Can You Plan a Wedding With a 10K Budget?

To level with you, $10,000 is a lot of money. But if you're looking for a wedding with all of the traditional trappings, it won't get you as far as you might think. There's a booming Reddit thread dedicated to planning with a 10K wedding budget, so we know a lot of couples are scouring the internet for ways to save money on a wedding to stay below that threshold. According to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding cost is $35,000. Sticking to a budget was deemed the most challenging wedding planning task amongst study participants, with 64% citing cost as the most important factor for making significant wedding decisions. All this considered, aiming for an under-10K wedding is no easy feat, even if you can find a slew of vendors that suit your budget on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

We tapped a seasoned wedding planner for some expert-backed advice on how (and if) you can execute a wedding on a 10K budget and sourced a wedding budget breakdown from three real The Knot couples who each spent a little above or below 10K. See how everything came together below.

In this article: Can You Plan a 10K Wedding? | How to Plan | Real Couple 10K Budget Breakdowns

Can You Plan a Wedding on a $10,000 Budget?

The answer to "Can you pull off a 10K-budget wedding?" is…sort of. While not impossible, you'll have to make some serious concessions in terms of guest count, number of vendors hired, and the day and season you marry. Wedding pros are the crème de la crème of event planning, so that specialized skill set will come at a premium price. "The key is to focus on impactful elements, like a beautiful venue and high-quality photography, while getting creative with budget-friendly strategies," says Emily Coyne, wedding planner and owner of California-based Emily Coyne Events. "Prioritizing what truly matters and leveraging resourceful planning can lead to an elegant and personalized celebration."

To level set, keep in mind that one's wedding value could be different from their wedding spend. Example: If your best friend is a pro baker and is gifting you a gorgeous three-tier wedding cake for free, your spend is $0, but the value of that cake clocks in at around $600. Remember this when you see a couple online with a 10K wedding budget that seemingly pulled off a too-good-to-be-true celebration.

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How to Plan a Wedding on a $10,000 Budget

If you're sticking with a $10,000 wedding budget, you'll have to make some smart and strategic choices to pull off your celebration. Here are some tips and tricks to get you as close to that number as possible.

Don't Look at Vendors Outside of Your Budget

The "don't look at anything you can't afford" rule is a big deal in wedding dress shopping. The same goes as you shop around for vendors. Limit your scope straight away and keep your blinders on throughout the planning process—it'll save you from having to backtrack later on. The Knot Vendor Marketplace comes in handy for this, since you can filter the vendors in your desired area and category by price.

Get Familiar With What a Wedding Budget Looks Like

Even if you've just finished helping your sibling or bestie plan their celebration, knowing what's considered a reasonable price for vendors is tough to nail down. Learn all about budget planning with The Knot Budget Tool, where you can see what people pay for a wedding on average in your area and see how that budget typically gets divided between each wedding category. Spoiler alert: No city, state or region has an average wedding cost as low as $10,000, but you can use this average allocation as a helpful baseline as you divvy up your funds and decide what to book and what to skip.

Let Your Venue Do the Heavy Decor Lifting

"Embrace simple decor by selecting a venue with natural charm," says Coyne. "Don't hesitate to negotiate with vendors and look for bundle deals to stretch your budget further." A visually pleasing venue will eliminate the need for excessive flowers or decor rentals, especially if it's a spot with a bevy of natural beauty. "A garden or outdoor setting can provide a stunning backdrop without the need for extensive decorations," says Coyne. "Additionally, focusing on a classic or elegant style with clean lines and timeless details can ensure your wedding feels both sophisticated while being budget conscious."

Prioritize Two or Three Special Elements

As aforementioned, you'll undoubtedly have to make some sacrifices on a 10K wedding budget. Consider what your two or three wedding must-haves are and be okay with letting everything else go. "For couples aiming to make the most of a $10K budget, start by focusing on the core elements that'll make the biggest impression, like choosing a beautiful venue and investing in great photography," says Coyne. "By choosing where to splurge and where to save, you can still have a beautiful and memorable wedding without stretching your budget too thin."

Whittle Your Guest Count Way Down

The smaller your guest count, the further your budget can stretch. More people means more space, seats, sips and snacks. When it comes to throwing 10K nuptials, embrace the microwedding trend and just invite your nearest and dearest. From our hours of online research, we found the guest-count sweet spot for a 10K wedding budget is under 30 people, though, you'll likely still need to make other concessions to keep costs in check.

Wed in the Off Season at Off Hours

Choose an off-peak wedding date. It's a tried-and-true strategy for throwing a low-budget wedding. An early-bird morning or afternoon wedding will cost significantly less than an evening bash, and a weekday event will have a lower price tag than a Saturday celebration. If you're set on the weekend, look into Friday and Sunday dates to get some savings.

Beware of the Backyard

Backyard weddings can be cozy, elegant, relaxed and—of course—budget friendly. But beware if you think this is the perfect zero-cost solution. There are numerous hidden wedding costs that can creep in, like bathroom rentals, furniture rentals and the price of bringing in catering equipment that could totally blow your budget.

Opt for Casual Bites or Small Snacks

A cocktail-style reception feels chic and will save you some money on a full dinner (especially during afternoon nuptials). Alternatively, select a casual, yet elevated cuisine (like Neapolitan pizzas or high-quality tacos) to feed everyone without fuss.

Consider Cool Venues That Give a Little Extra

In the same vein of choosing an aesthetically pleasing venue to eliminate the need for decor, consider locales for your nuptials that include another element you'll need. A ceremony in a botanical garden or well-kept public park will offer decorative blooms for your ceremony (just bring your bouquets), while a restaurant reception will have tables, linens, place settings, candles, food and drinks on hand.

Invest in a Wedding Planner or Coordinator

"A wedding planner is essential for couples working with a $10K budget, providing expert guidance and strategic planning to allocate funds effectively," says Coyne. "By leveraging industry connections, we negotiate favorable rates and discounts, ensuring every dollar is spent wisely. We streamline the planning process with elegant yet cost-effective options and manage details such as decor, catering and logistics. Our expertise ensures a beautifully orchestrated event within budget, allowing couples to enjoy their special day without unexpected costs."

$10,000 Wedding Budget Breakdowns From Real Couples

We ran the numbers for three The Knot couples whose weddings cost around 10K to give you a better idea of how to plan an affordable wedding. You might find some unusually low prices that reflect the couple getting a special discount from a vendor that's a friend or family member. Also, you'll notice some missing categories, which could account for vendors the couple either skipped or were covered by a parent as a gift. See the budget breakdowns below.

Design: Natalie Romine

This couple, who wed in Colorado, spent a little over 10K. They prioritized a big guest count and the venue and catering were their two high-cost categories. The couple cut back on beauty treatments and cake.

Design: Natalie Romine

In this example wedding budget, this New York-based couple managed to get under 10K. They kept the attendee list small at 50 folks and spent the majority of their funds on a venue and photography. Catering was noticeably missing from their budget breakdown, so this could have been gifted by a family member or friend, or included with the cost of their venue.

Design: Natalie Romine

A DJ was a notable splurge for this Nebraska couple, with venue, photography and catering also creeping into the four-figure price category. Their spend on flowers, decor and event rentals were relatively conservative.