As some of you may know, I have a wedding blog all about getting married on a budget! When I started wedding planning it quickly became apparent that we wanted a low budget wedding. For us it’s not necessary to spend a large amount of money on one day. Wedding planning on a small budget can be hard though, but the whole reason I set up my wedding blog was to show that it’s possible to have a beautiful wedding on a small budget. Seen as you all know how passionate I am about saving money though I thought I’d share some of my top tips on how to have an amazing small budget wedding.
One thing I highly recommend before we even get into looking where you could save money is to get organised! Budgeting spreadsheets and a wedding checklist will help keep you focused and help you to see where your money is going. Creating a checklist means you can tick things off as you go and don’t get overwhelmed with trying to do everything in a rush, which will probably lead you to spending more money. Organisation is the key to planning a wedding on a budget!
The photographer
Wedding photography can get crazy expensive and with most of your guests coming armed with a phone you might be questioning if you really need a photographer after all. If paying for a photographer is totally out of budget then you may want to look into wedding photo sharing. With Wedding Photo Swap you can set up an online photo album of your wedding. Friends and family are invited to send the photos of your big day directly to your online photo albums where you can then download and share them. With Wedding Photo Swap the most you’ll pay is £24.99 which is obviously a huge saving compared to the cost of a photographer. You can get a free account too but it’s only for 30 days and it doesn’t come with unlimited hi-res downloads.
We did have a photographer as we managed to find one with an amazing deal but I love the idea of wedding photo sharing just so you can easily collect all the photos took by your guests too, you never know what special moment they may have captured! It’s definitely something I’ll be considering setting up for our wedding.
The dress
My wedding dress was a big deal for me, as it is for any bride. But with having a low cost wedding I thought I’d backed myself into a corner and would only be able to get a high street wedding dress. Now don’t get me wrong, the likes of ASOS and Debenhams stock some gorgeous dresses for amazing prices but personally I wanted the wedding dress shopping experience. For this I cannot recommend WED2B enough, they’re an off-the-peg wedding dress store that stock dresses starting at as little as £99.99 and their most expensive dresses (excluding the platinum range) go up to £599. The detail on the dresses for such amazing prices is out of this world. I ended up purchasing my dress from WED2B and with the amount of detail on it I’d say you’d easily look at over £1000 for it from other wedding dress shops.
If you’re not fussed about having the traditional wedding dress shopping experience though, there’s loads you can do to keep the cost down. There are so many websites out there that sell pre-owned wedding dresses usually in fantastic condition. You may even come across one that hasn’t been worn! Ebay and Facebook marketplace are other good places to check. Of course as I’ve mentioned you could try a high street store as well. Try searching for prom dresses too, as soon as you mention wedding the price shoots up so by searching for a prom dress instead you’ll still get loads of beautiful options but at a fraction of the price. It’s super easy to find your prom dress with sites like Prom Dress Finder who list beautiful dresses from around the web all in one easy and convenient place.
The venue
Most of your budget will more than likely go on your venue considering you’ll probably be buying into a package. I was honestly shocked when I started looking at local wedding venues though. Most venues near us cost double or more than what we’re paying for our entire wedding. I’m talking just the venue for day and night with food costs more than what we’ve paid for our entire day, clothing, food, venue, transport, photographer, the lot. It’s mind blowing.
We opted to get married at our local registry office and since booking it, I’ve come to see it in a whole new light. It’s a beautiful building with a stunning staircase that will be perfect for photos. We’re then having our reception at a function room in the local sports centre. It’s amazing how the room transforms for weddings and you’d honestly never guess it was a budget venue. By using our imaginations and understanding we can make a venue look beautiful ourselves, we’ve saved loads!
I could honestly talk about how to save money on your wedding all day as it’s something I’m so passionate about. I strongly believe that small budget weddings deserve just as much recognition as big budget weddings. Having a beautiful wedding day on a small budget is totally doable, it’s just about thinking outside of the box and not being ruled by traditional wedding conventions.
Do you have any great tips to save money on your wedding day? Share them in the comments.
These tips are fantastic – everyone planning a wedding should take note! Saving money on your big day is key, and the insights shared here are invaluable. From DIY decor to budget-friendly venue options, there’s something for every couple. If you’re considering tying the knot abroad, services like the ones offered by Lauren Y Loves can make the process seamless. Check out their married abroad packages for stress-free planning and a dream destination wedding without breaking the bank!
What a fantastic post! It’s truly inspiring to see how you’ve navigated the wedding planning process on a budget, and your tips are incredibly practical and helpful. Your perspective resonates deeply with us at The Wedding Car Hire People, where we believe that elegance and memorable experiences shouldn’t have to break the bank.
For couples looking to extend their savvy planning to stylish yet affordable transportation, our platform offers a variety of options that align perfectly with a budget-conscious wedding. We specialize in providing a wide range of wedding cars that cater to all tastes and budgets. Whether it’s a classic vintage car for a touch of elegance or something more modern and simple, we ensure that you don’t have to compromise on your special day’s luxury feel.
Just like choosing a local sports center to transform into a beautiful venue, selecting the right car from our fleet can add that special touch to your wedding without overextending financially. Our transparent pricing and customizable packages allow couples to pick exactly what fits their needs and budget, mirroring your approach of careful planning and organization.
Your blog is a treasure trove of advice for those who dream of a beautiful but budget-friendly wedding, and I’m sure many couples will find your insights as valuable as we do. It’s refreshing to see someone championing the beauty and dignity of small-budget weddings. Keep sharing your experiences and tips—they’re truly a beacon for budget-conscious brides and grooms-to-be!
Paul
CEO / The Wedding Car Hire People
https://theweddingcarhirepeople.com/