The Ultimate Guide To Getting Married on a Budget

Long gone are the days when parents felt obligated to pay for their child's wedding. Most young couples aren't so young anymore either, and according to Time (@TIME), people usually marry in their late twenties or early thirties. At this age, couples are covering most (if not all) of their own expenses. With all the other responsibilities resting on their shoulders, couples may be better off planning an affordable day on a strict budget.

Happily, cheap does not always equal low-quality—the day you've always dreamed of can be just as special on a strict financial plan. I know this for a fact since I planned my destination wedding at a fraction of the average price. My day exceeded all our expectations, and then some. Thanks to our savings, my husband and I were even able to place a down payment towards our home afterward. Based on my experience and tips from other couples online, here's the Ultimate Guide to Getting Married on a Budget.

1. Gain inspiration from other couples.

   Give yourself time to plan.

   Even if you want to elope, saving money may require a little time to plan the main details. The average length of an engagement is 14 months. What were the main reasons? Mostly, couples were happy with their ability to save more and liked having time to search for the vendors who met their needs.

   Follow frugal trends.

   Today's trends aren't all exorbitant and some are absolutely frugal. For instance, in 2016, freshly picked flowers and family-style buffets were a couple touches that honed the progressive, nature-friendly and comfortable styles we're seeing a whole lot more of.

   Learn from the financial Achilles' heel of others.

   What are the financial weak spots in wedding planning? Statistics can tell you a lot about where the money goes. You can gain a lot of insight from viewing specific trends from each region within the country, as well.  Apparently, the East Coast is a big spender, while the Midwest spends the least. Depending on where you live, it may pay to do a little research into the trends of other regions. Just keep in mind that general prices and fees vary across the country.

2. Create a planning list.

   After doing your research and learning from other couples, it's time to plan your own special day. Since careful preparation can help you save thousands, I suggest creating and sticking to a checklist. Everything can be plotted out over a 12-month period, so this major project is broken down into manageable tasks. You can tweak this list to suit your needs and taste.

3. Don't rule out other cities.

   

   To piggyback off the previous tip, don't try squeezing a budget wedding in a lavish and overpriced city. This may mean your hometown is out of bounds, and that's OK. There are plenty of wonderful areas with great and affordable venues across the country, if you know where to look. A few long-distance destinations may also be worth a glance.

   In fact, destination weddings may be a positive bet.

   Are you cringing at the thought of inviting people out of obligation? The additional costs this can accrue aren't attractive either. Planning a destination wedding, however, is a sure-fire way to ensure your guest list is small and manageable.

4. Timing is everything.

   

   Depending on where you live, the time of year can influence your wedding day and budget. In New England, with its four seasons and unpredictable weather patterns, planning between late spring and early fall may be best. Florida, on the other hand, has stormy and dry seasons to take into consideration. In general, summer and early fall are the most popular seasons, while winter is least desirable. Which time of year is right for you?

   Unconventional is sometimes cheaper and more manageable.

   Have you noticed how weddings are normally held on Saturdays? You can save quite a bit by choosing a different day of the week. While weekday weddings may not work around everyone's schedule, they are something to consider if you're going for quaint over grandiose.

5. While shopping, go local.

   

   You can make your day unforgettable by incorporating the area's local personality and the environment. Not only can small, local shops take some weight off your spending, but you'll be helping the local economy in the process.

   Buy products that are in-season.

   Sheer abundance is a major reason to buy seasonal products. The second is cost; merchandise is usually cheaper when there is more of it. Local shops are great places to find in-season flowers, fruits and vegetables.

   Your guests can take home an extra special memento.

   Steer away from played-out wedding favors by finding something that represents the city, state or region. Give small, decorative bags of seeds that will sprout into a native plant or flower. These gifts also serve as living memories.

6. Do your own hair.

   Getting your hair professionally done is not cheap! You can save a lot of money by either doing your own hair or if you have a talented friend or family member, it's totally okay to ask them to do your hair.
   

7. Hold the reception at home.

   Or ask a friend if you can use theirs. One of the most beautiful weddings I ever attended was held in the family home of the couple's friend. Not only did they save on venue space, but each guest contributed something towards the day, from food and drinks to decorations, on the morning of the wedding. The intimacy and simplicity did not diminish the beauty of their special day but enhanced it. Are you considering a small event with your closest family and friends?

   Transform your home into its own venue.

   You may not realize it right now, but a few small touches can revolutionize your cozy abode into a stunning wedding venue. Moving the dog's crate, cleaning the dirty laundry, mowing the lawn and wiping down the counters will help you realize just how much potential your home actually has.

   Backyard weddings are charming and easy to decorate.

