Getting engaged is exciting and thrilling. You have so much to look forward to! But you might cringe at the thought of an expensive wedding. In the U.S., the average wedding costs upwards of $33,000. But you don’t have to shell out that much of your hard-earned cash to have a fabulous wedding. There are many ways to plan a wedding on a budget, and we’re going to help you bring it down to $1,000 with the following tips.
Keep the Guest List Small
It makes sense that the more guests you invite, the bigger your budget might be. More guests make for extra mouths to feed. Plus, the venue may charge per head. Therefore, you might want to reconsider that 150-person guest list if you’re trying to plan a wedding on a budget of $1,000.
However, you don’t have to limit your guest list to your parents, maid of honor, and best man. You can get creative with the venue and food to make costs more affordable even if you do throw a raging party with tons of people.
We’ll discuss budget-friendly venue and food options later in this article. But keep in mind that a smaller wedding is typically cheaper.
Choose an Inexpensive Venue
Many traditional wedding venues are exorbitantly expensive. But there are lots of ways to cut costs in this category.
Church
If you’re getting married in a church to which you belong, you can often hold the ceremony for free. However, that still leaves you with the question of where to hold the reception. However, the ceremony is one cost that you can cross off your list if you have the ceremony in your church.
Still, you may have to figure out how to shuttle people from the ceremony to the reception. Hiring limousines or buses can add to your expenses. You can certainly ask everyone to drive themselves from the ceremony to the reception. Keeping the locations close together can help you with this aspect.
The Backyard
One of the cheapest wedding venues is your backyard. If yours doesn’t work, do you have a friend that would be willing to host the reception? Ask friends and relatives for help in this area. Put out a call on social media. You never know who might be willing to offer their fabulous yard for your dream wedding.
Do you know someone who lives on the water? A dock is a perfect location for the ceremony, and you’ll have a picturesque background for pictures. You can move to the yard for the reception. Someone with a pond on their property might also want to let you use the space for your wedding. You could even put out fishing rods to keep kids busy during the party.
Don’t know anyone with a great backyard? Consider renting an Airbnb for the day. Make sure to ask if they allow you to hold events. You’ll also need to check out the parking situation and ensure that there’s enough space for all of your guests’ cars.
The beauty of getting married at an Airbnb or other vacation rental is that you and your new spouse can send everyone home at the end of the night and spend time together in a place that feels special and new.
Block Party
If you can’t get married in the backyard, what about holding a party in the street? Depending on your neighborhood, you might be able to throw a block party. The road creates a perfect setting to walk down the aisle. You could even hire food trucks to make the event more festive and create an easy way to feed the masses. Find out about permits if you do choose to go this route.
State Parks
What about a state park? The fees for this type of location vary. But many have amphitheaters or outdoor classrooms that are ideal for weddings. Even if you don’t have to pay a fee, you might have to get a permit. Check with the state park, as the rules are different for each one.
If the park offers camping, that’s a great way to offer your guests an affordable place to stay. Everyone can rent a campsite, and you can party together until the wee hours of the morning without having to leave the site. Just make sure that you’re not too loud—most campsites have quiet hours after a certain time at night. Also, alcoholic beverages may not be permitted in a state or national park.
Local Parks
You might also consider holding your wedding at a local park. Many allow you to rent shelters for parties. This option might be free. Even if it’s not, the cost to rent a shelter is typically low.
The Beach
The beach is another perfect location for a wedding. Once again, you’ll have to check with the city to find out the rules about holding ceremonies. You might need a permit. If you’ve kept the guest list extremely small and only have 10 or 20 people coming to the gathering, you might be able to get away with a low-key, free wedding without a permit. However, it’s still a good idea to find out what the local rules are.
One of the downsides of having a beach wedding is that sand gets everywhere. That may not bother you until you start to consider the food. If you’ll be feeding people at the beach, how will you keep everything grit-free? Folding tables work well, but find out if you’re allowed to grill or if you have to bring prepared food.
Your Alma Mater
Check with the university that you or your partner attended to find out if you can get married on one of their sports fields. Many universities want to give back to their students, and this option might be incredibly affordable. Plus, it’s a sweet gesture if you met in college.
The Courthouse
Getting married at your local courthouse is easy and cheap. Civil ceremonies might be free. Sometimes, there is a small fee to get married at the courthouse. If you choose this option, find out how many people can attend the ceremony. You might have to limit the guest list to 5 or 10 people.
However, this makes for an intimate gathering. You can always throw a party at home and invite all of your friends to meet you there.
Museums and Libraries
Libraries and small museums might let you hold events such as weddings at a low cost. It’s worth checking out.
Zoos and Aquariums
Are there any zoos or aquariums in your area? Find out how much they charge for weddings. You can always ask guests to donate to the zoo or aquarium in lieu of gifts.
Get Creative With Your Seating
Renting tables and chairs can quickly fill up your budget. There are lots of unique ways to provide seating for your guests inexpensively or for free.
