Say No To The Overpriced Photographer
When it comes to wedding photography, this isnt usually an area you want to skip out on. However, there are still ways to save money in this department! Search Google for photography students, aspiring photographers or hobbyists who take photos in their free time and will charge much less than a professional. If youre not sure about the quality of a less experienced photographer, try them out for your engagement photos before booking them for the wedding.
If you do your research, there are endless ways to save money and plan that perfect bougee wedding on a budget. Stay organized, dont be afraid to ask people for help and remember that there are NO rules. Focus on what you and your significant other want, and search for trade-offs for the less important things. Spend money in the areas that are most important to YOU!
You got this, happy planning for your wedding under $5,000!
Chloe
Dont Settle For Packages
One way I was able to afford both a photographer and videographer for my wedding was by negotiating the packages that the photographer and videographer provided on their websites.
A typical wedding photographer package may include a number of hours, a number of photos that they will deliver, bonuses like a wedding book, canvas print, or USB.
Negotiate with the vendor to not include certain parts of a package to lower the price!
For example, if they include 10 hours but you only need them for 6 hours, discuss lowering the price. Same idea if they include bonuses in their packages.
How To Plan A Wedding On A Budget Of $1000
Are you going to tie a knot? Congratulations on the beginning of a new life. A wedding is the most prestigious and special moment in ones life. In order to make it a memorable event, you need a proper plan. However, this doesnt suggest that you spend everything you have to make it grand.
In fact, you can plan a wedding that is cheap and perfect in every aspect. There is no need to spend thousands of bucks, leaving you and your spouse with a huge debt to pay. Since financial issues may ruin the excitement of getting married and life afterward.
Hence, you must act wisely while planning your wedding. For this purpose, you can go for a budget-friendly wedding that looks amazing and feels amazing. To assist you in this regard, we have come up with some inexpensive and DIY wedding ideas on a budget.
To know how to plan a wedding on a budget of $1000, just keep reading!
Don’t Miss: Google Sheets Wedding Budget Template
Asking Friends To Take Our Wedding Photos
Two close friends took photos, and another friend videoed the event.
Another friend took photos of food and guests, and two friends used a drone. Some of these friends are semi-professional photographers, and their photos were unique. We also encouraged guests to share photos via a hashtag.
That meant we received some photos in real time or soon after the event. And they were beautiful and spontaneous – our friends knew us well and their love for us was reflected in the photos that they took.
What Is A Realistic Budget For A Wedding
A realistic budget for a wedding in the U.S. is around $30,000. The average wedding cost for 2021 according to The Knot is $33,931. This varies by state, with states like Wyoming having an average of $19,000 and New Jersey topping the list with an average of $53,000.
Most of the weddings you see on blogs and magazines are spending way above that figure. So spending less than $5,000 on your wedding will seem like a challenge if you compare your day to someone else who is spending a lot more. Comparison is the thief of joy after all.
Ultimately, whats realistic is a budget that you can afford. You should never go into debt over a wedding. And not everyone has family members who are willing to contribute thousands of dollars. I personally believe you dont have to spend a fortune in order to have a special day to celebrate your marriage. And in many previous generations it was not the norm to spend a lot of money having a traditional wedding.
Recommended Reading: Addressing Wedding Invitations To Family
Shrink Your Guest List
Perhaps one of the simplest ways to slash your wedding budget is to invite fewer people. Each wedding guest costs the couple an average of $268. Every guest you take off the list can save you a significant chunk of change. To have a budget-friendly event, keep the list to family and close friends only. If people ask why they didn’t get an invitation, just say you wanted an intimate wedding.
Break The Wedding Sites Norms
Millions of couples worldwide are booking their weddings in affordable wedding venues. It would cost an average of $5000. Although its a good deal, it may not be possible in our plan for a low-cost wedding. Our budget is tight, and we need to spend it wisely. Youll have to think out of the box and consider some unique ideas for your wedding site.
Also Check: How To Address Wedding Invitations To Families
Y Option #: Intimate Dinner Party
Planner: Karen Bussen, New York City
Guests: Up to 50
“Choose a small local restaurant that serves a seasonal menu,” says Karen. “Small restaurants offer great value the owners are often willing to negotiate and throw in extras.”
Take a look at the restaurant’s linens and inquire as to whether there are choices in colors, fabric types or patterns. Many restaurants are able to switch tablecloths and napkins for a small upcharge. Ask if you can use their dinner plates as chargers, or base plates, to give your table extra polish. Wrap fresh herbs around napkins, or use button mushrooms as unique escort cards. Ask the manager to print a menu card with your names on it.
Centerpieces: Arrange small bowls of olives, hunks of parmesan cheese, dried fruits and nuts, glasses filled with breadsticks, bowls of grapes and nestle in votive candles. Buy a few narrow glass cylinders , and place one or two blossoms in each. Arrange them here and there down the length of the table.
Cake: Many restaurant kitchens have dedicated pastry chefs who can make a small wedding cake. If you’re in a French bistro, why not opt for a croquembouche a French wedding cake “tower,” made of puff pastry and cream.
How To Plan A Wedding For Less Than $5000
Working with an extra tight budget? Dont miss these tips for planning a wedding for less than $5,000!
According to The Knot Real Weddings Survey, the average cost of a wedding in the United States in 2019 was $28,000. Even in 2020, when COVID-19 forced most couples to downsize their nuptial plans, the average cost was still $19,000.
But you dont have to spend as much as it would take to buy a small car to enjoy an elegant weddingand working together to budget for your wedding might be the first step you and your spouse make toward a financially stable future. Find out how to plan a wedding for less than $5,000 using some of the tips below.
