs, whether you’re on a strict budget, have a sustainability mindset, or would rather save for a dream honeymoon experience. Whatever your reasoning, check out my great tips for planning a wedding on a budget.

How To Plan a Wedding on a Budget: 4 Great Tips

Get married out of peak season

Peak wedding season usually ranges from late spring to early fall. More couples want to get married during these times, due to weather, seasonality, and scheduling. Because there is more demand, venues and vendors increase their prices.

To save some money, get married in the off-season. There is less competition for dates, so venues are much more likely to give you a better deal. Plus, all your other vendors, such as your florist and baker, will likely offer lower rates as well.

Keep the guest count low

The more people you invite, the higher your costs will be. Larger guest counts require a larger venue, more meals, tables, chairs, centerpieces, etc. The best way to plan a wedding on a budget is to keep the guest count as low as possible.

If possible, you could even use tips to plan an intimate wedding to keep the costs as low as possible. You’ll need a considerably smaller venue, and the focus will be solely on you, your partner, and your closest friends and family. You won’t need to worry about entertaining a crowd of 200!

Thrift or DIY what you can

You’d be surprised how much of your decor you can thrift, especially if you opt for a more whimsical, eclectic look. Mismatched glassware and plates can look stunning, especially if you choose a more vibrant color scheme with a riot of differently colored flowers.

Speaking of flowers, you can absolutely DIY your bouquets and centerpieces. If you're going to go the fresh-flower route, I recommend still visiting a florist, as their selection of blooms will be fresher and more expansive. However, buying the blooms loose and assembling them yourself will save you all the money you would normally pay for the florist’s time, expertise, and transportation. 

Of course, there are alternatives to fresh flowers: consider paper, fabric, and even balsam wood. Just search "eco-friendly" bouquets. You can get similarly creative with table decor. Or even use succulents or little plants versus fresh flowers and encourage your guests to take them home.

Be creative with your venue

Venues tend to eat up a third of the average wedding budget. If you’re trying to keep costs as low as possible, look into alternative locations instead of traditional venues.

Alternative wedding locations could include botanical gardens, forests, barns, beaches, or lakesides. You’ll get to enjoy stunning views and a unique ceremony site, and you’ll save a ton of money.

However, if you have your heart set on a traditional venue, consider book ing during the week. There is much more demand for weekend dates, so the rates are typically higher.

 

Marrying outside of peak season, finding alternative venues, having a low guest count, and thrifting and DIYing what you can help keep wedding costs low. As long as you’re creative and willing to be more hands-on with the wedding process, I guarantee you can absolutely get married on a budget!

 

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