Want to have the wedding of your dreams without going into major debt? With proper planning, it’s totally possible. Yes, we know many of you have been planning this event in your head for years. Okay, maybe since childhood. But there are ways to get what you want without letting the budget get way out of hand. (Booze is great, but three signature cocktails isn’t really necessary.) Here’s what to do: Prioritize your needs versus wants, make a plan — and stick to it. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you’re happy and relaxed, not thinking about bills. These 50 helpful money-saving wedding tips will help you stretch your big-day budget.
Cut the guest list.
The most important thing for couples to keep in mind where money is concerned is the guest list. “The more guests you have, the more food, invites, favors, etc., you need,” says Anne Chertoff, WeddingWire trend expert. “If you are looking for places to save money, you can save everywhere if you cut the guest list down or keep it intimate from the start.”
Have a daytime wedding.
Many couples find that a daytime luncheon or brunch reception can be just as fun and lovely as a dinner reception — at a fraction of the cost. “You don't need to serve a full bar during the daytime and the menu options are usually popular with guests, as well as being more affordable,” says Chertoff.
Book group hotel room blocks to get the best deals.
Jove Meyer, owner and creative director of Jove Meyer Events, tells his clients to utilize group hotel reservation sites to book a handful of rooms at a discount. Sites like Jetaport and Hotelplanner make it super easy to save money and time when you book in bulk.
Opt for a limited bar.
To save on your alcohol bill, stick to serving beer, wine, and one specialty cocktail. “If you’re set on a full open bar, then make sure you book a venue that allows you to bring your own alcohol,” says Meyer. “Buying it yourself will save money!”
Choose a DJ, instead of a band.
While a live band will definitely energize the crowd, a DJ can be just as fun and keep guests on the dance floor — for about a tenth of the price. Chertoff suggests asking the DJ to bring in a musician or two for a live sound that will still cost way less than a full live band.
Use spray paint to customize decor.
To coordinate decor items with the wedding's color palette, spray paint can be used in many ways. Sylvia Pate, innkeeper of Morning Glory House B & B, suggests using metallic paint for gold, copper, or tin looks, blackboard paint for writable surfaces, and spray glitter paint to coat the inside of any glass vase or jar for an instant upscale candle holder.
Host your wedding in a state park.
When it came to her big day, Hope A. Rising held her wedding in a state park. “There was an unusual rock outcropping that served as the ‘altar,’ and the reception was held in the nearby pavilion,” she says. The cost for the venue? $50. Because parks are public lands and not businesses looking to make a profit, they tend to be incredibly affordable (not to mention gorgeous) spots for a wedding.
Choose a non-peak date.
If possible, try to be flexible with your wedding date. Every component — from the venue to the caterer to the flowers — will likely cost less if you say "I do" in the off-season (generally between November and April).
“If you are planning a destination wedding, your guests are already taking the time off to celebrate, so why not take advantage of the saving opportunities?” says Megan Velez of Destination Weddings Travel Group. Steering clear of Saturday (the most popular day to get married) can also help reduce costs.
Make the most of the location’s surroundings.
“When considering wedding-day decor, ask yourself how you can leverage your location’s surroundings,” says Velez. Maximize the beauty of the space itself and you'll be able to divert some of your design budget toward other things.
Be smart with flowers.
You don't need designated flowers for each individual aspect of your big day. “For instance, bridesmaids' bouquets can double as modest centerpieces for the reception or cocktail area,” says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch. She also suggests choosing flowers that are native to the wedding location and are in season.
Don't hire a coordinator.
Don't be fooled into thinking that you need a professional planner just because you've (likely) never planned a wedding. “You can leverage the other people involved in your wedding and save a ton of money by not having a professional coordinator there," says Courtney Geigle, cofounder of My Wed Style.
If you do feel overwhelmed, consider enlisting a day-of coordinator rather than a full-scale planner. That person will help ensure everything runs smoothly on the day for about 10% of the cost.
Think outside the box to create a "wow factor."
“It might cost $8,000 to showcase amazing flowers, but only $2,000 to create a lighting concept that makes the room look equally as stunning,” says Jessica Kielblock, senior event planner of D'Amico Catering. Be creative and remember this is your party. You can make the rules.
Use local vendors and products.
“If possible, go local with sourcing elements for your wedding — whether it be flowers, food, or rentals,” says Velez. “This will cut down on any costs associated with importing items from afar.” In general, the further things have to travel, the more expensive they are. So if you're getting married in a landlocked state, skip the seafood tower.
Book your wedding and honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort.
Brides and grooms may be happily surprised to learn that honeymoon savings is one of the benefits of hosting the event at an all-inclusive resort. “Since they are already on-site, there is the immediate airfare savings,” Velez points out. “An all-inclusive resort may also offer special honeymoon deals to couples that plan their entire day with them.”