   Manicured and maintained backyards come readily decorated and require very little extra attention. Flowers, tree trunks, pine cones, and even twigs become fair game in helping create ornaments and centerpieces.

8. Pay careful attention to the menu.

   

   In addition to the venue, people spend most of their budget on catering, and appetizers, entrees and desserts (in addition to the cake) are all common. The traditional sit-down dinner can lead to another hefty bill, which becomes larger with each additional course and guest. Fortunately, there are always ways to shave down this expense.

   Plan a potluck dinner.

   Asking everyone to pitch in with a dish is a nice way to get guests involved. Potlucks are a matter of taste, however, and may not be appreciated by some who may see it as tacky. On the other hand, when done right, this dining style can be cozy and bring the party together in a unique way.

   Opt for hors d'oeuvres in place of a full dinner.

   One way to cut costs is by eliminating the dinner entirely and serving appetizers. Placing the food on a table so guests can help themselves will also reduce the need for a serving staff.  Serving hors d'oeuvres in place of dinner can also help everyone get right to the party as they mix and mingle while they snack.

9. Wedding invitations don't need to cost an arm and a leg.

   In fact, they can even be free if you have everyone's email addresses and a little web savvy! Otherwise, discount department stores like Wal-Mart and Target sell attractive cards for less. You can also check out websites like Etsy that sell handmade creations from their online collection of small or local designers.

   Make your own invitations.

   Do you want to make your own invitations but are worried about being judged or doing a poor job? As with potlucks, handmade invites are a matter of personal style, but when done right they can look great and save you hundreds of dollars!

10. You don't need an expensive photographer.

    

    After all the time and effort that goes into wedding planning, it's natural to want memories to look back on. So much so that in addition to photographers, many couples hire videographers. While hiring these professionals may feel essential to capturing each special moment, they can cost you between thousands of dollars.

    An iPhone or Android may be all you need.

    In today's world, the right cell phone camera and filtering application are all some photographers need.

    List the photographer or media specialist on a special kind of gift registry.

    Many couples live together before taking the walk down the aisle, so they already have furniture, slow cookers, dish sets and even lingerie. Can we agree on a truly special gift as assistance in funding the wedding? Online wedding registries like Gively now give guests the opportunity to help finance parts of the wedding itself! All you do is invite your photographer (florist, DJ, etc,) to the registry, send a link to guests, and let them help you finance parts of your wedding as their gift!

    Shop around.

    If having a professional photographer and real camera equipment is a must, take the time to shop around. Ask about package offers and finding professionals through word of mouth.

11. Hire a DJ instead of a band.

    

    Bands are among the coolest forms of music and traditional entertainment, but unless you know members of a band personally, they can be very expensive. A DJ costs less and a homemade playlist can be very nice while practically costing nothing.

    Be the DJ.

    Would you rather DJ your own wedding but don't know where to begin? Luckily, there's an app for that (as with everything else these days).

    Add unique twists to the entertainment.

    Why must a wedding only have music and dancing? Some couples add a photo booth and make-your-own candy bag stations, but the sky is the limit when it comes to entertainment. Bring Jenga, Twister, cornhole or any other fun games that you may have lying around the house and set up game stations.

12. Wear a pre-loved dress.

    

    Wedding gowns can be an easy area to save on your wedding budget, but they can also become a financial black hole. Every bride wants to be the belle of the ball, and she can while also being smart about her spending.

    Borrow your mother's dress.

    Or your grandmother's, aunt's, sister's or friend's, as long as she offers. Lots of brides love the vintage look anyway, so why not make yours extra intimate with something borrowed? Are you unsure if you can wear someone else's dress? A couple alterations may be all you need to be sure the dress fits your body and personality like a glove.

13. Have your cake and eat it too.

    

    Usually, the wedding cake is for the groom what the dress is for the bride, but everyone gets curious for a sneak peek and taste. Couples can splurge quite a bit for these few bites, and each slice of cake can cost between $1.25 to $12, depending on the ingredients, where the cake was purchased, and the aesthetics.

    Make your own cake.

    Do you take pride in your baking skills? Do you have a relative who's amazing with a whisk? Baking the cake at home can actually save you hundreds.

    Cut the cake and the costs by being budget-savvy.

    Don't feel confident enough to attempt DIY wedding cakes? No problem, there are plenty of ways to buy cakes on the cheap. From sheet cakes to skipping the fondant, there are as many tips as flavors.

What do you think about this list? Is there anything you'd like to see added? My favorite aspect of it is its simplicity; each tip from shopping around to buying in-season can be used in many areas of the planning process. A beautiful budget wedding is easier than you may think and can even be accomplished on $1000 without looking cheap!