Top tips for planning a wedding on a budget
Wedding budget tips to save money on your big day
Organising a wedding can be a really exciting and invigorating moment in a couples life together. It provides a magical moment where they can be innovative, adventurous and inventive with what they’d like for their big day. Trying to budget for your dream wedding though can sometimes feel near on impossible when you’re on a restricted budget but weddings don’t have to be expensive. It’s all about planning and saving money where you can. That’s why here at Darren Gritton Photography, I believe there is a wedding for everyone and I’m going to share with you my top tips for planning a wedding on a budget.
1. Venue
Choosing the perfect wedding venue can sometimes feel a bit daunting, especially when it comes to the cost involved, so why not consider looking at alternative venues; the local village hall, the sports club or even a field which you could hire and have an outside wedding. Don’t feel limited because you have a smaller budget in mind. There are a number of alternative venues you could look into to help make your wedding stand out from the rest. You just need to be creative!
2. Guests
Catering for everyone can sometimes feel pretty overwhelming. You might feel pressured to invite everyone; even people you might not necessarily speak to very often. That’s where a smaller venue can be really beneficial. It might mean you’re slightly more restricted with who you can invite but, sometimes, that can be a good thing to help bring down the overall cost of your big day whilst also making your wedding feel a bit more intimate.
3. Time of your wedding
Why not consider having a weekday wedding. Some venues even offer special packages for weekday weddings which can give couples a huge saving. Also, getting married later in the afternoon can help your budget massively too. That way, you’ll only have to hire your wedding venue for a few hours and you’ll only have to provide one choice of food rather than the usual sit down meal AND an evening buffet.
4. Food
As we know, having a sit down meal can potentially cost quite a bit (especially if you have a lot of guests attending) so why not see if you can get your family to help instead. Whatever that’s organising the buffet food or providing a grazing table instead. These can be a huge hit with your guests and can also help to lower the price of your special day as you’ll be cutting out the middle person.
5. Wedding cake
As we know, wedding cakes can be a bit more of a costly investment, so why not look into baking your own. You could keep it simple with two tiers or you could go all out completely - The choice is yours! Or, if baking isn’t for you, then why not purchase a cake from your local supermarket instead. They’re just as good and can save a fortune compared to the traditional ones. You could get an elegant style and add some addition design features yourself; Whether that’s icing and lettering, a ribbon around the outside perhaps or even figurines on the top. You could also do something completely different and give all your guests a cupcake to take home instead. Again, supermarkets offer a wide selection for you to choose from and it’ll be a unique gift for all of your guests to take home at the end of the day.
6. Alcohol
Most wedding guests will love to celebrate with you and enjoy some alcohol. However, some wedding venues do not provide this or they’ll charge more for doing so. Why not look into wedding venues that provide their own licensed bar. That way, you won’t have the expense of drinks to worry about and your guests can purchase their drinks themselves. Or, if that isn’t an option, then why not consider purchasing some alcohol yourself. You could buy it in bulk when it’s on offer and put it by for the big day; either in supermarkets or online. Or, you could even suggest people bring their own!
{REMEMBER: Please check with your venue though as this will depend on what’s type of alcohol licence they have in place.}
7. Wedding dress
As we know, wedding dresses tend to hold their value and sometimes this can be difficult when you’re trying to organise your special day on a more restricted budget. Why not look online for when wedding dress boutiques have their sales. Sometimes you can even purchase ex display items then too. Again, this can save a lot of money whilst still offering a sense of class and style. You could also consider purchasing your wedding dress secondhand too. Wedding dresses are one of the most treasured and well looked after items of clothing so you can be sure that it’ll be in excellent condition. It will also be really sustainable and, sometimes, it can even be half the price too! You could also look at the local high street stores too. Most offer a budget bridal boutique range which can be much more affordable and can also mean you could potentially wear your dress again in the future, if you wish. That way, you’ll be getting more value for your money! And finally, if you’re a dab hand with a needle and thread, then why not design and make your own wedding dress. It will be completely unique, one of a kind and something you’ll be able to treasure forever; in more ways than one.
8. Shoes
Why not consider wearing your favourite pair of shoes. Chances are you’ll be a lot more comfortable in your own style and it’ll save you money by not having to purchase something new. Also, if you do wish to have some new shoes on your big day, then why not look into buying pre loved instead. This can help to save money and is extremely good for the environment too. You could also ask if any of your friends or family have a pair of shoes that you could borrow. Some brides even wear trainers underneath their wedding dress for extra comfort. It’s about what you’ll be most comfortable in!