Hire a food truck to provide dinner.
If you want to keep things super simple, skip the full-service caterer, and hire a food truck to serve dinner and/or dessert. Dishing up everything from tacos and wood-fired pizza to ice cream and crêpes, a food truck can also relieve the pressure of assigned seating, a coursed meal, and time constraints. Book it for a certain window of time and let guests eat when they please, which encourages mingling and dancing. “It’s much cheaper than a catering company, not to mention really fun and unique,” says Geigle.
Don’t overindulge.
For couples that are working with a small budget, Kielblock warns against overindulging in any one area. “For example, don’t spend 40% of your budget on decor, leaving very little for food, beverage, or entertainment,” she says. “Similarly, an expensive wedding gown does nothing to enhance your guests' experience.”
Make a donation in lieu of favors.
Wedding favors may be a playful detail, but they're not a necessary one. “You can save money by not giving one at all or make a small donation to a charity that's important to you in honor of your guests,” suggests Anne Chertoff. “You don't have to share the amount you donate and it can be as much or as little as you can afford.” Either way, your money will be much better spent than it would have been on miniature bottles of whiskey for every guest (half of which will be left behind at the tables, anyway).
Consider buying a pre-owned engagement ring.
Multiple websites have sprung up allowing individuals to buy and sell engagement rings directly, cutting out the middlemen of jewelry stores and potentially saving you thousands of dollars. “There's still some stigma, but the truth is, that diamond you bought at your local jewelry retailer is likely pre-owned, too," says DealNews features editor Benjamin K. Glaser.
Keep things in perspective.
“Stay true to your values and remember what the wedding is about,” says relationships expert April Masini. When you lose focus, you start spending money on things you really don’t need to get the job done. “Wedding budgets go overboard when people lose track of what’s important: the commitment. The soon-to-be spouse. The elderly relatives who may not be with you in the near future, but are present to raise a glass to your happiness. The first dance.”
Do away with the traditional wedding cake.
Among the most mind-boggling wedding costs is the per-person "cake-cutting fee" that many caterers charge to literally cut, plate, and serve a formal wedding cake. “Go with delicious cupcakes, one for each guest, and stack them into a wedding tower,” says Courtney Geigle. Not only are cupcakes less expensive than a elaborate custom-made cake, but guests tend to enjoy them more.
Budget three-fourths of your available money.
Most experts agree that the most important way to save money on a wedding is budgeting. “As much as you'll want to invest every possible cent in your special day, try budgeting only three-fourths of your available money," suggests Glaser. When unexpected costs arise, having a financial cushion will keep plans flowing smoothly. “If you still come in under budget, you've given yourself a nice wedding gift!" he adds.
Choose a more affordable geographic location.
In a recent study, The Knot found that wedding costs varied greatly by location. “While someone in the Northeast might not be able to plan a wedding in Utah, where average costs are just under $15,000, they can still stay out of Manhattan, where the average wedding costs $76,000!” Glaser points out.
Buy a convertible wedding gown.
A lot of brides these days are buying two wedding dresses — one to wear to the ceremony, another for the reception. “While it can be fun to change into a party dress, it can also be expensive,” warns Chertoff. She recommends buying a convertible wedding gown with an overskirt or other removable elements to go from sweet to sexy without having to make a complete (and expensive!) transformation.
Ask vendors if they can add value with free extras.
When choosing your vendors, it never hurts to at least ask about any perks or freebies they might be willing to throw in. When Woroch got hitched, her florist first proposed a $300 bridal bouquet that was beyond her budget.
“I told her to reduce the amount of flowers in the arrangement to ultimately lower the price,” says Woroch. “She came back to me with a nearly identical proposal for half the cost.” What’s more, her live band gave her $100 off the dinner music hour, the venue coordinator threw in a free Champagne toast, and the hotel manager cut her a break on the cost of the rooms — simply because she asked.
Choose a venue with a built-in wedding planning team.
Instead of hiring a private planner, take advantage of any in-house staff to help you with your big day. “Most venues will have an on-site coordinator that will be there day-of to make sure everything runs smoothly,” says Geigle. “See if you can have them take care of the bulk of your wedding day needs and coordination. They come with the venue anyway.”
Don’t overdo it on decor.
Stick with simple accents like candles, which are cheap and don’t need to be dressed up too much. “Candles are an inexpensive, yet elegant, decor touch that can add a lot to a backyard wedding as soon as the sun sets,” says Woroch. She suggests picking up inexpensive tea and small votive candles from a large discount store like Target. Tea lights are also an affordable substitute for flowers.
Do your own hair and makeup.