Also Check: Mills Fleet Farm Bridal Registry
Diy When It Makes Sense
Wedding DIY projects aren’t limited to mason jar centerpieces and signs made from recycled pallets. You can significantly reduce your wedding budget by doing some things yourself. For example, you can skip hiring a DJ by creating a playlist yourself. Not only will you save serious cash, but you can also ensure you love every song at your reception.
Do you have excellent graphic design skills? Design your own invitations and get them printed at a local shop. You can also write your own vows and ask a close friend or relative to officiate. When you tackle some of these big-ticket items yourself, you can make your wedding more personal as well.
Making And Buying Cheap Booze
We looked out for specials at Dan Murphy’s and bought online using eWish cards and discounts with Cashrewards .
We also bought cheap alcohol through Cellarmasters, Aldi and Costco. Plus we made our own lager, ginger beer and apple cider.
At the end of the night we were surprised to find that the homemade lager and the Aldi rose had been the most popular items.
Read Also: Wedding Planning Google Sheets
Hire An Emerging Photographer
If youre willing to take a gamble, try looking for photogs who are still building their business, said Jocelyn Voo, owner and wedding photographer at Everly Studios. Just be sure to ask for full wedding galleries to get an accurate idea of their style and consistency. Oftentimes you can find emerging photographers online, such as in local wedding photography-oriented Facebook groups.
Spend $100 On Hair And Make Up
Honestly you can get away with less here if you have a friend or family member do your makeup for free but I personally recommend pampering yourself for the big day if youd like to ensure you are picture ready. You can hire someone local to spend an hour touching up your hair and makeup, maybe schedule a regular blow out that morning or the night before at your favorite salon, for around $100. Aim for someone who works freelance, not a salon wedding package, which will usually charge more for a full face and full updo or hairstyle.
Heres what I would do $40 manicure and pedicure, $30 blow out , $30 freelance make up artist to touch up my make up or splurge on some new make up items and do it yourself
Recommended Reading: Fleet Farm Bridal Registry
Example Restaurant Wedding Budget: $5005
Marriage License: $100Officiant: $30 when your ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend who is ordained through Universal Life Church.Photographer: $1,500Flowers: $500 for a bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpiecesAttire: $1250Food & Alcohol: $1,500 including tax and gratuity, at $100/personDessert: $125Music: $0 Create a playlist on Spotify and ask a friend or family member to press play when youre ready to share your first and parent dances.
Dont Hire A Photographer
We all know that professional photographers are expensive. Hiring a photographer can cost you more than your wedding. Hence, if you are planning a DIY wedding under $1,000, there is no need to hire a photographer. In fact, one of your friends or family member can perform this task.
There is a person in almost every family who is passionate about photography. So why dont you give him/her an opportunity to be your wedding photographer? So instead of hiring a professional photographer, make use of the God gifted talent of your friend or family member.
In addition, with some amazing cell phones in every hand, you can get some outstanding pictures even without assigning a person to take photographs. This might give you an idea that how to plan a wedding on a budget of $1,000.
Don’t Miss: A Practical Wedding Budget Spreadsheet
How To Plan A Wedding For $5000
Small guest lists are the way to go with a $5000 wedding budget. Photography by Julian Kanz.
Last week, our editor-in-chief, Alison McGill, appeared on Canada AM for a how-to segment. The topic? Hosting a wedding with a $5000 wedding budget. Impossible? Not completely. It can be done. You just have to do your homework, Alison advises.
When it comes to tight wedding budgets, the first thing you need to do is narrow down the big ticket items that typically means the reception venue and catering costs. Once youve finalized those numbers, itll be easier to factor in and prioritize other wedding costs. Make things easier on yourselves and make a list of your top three must-have items, ensure that your groom does this tooits important that youre both on the same page.
Working with a small wedding budget isnt always an easy task , but with the right amount of research and with a small guest list it can be done, and with style too! To show you how, we did the legwork and have compiled a list of ways to host a budget-friendly wedding for just $5000.
Book Your Event Outside Of Peak Season
You can save money on all types of wedding services by having your event outside of peak season. Its basic supply and demandif not as many brides and grooms are looking to say I do, youre more likely to find venues and vendors willing to negotiate prices to get your business.
And thats not only true for seasons. You could also get a deal if youre willing to have a mid-morning or early afternoon ceremony instead of an early evening affair. Consider getting hitched at 11 am, for example, and following it up with a backyard BBQ-style reception.
Recommended Reading: Randy Fenoli Partner Michael
How To Elope For $5000
Elopements were popular before 2020, but we expect their popularity to soar long after this year comes to a close. We love them for a few reasons. First, eloping is a wonderful opportunity to get married at a destination you have loved for years. Second, because the guest list for an elopement is relatively small, this type of event allows you to be completely intentional with your time and budget. Third, eloping in a beautiful spot makes for one of the easiest transitions into a mini-moon simply stay put!
Opt For A Virtual Wedding To Stay Within Your $5000 Wedding Budget
The number one expense when planning a wedding is the guest list. The larger the guest list, the more money you can expect to spend. In fact, the average cost per guest ranges from $127/guest all the way to $263/guest . Want to avoid this obstacle completely? Opt for a virtual wedding and you will immediately eliminate the stress of figuring out the guest list.
Having a small guest list=BIG amounts of fun.
By having a virtual wedding, you can include your immediate family + closest few friends and invite the rest of the guests virtually. You also wont have to spend a lot of time asking should I invite this long lost cousin or not? You can simply send them an E-vite and all will be well. Additionally, another budget friendly move is to select a low-cost wedding venue. Think beautiful backyard, local park or even your living room! Check out this blog post for a more in depth look at how to decide on your perfect venue spot. **Wedfuly pro tip: IF you do decide to opt for a more traditional wedding venue, consider choosing a Friday or Sunday, as this will save you money.
Total Cost: Wedfuly + free venue=$700
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