Things You'll Need:
- List of local parks
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Step 1
Evaluate public spaces, such as parks, rose gardens and historic houses in the area. These locations may come with a cost attached, but it can be dramatically lower than hosting your wedding at an in-demand wedding venue.
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Step 2
Select a backyard wedding if you have a friend with a gracious home and an attractive garden. A backdrop of aster, iris and Japanese maple is hard to beat. This may only be feasible for summer weddings, unless you live in a city with a year-round temperate climate, such as San Diego.
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Step 3
Call local golf courses. Golf courses are increasingly popular wedding spots because of the vistas of trees, lawn and fountains. Ask public courses if they will allow you to host an event there. You can even have the reception right on the spot, since many golf courses have meeting halls with kitchens or grills attached.
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Step 4
Have the wedding at water's edge. Beaches are favorite budget wedding options, and many believe nothing on earth can compare to a backdrop of sand and surf, especially at sunset. If you live inland, you may want to select a lakeside wedding.
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Step 1
Choose a weeknight or mid-winter event if you have your heart set on a traditional or in-demand venue. Prices go up for weekends and summer months. Make sure you get a locked-in price (by signing a contract) if you reserve your venue ahead of time. A new property manager may not honor a verbal agreement.
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Step 2
Select a budget version of an expensive location. Rather than a large, glossy hotel, choose a boutique hotel that holds events at lower prices. Rather than a large church that will need to be filled with flowers, choose a small chapel off of a larger, or historic, church.
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Step 3
Read bridal announcements in your local newspaper. These announcements often list the location where the nuptials were held, and you may discover a venue you hadn't considered, such as a ski lodge or a historic city building. Many central library branches have elegant meeting halls, and since libraries are often closed on Sunday, these spaces may be available for budget weddings with intellectual flairs.