If you’re not opting for an overly elaborate updo or dramatic makeup, you can save money by doing it yourself. “You still might want to schedule a trial session with a stylist for ideas and to try out different looks,” says Geigle. “But once you find the perfect one, re-create it yourself on the big day.”
Serve dinner family style, so you can skip large centerpieces.
One catering secret to cut down on costs? Serve dinner family style. “Because big plates of food need to sit in the middle of the tables, that leaves little to no room for large centerpieces,” says Nick Brune, co-owner of Eco Caters. “Go with a catering company that produces beautifully plated food and let that be the focal point of each table."
(Just bear in mind that serving a family-style dinner doesn't really save money itself; it's the lack of centerpieces here that is key. If you want to save money on catering costs, do a buffet instead of a plated meal.)
Sell your wedding decor after the big day.
Why not get some money back once you're in wedded bliss? Geigle suggests checking out a site like Tradesy to resell the decor and dress, shoes, and accessories you will never wear again. Sure, holding onto your wedding gown for posterity is nice, but let's be honest: With very few exceptions, your daughter is probably not going to want to wear your dress to her own wedding 30 years from now. Sorry.
Skip the bridal party (or keep it very small).
Bridal parties come with a lot of additional expenses for everyone involved, from gifts to rehearsal dinners. Forego formal bridal parties altogether or just choose one friend to be your wing woman throughout the process. Your besties can still be involved to whatever degree you want them to be, even without the official "bridesmaid" title.
Beware of venues with "exclusive vendors."
When a venue has exclusive deals with specific vendors, it means that you are locked into hiring those people for things like catering, music, or even photography. That not only prevents you from making important choices, but it could also affect the overall quality of the service you receive if a vendor takes for granted that they'll get your business either way. When a service provider has to put in work to get hired, they're more likely to offer competitive rates and feel more invested in making sure you're happy.
Maximize the value of your registry.
Register at a site like Zola instead of a traditional department store. Zola lets you add items to your registry from any store or website and allows you to choose whether you want to receive the actual gift or have the cash value transferred into your checking account — without your guests knowing.
You can also activate group gifting for pricier items or create “cash funds” to help pay for specific things (like roundtrip airfare or a romantic dinner on your honeymoon) in a way that doesn't feel as tacky as just asking for money. Zola will also keep track of who gave you what and record their mailing addresses, making thank-you notes a breeze.
Skip the pre-parties.
Consider foregoing other events like an engagement party in advance of the big day. These not only wind up costing a lot of money that could have otherwise gone toward the wedding, but they take a lot of time and energy to plan, which can distract you from the main event. Plus, you don't want your guests to feel fatigued by having to attend multiple events (especially if they have to travel or buy gifts for each occasion), so as much as you might want to celebrate with everyone ASAP, you're better off keeping your eye on the prize.
Send e-vites.
Yes, your mother will think it's weird, but more and more couples are choosing to send every wedding-related correspondence — from save-the-dates to invitations — via email rather than using traditional paper invitations. It might have been considered tacky a few years ago, but now it's completely acceptable and can save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.
If you must use snail mail, save paper wherever possible.
If you feel strongly about sending paper invites, use a website like Minted or Wedding Paper Divas to design and print them. They are much more affordable than traditional brick-and-mortar stationery stores and the layouts are surprisingly customizable, with all the traditional frills (like foil-stamping) available.
You can also use a site like Riley & Grey to build a super legit wedding website and use it as a platform to collect RSVPs digitally, so you won't have to shell out for reply cards and additional envelopes and postage.
Embrace costume jewelry.
Some brides fork over thousands of dollars for earrings, necklaces, or other accessories to achieve their perfect wedding day look. But you're already paying for the party, the dress, and the rings; you don't need to bother with expensive jewelry. There are entire lines of gorgeous and inexpensive wedding baubles, and trust us: no one will ever know the difference.
Try Mindy Weiss Jewelry for fun, dangly earrings that look like the real thing, or Nestina Accessories for boho-chic cuffs and headpieces.
Read the fine print.
Before you sign any contracts, be sure to read the fine print very carefully. Does your venue require a certain ratio of staffers to guests? Does the caterer charge administrative fees that aren’t reflected in the original quote? Are rentals included or will you have to shell out for every table, chair, fork, and glass? Will you have to pay a flat per-person rate for booze, or just pay for whatever is consumed? Being aware of all these factors and potential expenses up front will save you from unexpected costs down the line.
Use coupon codes.
From table decor to thank-you cards, you can save a lot of money by searching for savings through coupon sites like CouponSherpa.com, says Woroch. For example, you can save 50% at Snapfish (for save-the-dates, personalized photo albums, photo prints, and thank-yous) or 40% at Michael’s, where you can snag decor items for next to nothing.
