How to Plan a Low Budget Wedding

Make your own wedding cupcakes instead of paying for an expensive cake.

You will remember your wedding day for the rest of your life, no matter the size of your cake or the cost of your dress. Make the most of your small budget by planning ahead and utilizing all your resources. A low budget wedding can be just as glamorous as an expensive one, if done right. Give yourself the fairy tale wedding you desire without going bankrupt.

Things You'll Need

• notebook
• pen
• internet
• cell phone
• phonebook

Instructions

1. Sit down with your fiance and go over your finances to determine how much you can afford to spend on the wedding. Don't forget to factor in how much you'll be receiving from family members.

2. Make your guest list and limit it to close friends and family. The more people you invite the bigger the venue and the more food you will need. If you keep the guest list short, you may be able to cut costs and allocate that money to fancier food, venue or whatever is most important to you.

3. Choose a date for your wedding that is in the off-season. Typically weddings in the fall or winter are cheaper than weddings in the summer. Consider having your wedding during the workweek or on a Friday to cut costs.

4. Choose an inexpensive or free venue for your ceremony, like a local park or the beach. If you have a family member with a large backyard, ask if you can have your ceremony there.

5. Create a thorough list of everything you want to include in your wedding, and then prioritize. Put the things you want to spend more money on, like your dress or a photographer, at the top and the things you care less about at the bottom. This will help you allocate your funds appropriately and keep track of your budget.

6. Look through your list and determine if any of these items can be borrowed from friends. You never know who might have a wedding arch or large assortment of candles. The more you can borrow from friends, the better. Also look at party rental services, which provide items such as decorations or tables and chairs for reasonable fees.

7. Think about all the people you know who may be able to offer services at a discount. Do you know a florist? A baker? A photographer? Contact these people and see if they'd be willing to help you out for your special day. They may even donate their services in lieu of a gift.

8. Order your flowers from a floral design school if you don't know anyone who can get you a discount. Or create your own bouquets ahead of time using silk flowers.

9. Opt for a buffet instead of a sit down plate dinner. Serve inexpensive entrees like chicken and pasta.

10. Order a small wedding cake, or a large one with fake tiers, and serve your guests from a sheet cake in the back.

11. Gather your crafty friends and make your own centerpieces. A simple but elegant centerpiece can be made with a glass vase filled with water, floating candles and flower petals.

12. Make your own invitations. If you have a very small guest list and are a crafty person, consider writing them out yourself in calligraphy. You can also make them in Photoshop or Microsoft Word using photos of your and your fiance, and have them printed through an online company or an office goods store.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a wedding budget calculator to determine the suggested purchase cost of items based on your budget. Remember that those costs are usually only estimates, and cheaper variations can likely be found.

References

• Cheap Wedding Plans; How to Plan a Low Budget Wedding; Aug. 2010
• Weddingvendors.com; Tips for Planning a Small, Low Budget Wedding; Tracie Morris
• Dream Weddings On A Budget: How to Plan a Wedding on a Small Budget

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Your Wedding Company: Wedding Budget Calculator