If you’re having your wedding outside, consider making it a picnic. Scatter rugs, tapestries, sheets, and quilts on the ground to provide guests with a clean and comfy place to sit. They can watch the ceremony from their vantage point and even eat their meal there.
Hay bales also make ideal seating arrangements for a rustic wedding. If you’re getting married in the fall or holding your event in a barn, hay bales won’t seem out of place at all. They cost just a few dollars and can seat up to three people.
Sitting on the ground or close to it isn’t always appropriate. Grandma may have a hard time getting up and down. Some people may prefer to sit in chairs. To cut costs, consider borrowing chairs instead of buying or renting them. You can ask local schools, churches, and rec centers if they can lend you chairs.
You can also ask a handy friend to help you make benches. They’re relatively easy to construct, and you can save some money by seating several people on the same bench.
If you must rent chairs, choose the cheapest option. Folding metal chairs might not cost much more than $1 to rent. You can dress them up by tying fabric around the back, and they won’t look as stark and industrial that way.
For outdoor weddings, use driftwood or logs as benches. You can often find large logs down by a river or in the forest. Place them in rows for a perfect informal seating arrangement. Tree stumps work well too. Contact a local tree removal company to find out if you can get a hold of some tree stumps for free.
If you have a lot of energy, you might be able to bring in some couches and comfy chairs for the event. This is an eclectic way to offer seating for your guests. Ask friends ahead of time if you can borrow a few pieces of their furniture for the event. Of course, you’ll have to have some help arranging pickup from multiple places. You may also need to borrow a truck or trailer to move these items around.
If you have to rent tables, you can get plastic folding ones for about $13.50 each. These seat six people, so you would have to rent about 9 of them for a guest list of 50. This could end up being your biggest expense.
What to Do About the Food?
Food can be the most costly wedding expense. If you’ve whittled your guest list, you won’t have to pay as much for food. But how can you get the cost below $1,000? Even if you calculate only $5 per head, that’s $500 for 100 guests.
Using a caterer can get costly. One of the best ways to afford your wedding food is to make it yourself.
You can purchase food from a wholesale club. You can often buy large trays of sandwiches, salads, and other items cheaply. Frozen foods purchased in bulk can also work well as appetizers. Ideas include:
- Mini quiches
- Shrimp
- Meatballs
- Veggie bites
- Smoked salmon and crackers
- Cake bites
You can also create a unique spread with affordable food items, like bagels or donuts. If you hold your wedding in the early part of the day (more about that below), you can serve a bagel bar. Cut bagels in half, and place them on a table with a variety of cream cheeses, herbed butter, peanut butter, and jelly. Ask your local bagel shops for day-old bagels to use for the event.
Instead of an expensive cake, consider using donuts. Arrange them in a large pyramid shape. You could even purchase plain or simple glazed donuts and offer a variety of sprinkles and icing so that people can decorate their donuts.
If you’re having an outdoor wedding, consider grilling. While hamburgers and chicken can get expensive, hot dogs are relatively cheap. You could offer a s’mores bar for dessert.
One of the best ways to cut costs on wedding food is to have other people bring it for free. You can do this by holding a potluck wedding. Instead of asking for gifts, request that your guests bring a dish of food for the wedding.
To keep this organized and make sure that you don’t end up with several Jell-O molds, create a rough list of the types of foods that you’d like at your wedding. Then, use an app such as SignUpGenius to coordinate the menu.
If you’re making the food yourself, some of the cheapest items to offer include:
- Eggs – Hard-boiled, deviled, scrambled. You could even offer an omelet bar.
- Peanut butter sandwiches – Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make adorable finger sandwiches.
- Bananas – Freeze them and make popsicles, or layer them with pudding and vanilla wafers for a delicious dessert.
- Pasta – You can make just about any type of pasta taste delicious. Plus, a huge bowl of pasta is still incredibly inexpensive. Make a few types of pasta salad, or serve up some spaghetti and meatballs for a comforting wedding feast.
- Ramen noodles – Noodles are all the rage right now. Capitalize on the trend by offering ramen noodles with a variety of fixings, such as meat, seafood, bean sprouts, kimchi, and mushrooms. Don’t forget to add some sauces, such as sweet chili sauce, to spice things up a bit.
- Salad greens – Purchase lettuce and other veggies in bulk, and offer colorful salads with a variety of dressings. You can even make your own dressing with honey and mustard or olive oil and vinegar.
- Potatoes – Whether you serve them up mashed, roasted, or as a cold salad, potatoes are cheap and filling. A baked potato bar would be a fun option for a wedding. Just provide the toppings, such as cheese, bacon bits, salsa, and broccoli.
You have to serve the food on something. You can purchase disposable plates and silverware, but those are often flimsy and can lead to messes. Consider shopping at discount pottery stores or vintage shops for plates and cups. You can purchase enough to cover 100 guests for about $100. If you’re willing to mix and match, you’ll have an adorable collection of plates that you can keep to remind you of the big day.
