How to plan your wedding on a budget

Planning a wedding can get expensive and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. It is possible to plan a wedding without going broke.

According to The Knot, the average wedding in 2021 cost about $22,500. If you’re hoping to spend less, planning a wedding on a budget may save you some money.

Create a wedding budget

When creating your wedding budget, decide on a number that you feel comfortable with spending. If you start with an unclear spending limit, it could lead to overspending.

Take note of how much you’ve saved so far, your timeline, and any outside money from your families. Once you have a budget, prioritize all the expenses including venue, reception space, catering, photography, flowers, rings, and décor. You can then allocate funds from your budget to each area. At this point, consider price shopping so you can figure out an estimate for each expense.

You may consider opening a separate savings account to contribute funds to build your wedding savings. Keep in mind that venues and other vendors may require a deposit upfront to secure a specific date. Saving up can help before the final bill is due.

Be flexible with the date

Consider having your wedding during off-peak months such as January or February. Ceremony sites and reception halls may offer lower rates. Saturday is the most popular and high-demand day for weddings. You could try planning during a different season or day of the week.

Trim the guest list

Catering and rental costs can increase when you invite many guests. This means more tables, food, and drinks. Keep the costs down by putting a limit on guests and plus-ones.

Some venues may have minimum and maximum guest requirements, so make sure to look at the pricing. That could affect your head count.

DIY your wedding

Making your own flowers, centerpieces, cake topper, and décor could put less stress on your wedding wallet. You could be creative with your own wedding invitations or your reception playlist. If you would like to save on food, prepare your own pot-luck meal by recruiting your family and friends to help. You could even do your own makeup and hair instead of paying money for a makeup artist and hairstylist.

Pass on pricey items

Ask yourself if you really need the glamorous details at your wedding. Don’t pressure yourself into upgrading to the best things; it could add up. Look at what you’re buying before you sign any contracts.

Look at printing costs

Research printing costs for your invitations. Depending on how many colors on your invitation could drive up costs. Consider templates from online design services such as The Knot for more affordable options.

Look for suburban venues

If you’re planning on getting married in a major metropolitan area, expect higher prices and more competition for venues. Consider hosting your wedding outside the area for some savings and look at having your ceremony and reception in the same place to save on transportation.

Use your home or outdoors

Think about having your ceremony or reception at a home owned by you, a friend or family member, or outdoors. It could save you thousands of dollars. You could use that money for a tent, chairs, and tables. Make sure you note it in your wedding budget.

Host a small wedding

A budget-friendly option to consider is having a small wedding of 10 to 50 guests, according to The Knot. It would cost a fraction of what you might spend on a typical wedding. That savings could help go toward other areas in your wedding budget.

Anticipate extra costs

Make sure you know all the costs up front. This will prove your budget can cover it. Research all possible hidden fees including overtime, service fees, free trials, delivery fees, extra decorations, and gratuities and tips.

Other wedding elements to consider

Some of the other items you may want to consider include:

• Transportation costs: Consider trading in that stretch limo for a small car.
• Nix the special effects: On your photos, pass on the sepia tones and other fancy photography features.
• Get less expensive flowers: Pick locally grown flowers instead of having them flown in for the wedding.
• Scale down the cake: Order a smaller cake and stay away from tiers, fancy designs, and special shapes.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with Adirondack Bank. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. Adirondack Bank is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the information provided or the content of any third-party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. Adirondack Bank makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.