As An Editor, These Are the Only Cheap Wedding Ideas I'd Trust to Stretch a Tight Budget
I get it, you want to know how to plan an affordable wedding. But, are "cheap" wedding ideas a wise way to make the most of a tight wedding budget? The truth is that there's a lot of advice floating around the dark corners of the internet when it comes to saving money on a wedding. That's why I did the hard work for you—I spoke with expert wedding planners to better understand which wedding ideas on a budget are worth pursuing and which inexpensive wedding suggestions are better to skip. So, no matter how much you have to spend on your wedding budget, these affordable wedding ideas are worth bookmarking. And, learn more about the factors that influence wedding costs using our free budget tool.
1. Hire a Wedding Planner
"How is hiring another wedding vendor going to save me money?" Listen, I get it, it sounds counterintuitive. But the reality is that a trusted wedding planner can advise you on how to allocate your budget while ensuring you don't make wedding mistakes that end up costing you in the long run.
"Not hiring a wedding planner is a cheap idea that needs to be debunked," explains wedding expert Lauren Doll, the owner of Dream Co Planning in California. And for those who are concerned they might have a hard time finding a wedding planner that fits their budget, Doll explains that many "wedding planners can provide you with custom packages so you can find planning and coordination services that fit within your budget, then use their network to save you thousands." Additionally, on The Knot Vendor Marketplace, you're able to filter searches based on how much you have to spend so that you only see results for trusted pros that work with your financial situation.
2. Prioritize
"Prioritize what's important to you," suggests Doll. No matter how large or small your wedding budget, every couple needs to prioritize their wants and needs to allocate their spending most effectively and economically. "Whether you have $1,000, $10,000, $100,000 or $1,000,000, it is all a lot of money. Sit down together, and figure out what is most important to you as a couple, then prioritize your budget accordingly," advises Colorado-based wedding expert Megan Grose, founder of Brindle + Oak.
Grose acknowledges that it can often be hard to mute the noise and establish your wedding priorities, but the pro emphasizes that doing so is paramount. "With access to so many digital platforms of seeing beautiful designs and weddings, it is so hard not to compare," she says. "Your day is going to be epic because the two of you are getting married and committing your lives together, don't lose focus on what is most important and the whole reason why you are throwing this expensive party."
3. Be Strategic With DIY Projects
Guess what? DIY weddings aren't always less expensive. Grose explains that, all too often, she sees folks who want to undertake DIY wedding ideas on a budget "bite off more than they can chew, panic the week of the wedding with their project, then spend way more money trying to get the job done than if they hired a professional in the first place." Her rule of thumb is that if it can't be done at least two weeks before your wedding then it shouldn't be DIYed.
4. Include a Buffer in Your Wedding Budget
Hope for the best but anticipate the worst—this saying may be trite, but it still holds true, especially with wedding ideas on a budget. As much as you plan and estimate wedding costs, there are some things you simply can't anticipate. The key is to have a solid plan for that happens. Grose's advice is to include a buffer in your wedding budget. The pro suggests a 10% buffer "as things pop up last minute that were unaccounted for like hair and makeup team's valet parking fee to get to you at your hotel, tips, Ubers, etc."
5. Book an Affordable Wedding Venue
Don't read what I'm not saying—An affordable wedding venue isn't necessarily the least-expensive venue. Rather, the best cheap wedding venue is one that gives you the most for your money based on your specific wedding vision and needs. Doll cautions that a blank-slate venue isn't necessarily the most affordable option in the long run. "Many times these types of venues require you to bring in additional vendors like security, valet, portable bathrooms and kitchens which can cost tens of thousands of dollars," she explains. While researching wedding venues, Doll encourages couples to ask, "if the venue can provide you with example vendors other people booked previously to make the space work for their events. This can help you understand just how much it will cost to bring the space to life."