In short: Before you make any online wedding purchases, do a quick search for coupon and promotional codes.
Rent an Airbnb instead of a hotel room.
Whether you need a place to stay the night before the wedding or the night of, consider renting an Airbnb versus a traditional hotel suite. A private home will likely be bigger, nicer, and more convenient, not to mention way less expensive than a hotel room. You could even rent a larger house and use it as a home base where you and your bridal party can primp, take pictures, or host an after-party.
Pay cash for better rates and ask about paying in installments.
Most vendors prefer to be paid by personal check (or cold hard cash) versus a credit card, so if you have the funds set aside, see if they'll cut you a break. They have to pay 3% for credit card transactions anyway, so they may be willing to pass the savings on to you in order to make their package more appealing. Some vendors may also be open to creating a payment structure with installments that work for your budget instead of requiring huge lump sums up front.
Bundle photography services.
If you plan to hire a photographer for more than one event (for example, an engagement party or dedicated engagement shoot) ask about bundled packages. Some photogs will give you a deal if you're booking them for multiple events instead of paying à la carte for separate services.
Say your vows in the backyard.
If you’re looking to cut costs, a backyard wedding (which is what Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan did for their 2012 nuptials) may be a great option. If you don’t have the right space, don't be afraid to tap close friends and family. “We've been to a lot of gorgeous weddings that were so delightful right in the backyard,” says Geigle.
Make your own rings.
Jewelry stores often charge a ton of money for engagement and wedding rings. Instead, buy diamonds at a pawn shop or wholesale for much less. Then bring the stones to a jeweler for the setting, or make your own, literally.
Jenny and Rene Venegas of Galleon’s Gold offer jewelry-making classes and love it when couples come in to make their own rings. Either way, you're likely to spend less than buying a standard issue diamond ring outright.
Choose one venue for both the ceremony and reception.
This may seem obvious, but instead of doubling down on venues, save costs by hosting the ceremony and reception at the same place. In addition to avoiding the cost of booking two spaces, you'll also save on things like decor and transportation. You'll also reduce the chances for things to go wrong, since there's less to coordinate and no shuttling between locations.
Ask friends to apply their talents in lieu of wedding gifts.
When Hope A. Rising got hitched, she called upon her friends to contribute their talents to her big day. One decorated the wedding cake; another did flower arranging and made all the bouquets, boutonnieres, and table pieces. A third was a hobby seamstress, and made the dresses. Another did calligraphy.
“A friend who was a weekend warrior photographer did the photography and videography,” Rising says. Granted, her group of friends sounds exceptionally talented, but everyone has some skill that can likely be helpful in wedding planning.
Buy a gently worn or consignment dress.
You don’t have to pay full price to look fabulous. Save a fortune on your big day by buying a gently worn or consignment wedding dress instead of paying full price for a designer gown.
“If you fall in love with a brand-new gown, consider scoping out used bridal gown classifieds to see if someone is selling the same style in your size or bigger (a seamstress can usually tailor those dresses to fit within a range of a few sizes),” says Andrea Woroch. “You save anywhere from 30 to 50%.”
We suggest starting your search on RuffledBlog, OnceWed, and Impeccably Wed. Also, consult eBay for gently used bridesmaids’ dresses to keep costs down for your gal pals.
Go with DIY centerpieces.
Even if you don't have a lot of decorative items, elaborate place settings, or other eye-catching things on each table, “You don't need a fancy and expensive centerpieces,” says Geigle. “Get some of your favorite flowers, succulents, and candles, and create your own.”
Consider your larger financial future.
Many couples spend more time worrying about paying for their wedding than planning their financial future together. “Ask your spouse-to-be what his or her family's attitude to money was growing up, how he/she feels about merging accounts, and what his or her life goals are, because that will determine your budget for your wedding,” advises Woroch. “Don’t forget to reveal any current debt, because you shouldn’t go deeper into debt for your ‘dream’ wedding.”
It’s also a smart idea to check your credit scores before the big day, because being aware will lead you to make better planning decisions.
Doing a buffet? Don't let guests serve themselves.
If you’re planning a buffet-style dinner, Brune advises against letting guests serve themselves. “Wedding guests often scoop bigger portions,” he says. “Have someone there to serve guests and you can cut down on not only the amount of food needed but also on the amount of food waste.” A catering company will have enough staff on-site to help serve food, which will help with portion control, and by extension, costs.
Have your DJ multitask.
“Have a planning meeting with your DJ and set your timeline,” says Geigle. “They are responsible for the announcements and keeping things moving at your event anyway. So why not utilize them as your ‘pseudo-coordinator?’”
Most DJs are happy to help out with the facilitating of reception events like toasts and the first dance.
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