Throwing an affordable wedding may seem impossible due to inflation. However, thrifty brides can still pull off weddings under 10K. Even if you’re on a budget, it’s still possible to put together a beautiful event complete with flowers, music, and delicious food. Here are seven must-haves you need to host the wedding of your dreams on a shoestring, including a low-cost dress and a cheaper venue.
1. An Affordable, Stylish Wedding Dress
Wedding dresses can be one of the biggest budget busters, potentially costing thousands of dollars. However, you can save money on this large expense by going to sample sales or shopping for a pre-loved dress on websites like Nearly Newlywed. If you’re willing to break fashion tradition, consider wearing a stylish cocktail dress to save money. Or ask your friends and family if they have a dress they’d let you borrow on your special day and alter to fit your dimensions.
2. Digital Invitations
You have to cut as much fat as possible from your budget to successfully plan a wedding under 10k. Although paper invitations make a great first impression, they aren’t essential. Digital invites will give your guests all the details they need to attend your big day. You can use the free version of Canva to design attractive save-the-date cards and email them to guests. Alternatively, you can create a wedding website for free using Weebly or Blogger and email or text the URL to guests.
3. Photography Alternatives
These days, everyone has high-quality cameras built into their phones, so there may be no need for a wedding photographer. Your wedding party can help snap photos of you and your spouse after the ceremony. Plus, asking your guests to take photos throughout the night may help you crowdsource some great snaps of your special day.
Although some wedding photographers charge thousands, you may be able to find more affordable vendors on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. Additionally, many wedding photographers and videographers have started using giveaways as a marketing strategy. If you apply to enough contests, you might get lucky and win a free wedding photoshoot.
4. A Cheaper Venue
According to The Knot, the average cost to rent a wedding venue last year was $12,800. So if you want to have a wedding under 10k, you’ll need to find a cheaper alternative to traditional venues like hotels and country clubs. If you don’t mind getting married out in the elements, public parks and beaches can be very inexpensive or even free places to get married. However, don’t forget that you may need to get a permit ahead of time. Local community centers like the Elks Lodge can also be an affordable setting for your ceremony and reception.
Hosting your wedding at your home or a family member’s residence could be another cost-saving option. Courthouse weddings followed by a reception at a local restaurant are also popular.
5. Light Bites
It’s hard to pull off a wedding under 10k if you have a large crowd to feed. Avoiding venues that require you to sign on with an expensive caterer is key. If you host your wedding at your home or a local park, you may be able to save money by cooking the food with help from family and friends. You can also take advantage of affordable catering options from local delis, fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle, or grocery stores like Whole Foods.
It can also help to have your wedding earlier in the day so you don’t have to provide dinner. An early morning wedding could be followed by brunch, which is typically less expensive to have catered. If you’d prefer to get married in the afternoon, consider serving a light lunch or having a cocktail hour instead of a full meal. Just make sure to set clear expectations around food on the invitations to ensure guests won’t be disappointed.
6. A Great Playlist
These days there’s a lot of pressure to turn your wedding reception into a huge party. But if you’re throwing a wedding under 10K, you probably don’t have room in the budget for a DJ, dancers, or other entertainers.
Luckily you can still have a great time with an energetic group of guests, a well-chosen playlist, and a couple of speakers. Apps like Spotify allow you to choose a diverse lineup of wedding songs to keep the party going all night. From slow, romantic songs to 2010s pop hits, you’ll be able to curate your dream playlist and set the mood for your ceremony and reception. But if you don’t have time for this task, you can outsource it to a trusted bridesmaid or use one of Spotify’s premade wedding playlists.
7. DIY Wedding Flowers
According to The Knot, the average cost of wedding flowers is a whopping $2,800. To avoid breaking the bank, consider creating your own wedding bouquets. Grocery stores like Whole Foods have high-quality loose flowers that you can turn into attractive centerpieces. Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club even sell premade bouquets and centerpieces at affordable prices. If you live in a big city, you may be able to source flowers from a flower market. Out in the country? Do some research and see if any local farms offer inexpensive bouquets.
Love Is All You Really Need
The wedding industry has put a lot of pressure on couples to plan the perfect day. However, it’s important to remember that the love you share is already enough to make your wedding special. All the trappings of a traditional wedding like flowers and suits are just extras. Even if you can’t afford some of the items on this list, you can still host a beautiful event that you’ll both remember fondly.