6. Spend More Time Researching Vendors
The first wedding vendor that you come across that fits into your budget isn't necessarily going to be the best fit for your unique vision and needs. That's why it's worth investing time both in researching wedding vendors and asking vendors questions while you're vetting them. "Prioritizing a budget takes open communication with your partner and some research," says Doll. "If you take the time to get on the same page, and then research vendors that fit within your budget, you can stretch a dollar quite a long way.
Pro Tip: Researching wedding vendors has never been easier thanks to The Knot Vendor Marketplace. In addition to searching by budget, you're able to add many other filters and also read real reviews from couples to help inform your planning.
7. Rent Decor
Did you know that you don't have to buy all of the items you're going to need for your wedding? There are many decor items, from lounge furniture to rental wedding flowers that you can loan at a fraction of the price you'd pay to own the items.
8. Rent Attire
In addition to decor, you're also able to borrow many attire items for the wedding. Dress rentals, jewelry rentals and tux rentals have all grown in popularity in recent years and there are options available for all styles.
9. Reuse Decor
Beyond prioritizing inexpensive wedding decorations, a smart way to stretch your decor budget is to consider how to maximize impact through reuse. Are there ceremony decor items that can be repurposed during the reception? This is a great way to get more bang for your buck.
10. Go Small
The larger your guest list, the more expensive your wedding will be, generally speaking. While a photographer will cost the same amount whether you have 50 guests or 500, there are other costs, like catering, that are dependent on how many folks attend. And by shrinking your guest list with a small wedding you can also lower some of those variable expenses.
Host a Dry Wedding
Wondering what cheap wedding food or drink ideas are out there? Alcohol, especially an open bar, will set you back a pretty penny. According to The Knot Real Weddings Study, couples typically allocate 8% of their wedding budget toward alcohol. Imagine all the things you could do with that 8% back in your budget to spend elsewhere if you planned a dry wedding.
11. Have a Shorter Reception
While most wedding receptions include dinner and dancing, there's nothing set in stone saying you have to follow that pattern. Especially if you're looking for wedding food ideas on a budget, opting for an abbreviated cocktail reception instead of a full-length dinner reception will save you money.
12. Host a Morning Wedding
Brunch wedding? File this one under "creative, cheap wedding party ideas." Hosting a wedding during an off-peak time is a great way to save money. So for engaged folks who also happen to be early risers, consider tying the knot in the morning for potential savings.
13. Forgo a Wedding Party
While there are some expenses that bridesmaids and groomsmen are traditionally expected to pay for themselves, there are also a lot of costs that are typically covered by the couple.
14. Opt for a Casual Dress Code
This is not always the case, but generally, casual wedding attire tends to be less expensive than formal wedding attire. Part of that has to do with the outfits themselves, but another component is that for a black-tie wedding you're expected to go all out and dress to the nines, from fancy earrings and handbags to glam shoes. Meanwhile, at a casual wedding it's more acceptable to opt for an understated outfit.
15. Embrace Freebies
Did someone say free? Sign us up! From a wedding website on The Knot to a free wedding alcohol calculator, there are plenty of wedding freebies that couples planning a wedding on a budget can avail themselves of. And the great news is that we have a comprehensive guide to all the wedding freebies you should be aware of.
16. Lean Into Minimalism
Less decor, less money—It's a pretty simple equation. From single-stem bouquets to minimal tablescapes, opting for a less-is-more approach is a creative way to plan a wedding economically.
17. Rely on Referrals and Reviews
When you're researching economical wedding pros, it can be hard to know if someone's offerings are too good to be true. Lean into reading real reviews and asking for referrals when you're vetting an affordable wedding vendor.
18. Opt for a Courthouse and Sequel Wedding Combo
Guess what? You can have the inexpensive courthouse elopement without sacrificing the joy of a big celebration with friends. Consider planning an intimate courthouse wedding followed by a sequel wedding reception with friends. The great part about this out-of-the-box concept is that there are truly no rules. You can make the sequel event as casual and economical as you want.