Planning Tools, Ideas, & Advice
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For Wedding Pros
Weddings are expensive! If you’re just starting to plan your wedding, you may be discovering just how much it costs to put together a wedding or maybe you’ve been at it for a while, trying to figure out just how to make it all fit in! No matter your budget situation, it never hurts to find ways to save or make your money go further. It’s all about being budget savvy!
When I was planning my wedding I was all about simple ways to reduce costs for things that weren’t a priority to me so I wanted to share some of my best small wedding ideas on a budget in case you are too. Finding less expensive ways to achieve your vision doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice which is what this blog is all about!
We’re covering ideas to save on every category for your small wedding, from industry secrets to DIY hacks and I’m sharing links to some of my favorite products and websites throughout so be sure to check them out!
If you’re here with us, you’ve probably already nailed (or are considering) my number one recommendation which is to cut the guest list. For any event, most services are priced per head so cutting your guest list one of the best small wedding ideas on a budget.
If you haven’t read my story, this is how I was able to make my wedding vision come true. The second we cut our list down to 50, so many more options opened up to us.
Your wedding venue will take up a large chunk of your budget. Finding ways to save on this big-ticket item will free up funds for that private chef you’ve been dreaming of or that dream beach honeymoon you’re starting to plan.
This one’s a bit of a catch-twenty-two because by not going the traditional route you’re introducing the need for event rentals and logistics that you wouldn’t have to deal with if you rented a traditional venue. Still, if you can figure out how to make it work, you could really save yourself some dough here. Affordable wedding venues are everywhere, here are some ideas.
Depending on where you’re getting married, choosing a date that’s outside of peak season will almost certainly save you money. Additionally, afternoon weddings and weddings during the week usually see reduced prices as well.
This is one of my favorite budget-friendly wedding ideas. No matter where you’re getting married, there are public spaces available to rent for events; and they’re usually really affordable (if not free). We cover how to find these hidden gems in our guide to finding unique wedding venues so be sure to check it out if you want to explore this option.
Some public spaces will allow you to host the entire event while others will be ceremony only situations. For ceremony only locations, consider a backyard or Airbnb wedding reception or rent space in one of your favorite restaurants.
Find someone with a killer backyard or plot of land, or rent an Airbnb for your reception. Having your small backyard wedding allows you to save money
I know someone who took the money they would have spent on a wedding venue and invested in landscaping in their backyard—absolutely genius.
Wedding paper can get expensive fast, even for a small wedding. If having a beautiful paper suite isn't important to you consider one of these budget friendly options for your wedding invites. Pro tip: join the microWED Insiders to get access to exclusive discounts on paper.
There are so many ways to go digital with your invites. This is not only a budget-friendly idea, but it's also a great sustainable option as well.
Wedding food is another place you have the potential to save big by getting a little creative.
Two great options are BBQ or a taco bar. You just make the meat ahead of time, freeze it, and then prep it and the accompaniments the day before / morning of.
That might sound weird, but it could be totally fun as long as you coordinate it a bit.
Charcuterie boards are all the rage! They're super stylish and can be a really affordable way to feed your guests.
In most cases, resale wedding decor has only been used once. That means that most everything you’ll find is going to be like new. I just saw a double mason jar drink dispenser on WedZee for $30! There is no reason to buy things like tea lights, bud vases, or table linens brand new—you just have to know where to look. Here are some ideas:
Turn around and sell your items on one of the marketplaces above.
If you’re planning a small wedding on a budget you may want to consider choosing a date that’s just outside of peak wedding season. Doing this can actually save you and your guests money. Transportation, lodging, venues, and some wedding pros will cost less during these times.
Monday-Thursday are almost always considered off-peak, and Friday and Sunday will occasionally be grouped into the lower tiers as well.
As far as seasons go, if you’re unsure what is considered off peak season for your area, just Google it. It’s generally whenever the best weather is.
So many wedding pros are offering packages, whether it’s a package that includes lodging, or an all-inclusive package, finding these is a great budget-saving idea.
The cost of suits and dresses varies wildly depending on a lot of factors. The toughest thing about wedding attire is that a lot of the time it's not something you’re going to wear again, so you may have a hard time spending so much on something you’re only going to wear for a few hours—I know I definitely felt that way. Here are a few ways to cut corners on your wedding budget in the attire category (without sacrificing looking great!). And, don't miss our full guide to finding wedding dresses for less than $1000.
There are a bunch of boutiques that you can rent wedding attire from. A lot of people are familiar with tux or suit rentals, but did you know that you can also rent dresses if that’s on your attire list.
There are some amazing independent wedding dress designers on Etsy. Be sure to read the reviews to make sure you're going to get a quality product.
Remember, these have only been worn once so they’re practically new. Additionally, some people choose to purchase more than one dress or suit so they can decide later and then they sell the one they didn’t use. I recommend these two shops because you’re protected if the attire doesn’t arrive as promised.
Find gently used attire:
After your wedding, sell your gently used attire at one of the websites above. If you’re planning a small wedding on a budget, don’t forget to plan in a little money back for anything you can sell.
The Knot covers this topic in depth, but the gist is that buying something “off-the-rack” as opposed to something made to order generally offers cost (and time) savings. Certain boutiques like David’s Bridal only sell off the rack while other boutiques may only sell them during sample sales.
Just like normal clothing, new styles come out every year and boutiques and designers will be looking to sell through anything that they’re not going to continue to carry. Keep an eye out for these sales (sample sales) which usually happen twice a year (summer and early winter), according to Brides Magazine.
Alterations can end up costing you quite a lot of money, especially if the garment has a lot of fine detailing like lace. If you want to keep your alterations budget to a minimum, you can ask the boutique to bring you only dresses with simple details or that would be less expensive to alter (like one that already fits really well).
I ordered dried flowers for my wedding (pictured above—find them here). This fit my vision and my small wedding budget and as a bonus they’re already dried beautifully so I was able to keep them as decor for my house. I'm such a fan of this that I wrote an entire guide on using dried flowers in your wedding so be sure to check that out if you're considering it.
Use a bulk floral site like Fifty Flowers to order pre-made bouquets or DIY kits. Everything is organized by color palette and theme to make selecting your perfect flowers a breeze.
There are some really great brands out there offering beautiful, affordable faux wedding flowers. One of our favorites is Bride and Bloom because their flowers look and feel realistic and the founders are totally commited to keeping their products affordable! Check them out and use code MICROWED10 for 10% off your order!
Yep, you can rent flowers, silk flowers that is. Renting flowers is a budget-friendly choice. You can even rent a floral collar for your dog! Something Borrowed Blooms is a great option if you choose to go this route and they even allow you order samples so you can be sure you’re getting the exact look you’re going for before committing.
My advice is to be patient as you’re planning your wedding so you can incorporate some of these ideas for your small wedding on a budget. It can be tempting to just book or grab something to check it off the list, but really thinking through each purchase and if there’s a way to do it in a more budget-friendly way will help you keep the expense under control.
Hope you found some helpful tips here. Be sure to check out our full write-up on how much small weddings cost if you're still trying to figure out your budget or how much you should expect to spend!