9. Bridesmaids
Again, high street fashion stores can be the ideal place to find the perfect bridesmaid dresses. You’ll want them to feel comfortable on your big day too, so why not find an outfit that they can potentially wear again. It’ll also be great if you require flower girls dresses too as high street stores tend to offer designs that can complement each other so you can be sure to find something for everyone; no matter their age, size or the style they’d like.
10. Groomsmen
Why not ask them if they can wear one of their own suits for your special day. It will save a lot on the fitting costs that can usually build up with tailored suits and they’d probably be a lot more comfortable in it too.
11. Jewellery
Why not consider wearing some of your own jewellery rather than purchasing something new. You could also speak to those closest to you to see if they have any items that you could borrow - A necklace perhaps? A bracelet maybe? Most would be happy to help and would feel honoured that you would be wearing something special of theirs on your big day.
12. Flowers
Unfortunately, bridal bouquets can, at times, appear to be a bit pricey so why not consider making your own bouquet from a selection of supermarket flowers. - No one would know! Select a few bunches, arrange them to how you’d like and tie a fancy piece of ribbon or lace around it to hold it in place - Perfect!
13. Stationery/Seating plan
Large display boards are perfect to display the menus, seating plan and the order of the day at your wedding. This will save on costs for individual items. You could use card for the boards themselves and add bows, ribbon or glitter to make it stand out. Or, perhaps you could use wooden spoons displaying the table number or glass bottles with fairy lights. You can be as bold or adventurous as you’d like!
14. Entertainment
It can be pretty expensive trying to hire a band or a DJ for your wedding day so why not consider doing it yourself or get a dedicated family member to be incharge of it all. Simply set up a play list with all of your favourite songs to guarantee people will keep dancing until the night is through.
15. Musicians
Why not see if family or friends can play a special set for you for a small fee. Some might even offer to do it for free as a wedding gift to you both. This can make the perfect backdrop during your wedding meal or even whilst you’re cutting your wedding cake.
16. Wedding cars
A nice alternative to booking the usual wedding cars is to see if a relative can drive you in their car instead. Get them to put some ribbon on the front or a bow perhaps to help make it feel more special.
17. Wedding favours
Why not keep it simple and see if a relative can bake your some cookies as wedding favours to say thank you to your guests. Maybe you’re more a sweet tooth kind of couple. If so, then how about creating your very own sweet bags! You could put some of your favourite sweets inside a small bag and share them out to all your guests. Again, the homemade touch can go a long way and can allow you to be a bit more creative! Or, how about your very own pick and mix table where you guests can create their own. Simply get some bowls and fill and them with a wide variety of sweets. Then, provide either paper bags or sweet cones and let your guests have some fun. After all, everyone loves choosing their own sweets to enjoy!
18. Hair and Makeup
As we know, having the perfect hairstyle to last the entire day is very important but again, if doesn’t have to cost the earth. You could always see if a friend or a family member could design something special for you. You could have a relaxed hair down look with a few floating curls perhaps or even a fancy hair up look with a little tiara. When it comes to makeup, most brides know exactly how their want their makeup done for their big day, so why not consider doing it yourself. You could go for a simplistic, natural look or even full on, all out glamour - It’s totally up to you. Or, perhaps you could ask a bridesmaid or a family friend to do it for you instead. Either way, it doesn’t have to cost the earth and it can save a huge amount when it comes to the wedding budget.
19. Confetti
Why not be a little bit more creative. Instead of polluting the planet with the normal confetti, why not hole punch leaves instead! This way it’ll be fully biodegradable and super cute too!
20. Wedding rings
A wedding ring is a beautiful symbolic piece of jewellery to show just how important your other half is and just how special the love is you have for each other. But again, they don’t have to cost a fortune. Nowadays, a lot of high street shops can offer a sophisticated and stylish wedding ring range which can be perfect for those on a smaller budget. You could also check out the smaller independent jewellery stores within your local area. They’ll be happy to help you to find the ideal design whilst also offering a more personal touch for your big day.
I hope this guide will really help you when it comes to thinking outside the box whilst also being creative and unique. A wedding on a budget doesn’t mean you have to cut things out of your big day, it’s just about finding suitable alternatives that can work for you. I also hope it will leave you feeling motivated and inspired more to try different things when it comes to planning for your big day.
If you would like to find out more information about the different photography services I can offer when it comes to your big day, then please get in touch at info@darrengrittonphotography.com or give me a text on 07538 135722. Here at Darren Gritton Photography, I pride myself on being able to offer a variety of wedding packages to suit all budgets so you can be sure to find the package that you’re looking for. I would truly love to be able to be a part of your very special day, so please feel free to get in touch to see what I can do for you and, together, we can capture your special day!
If you like this post, you can check out a couple of my other blog posts
Sussex Venue | Long Furlong Barn
5 ways to make your wedding planning journey a memorable experience