Wedding on a $10,000 or Less Budget
If you google planning a wedding on a budget, you will find that the first figure on the results page is $20,000. I was so surprised to see that number in bold letters--like that is the standard. I think that's a lot of money to spend for many people. It's not uncommon that couples have more like $10,000 or less to spend on a wedding. If you're budget is more in that price range, feel good that there are just as many options for putting together a beautiful wedding, AND people will never guess that you were on a budget. Here are some ways to maximize your budget.
1. Host your wedding outdoors during one of the warmer months (April-October). Venues like a civic center, or hotel poolside can be on a wishlist but just not a reality because the pricing is too high for a budget of $10,000 or less. Instead, think about a wedding under a tent at the site of your ceremony perhaps at a church, park, or event barn. Guests aren't having to travel far as sometimes is the case when a ceremony is at one location and reception at another, and it is often cheaper to rent a tent with chairs and hire an event planner to decorate than to pay a venue to handle the set up and decor. I am based in a rural area where some country churches are near billowing meadows, and event barns have a lot to offer. For a party of 50 people in the Blue Earth, MN area a tent wedding can cost under $1000 for rentals + $350 DJ service + $1250 for a buffet +$500 for full service event planning + $200 for a wedding cake with me totaling=$3300 leaving more than enough room to play with for decor, a photographer, musicians, a bar, wedding attire, and your honeymoon.
2. Have your wedding on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon, or an off-peak month. Avoiding Saturdays is another way to save money. Inquire with venues about their off peak pricing. There are still beautifully warm days in April or October which are just a little before peak season begins and ends.
3. Be a DYI bride. You don't have to hire me or another planner for a full-service package. You can do the pre-planning on your own if you prefer. Things that I do for full-service include helping you determine a style and theme for the ceremony and reception, giving you options for a vendor for you to decide, managing your invitations and RSVPs, coordinating the decorations and favors, writing a program and getting with a graphic designer to make it snazzy, guiding you through all the payment processes with the vendors and send you reminders, and being a pointperson for set up and tear down on the day of the wedding. Some people feel that they do not need help from start to finish--my full-service package is valuable and I think you'll find affordable. But, some brides prefer to have me just set up, tear down, and be their pointperson on the day of the wedding. I can do either!
4. Buy used. It seems there is an underground network of people selling slightly used or consignment bridal gowns out there. Check them out! Some consignment stores are quite boutiquey so you won't miss out on the charm of the bridal gown buying experience. You can also check out Craigslist, local Facebook groups, Etsy, and Ebay for slightly used decor and attire which can be reused in a fab way.
5. Keep your guest list to 50 or under. Ask yourself, do I really need to invite my coworkers, or second, third, or fourth cousins from out of town whom I have never met. You can host a very classy party with 50 or under guests and save on meal and venue/set up costs.
6. Host a bridal luncheon instead of dinner. Or, serve a buffet dinner. A luncheon means smaller portions of dinner entrees that are more expensive. Generally, buffets run less-expensive than plated served meals. It's true that people don't mind serving themselves and even appreciate the ability to go back for seconds.
Check out these photos from my beach wedding that I planned under $10,000 in 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
