Planning Tools, Ideas, & Advice
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For Wedding Pros
Wedding venues are often the most expensive part of your wedding, so finding affordable options is a top priority for many couples planning a small wedding on a budget. Saving here can mean a significant reduction in the cost of your wedding. Choosing to have a small wedding is a step in the right direction, but we're going to cover a lot of other ways you can make your wedding venue affordable.
I commonly hear couples trying to keep their wedding under $10,000. Choosing an inexpensive venue is a great way to do that. It's worth noting that selecting an inexpensive wedding venue doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style, and we will show you how to ensure that doesn't happen! From finding inexpensive venues to tips on reducing overall cost and even free wedding venues, we've got you covered with these ideas for cheap wedding venues!
You may not know that there are many affordable options for a wedding reception or ceremony venue for your small wedding. Or maybe you've seen pictures of couples getting married in cool, unique locations but are unsure how to find them—that's what we're here for!
To level set, when I talk about cheap or free wedding venues, I speak only of the actual space rental. A lot of the cost associated with a venue rental is in the amenities and staff you get "included" in the fee. In almost every case, there will be expenses that come with any space you choose — like table and chair rentals. You'll need to factor all that in as you make a decision.
If you've hung around on our site, you've probably heard me talk about this before! This is what I did for my wedding, and I was able to score a location with incredible mountain views for about $1,200 for the day (that's a cheap venue by Colorado standards). Plus, I was able to rent it for the whole week, which significantly streamlined the logistics and overall experience of my small destination wedding. Learn more about what to expect in terms of cost for a small wedding here, including my full budget breakdown for my Airbnb wedding.
Depending on the park, you may only be able to host your ceremony, but there are some locations, especially at state parks, where you can rent a pavilion or picnic area for your entire event. It's possible to get away with something for just a few hundred dollars, which is so affordable for wedding venues! Just be mindful of the permitting policies and respect the rules (and nature!).
If you're considering having a small beach wedding, choosing a public beach is a great way to keep it affordable. Waterfront locations are available all around the country-from oceans to lakes and even rivers, having a beach wedding might be closer to you than you think. Like any public space, just be sure to check in with local rules and regulations and secure permits as necessary.
So many public parks have beautiful gardens where you can hold your ceremony. The landscaping doubles as decor, so you'll save a little there, too! Depending on your vibe, you could head to a great restaurant, VRBO, or a picnic shelter for your reception. These can be found by searching city, state, and county government websites. Wedding information is often buried, so you sometimes have to do a little digging, but almost all of them will offer some sort of affordable venue option.
Check out community centers in your area or even in a dream destination as inexpensive wedding venues. Just search Google with '[city] community center.' A quick search in my area turned up a bunch, including one right in City Park for $100/hour and a small city-owned farm for $150/hour.
There are many restaurants you could buy out or rent space from, and most charge a small fee, if any at all. You could host your entire wedding here or choose a beautiful outdoor park or public area and then have your reception at the restaurant. The nice thing about this option is you can choose a restaurant that matches your desired vibe, and then you could skip decor altogether.
Websites like Tagvenue, Splacer, and Peerspace can help you uncover affordable wedding venues in your area. You can find studios, cafes, bars, restaurants, private homes, land, and entertainment spaces like theaters and bowling alleys. I've seen some really fun and funky spaces on these sites, so if that's what you're after, I recommend checking them out.
Use your good friend Google to search for area attractions that might be a good fit. Local libraries, art galleries, and other attractions can naturally provide a great ambiance for your wedding venue without having to add a bunch of decor, which keeps your wedding more affordable.
Outside of choosing a cheap option, there are ways to reduce the cost of the venue. If you have your eye on a more traditional venue with traditional pricing, here are some ways to score a deal.
This is a great way to have a budget-friendly wedding without sacrificing style and just happens to be our favorite way to have an affordable wedding.
microWED has a directory of some cool small wedding venues around the country, along with location-specific lists worth checking out.
This is a major saver. If you can find an all-inclusive package in your area, you will save not only on the venue but also on other vendors. Because it's so streamlined, the wedding pro (usually the venue, but sometimes planners) offering the package can pass the savings on to you. So, while this isn't exactly a cheap wedding venue, it still accomplishes the goal of reducing your overall spending.
Every location has a peak and off-peak wedding season. Choosing a date outside of peak season will almost always be less expensive. Additionally, choosing a day of the week that's less popular, like Monday through Thursday or Sunday afternoon, is a way to score a great venue at an affordable price.
This one is risky, but many venues will reduce prices toward the end of the year to fill their books. If you're having a fall or winter wedding and can do last-minute wedding work, this could be an option!
Like renting a private home, you could save even more by borrowing one! I know someone who invested what they saved into landscaping their own backyard they used as a wedding venue which I just think is brilliant.
This one comes with a huge disclaimer: I am not suggesting you throw an epic 50-person party on public lands. However, if you're having a small event, like an elopement or just a few guests, this is a viable option. Find a kickass adventure wedding photographer who can record the day and help with location scouting. Pack a picnic, and keep it super low-key.
Couple a courthouse wedding with an elegant dinner at the best restaurant in town, and you'll have a pretty spectacular wedding that's affordable, simple, and likely stress-free.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, traditional wedding venues aren't just expensive to be expensive. They come with a lot of amenities and a certain aesthetic that lends itself well to weddings. Going a non-traditional route can cause you to incur other expenses, so it's important to be aware of those. If you're renting an industrial loft that touts "awaiting your dream vision," know that if you want any semblance of personality, you'll have to come to the table with a lot of decor.
Finding the perfect affordable wedding venue takes time, and it is easy to feel impatient, overwhelmed, and hopeless at first. It's a lot. But you'll find a great venue with some patience and a little detective work. Grab a copy of our wedding venue planner to learn all our best tips for uncovering all the venues you won't find in directories (and a way to stay totally organized through the process) no matter where you're getting married.
Big wedding website directories are expensive, so you're less likely to find cheap wedding venues there. I'm not knocking them; they're still worth a look. I wish I had understood that when looking for my venue because I thought all the venues were there. They're not. Not even close.
If an inexpensive venue isn't in the cards or you are still looking for one that suits your needs, consider reducing your spend elsewhere. Here are some ideas:
There are plenty of options when it comes to cheap wedding venues. If affordability is top of mind for you and your partner, choosing an inexpensive wedding venue is a great way to cut costs. Couple that with a small guest list, and you're well on your way to hosting a wedding for $10,000 or less.