Inexpensive Wedding Beverages
The cost of wedding beverages can add up quickly, especially if they’re alcoholic. One way to mitigate the cost is to ask guests to bring a bottle of liquor with them. That way, you can set up your own bar using a variety of juices, sodas, and garnishes.
Another option for keeping your beverage budget low is to create a wedding punch. Serve it up in large bowls or pitchers. You can make this in bulk without spending too much money.
Some wedding couples choose to offer a signature drink instead of a variety of beverages for their wedding. This can help you purchase in bulk and potentially cut costs.
For a fall wedding, mix cider with bourbon or caramel vodka for a simple but delicious drink. In the winter, spiked hot chocolate or mulled wine is perfect. In the spring, mix prosecco with orange juice for mimosas. In the summer, serve up vodka tonics with lime for an uplifting treat.
You’ll need to offer some non-alcoholic drinks, too. Lemonade and iced tea are fairly cheap.
Another refreshing option is to serve infused water. Place ice water in pitchers with slices of fruits and vegetables in them. Some options that taste delicious with water include:
- Cucumbers
- Watermelon
- Pineapple
- Basil
- Ginger
- Strawberries
You can often get deals on wine if you purchase a case at the grocery store. Discount supermarkets, such as Aldi, often have bottles of wine for as little as $3. Even though it might not be the best quality, this type of wine is perfect for punch or sangrias. Once you mix it with some other flavors, it’s delicious.
Make Your Own Decorations
Decorating for a wedding doesn’t have to be expensive. There are so many DIY ideas on sites such as Pinterest that you can have a great time coming up with unique wedding décor.
If you need tablecloths, consider shopping at local vintage stores. You can also purchase white sheets and dye them to match your palette. Consider sticking with a neutral color scheme when dealing with fabrics, though. You can always liven things up by using splashes of color in other areas.
One tip for keeping your wedding décor costs down is to stick with natural objects. Pick up shells from the beach to use as centerpieces. Wrap a bundle of twigs with twine or ribbon instead of purchasing expensive flowers. Succulents are inexpensive and make cute centerpieces when they’re arranged in groups. The less you have to buy, the better.
String lights are another way to create a magical ambiance without a lot of effort or money. Purchase them on sale after the holiday season. Then, drape them around the ceiling or throw them over tree branches to create a twinkling effect.
You can add an elegant and trendy touch by making signs to adorn the location where the wedding is being held. Get free wood by scouting for recycled pallets in your town. Sand and paint it to make signs that tell guests more about the food, instruct them on where to sit, or just offer up some inspirational sayings.
Chalkboard signage is also cute and inexpensive. You can cover just about any surface with chalkboard paint. Use a chalkboard to create the seating chart, label the buffet, or have guests leave the wedding couple a cute note.
The Outfits
The bride’s dress might be the most important part of the wedding. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive, though. Just know that you’re probably not going to score a designer dress if you’re trying to keep your total wedding costs below $1,000.
If you want to be traditional, you can look at stores such as David’s Bridal for gowns that cost $99. However, if you’re on a tight budget, you might have to think outside the box.
Look at secondhand stores for wedding dresses. Consignment shops and online dress resalers can be your friends here. Still, designer dresses at secondhand prices can still be too expensive for your budget.
You might want to consider renting a gown. Sites such as Rent the Runway allow you to rent items starting around $85. If you choose this option, you don’t have to worry about how to clean or store your dress after the event. That will save you additional money.
The groom can look in his closet for options that he already has. A nice suit is always a great alternative to a tux. You might already have one. Perhaps you can borrow one from a friend.
If your wedding is informal, you can also get away with wearing khakis or other types of slacks and a button-down shirt.
More Tips for a Budget-Friendly Wedding
We have provided some in-depth advice for holding a wedding under $1,000. Here are some more tips to keep in mind as you make your plans:
- Email the invitations – In this day and age, nobody except for your grandma really cares about formal wedding invitations. Save money and the environment by sending out an email instead of complex invitations with RSVP cards and hand-lettered calligraphy.
- Hold the reception at the same place as the ceremony – You won’t have to shell out fees for two locations, and you won’t have to worry about arranging or paying for transportation.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate – It’s easy to feel as though you’re locked into a certain price when you request it from a caterer or location, especially if it’s in writing. However, you can always negotiate. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts or find out how you can make the fee more affordable.
- Get married during the off-season – Spring and summer weddings tend to be more expensive than fall and winter weddings. The least expensive months to get married are November, January, March, and April.
- Get married at an off-peak time – Fridays and Saturdays are popular days for weddings. They book up quickly, and they tend to be expensive days to book a venue. Consider holding your wedding on a Wednesday or Thursday. You might even want to have a brunch wedding instead of a dinner ceremony.
- Be careful of blank spaces – While it can seem more affordable to rent a space that provides a blank canvas instead of a lavishly appointed venue, doing so can be more expensive in the long run. Renting everything from tables to silverware separately can add up. Make sure that you calculate costs before making your decision.
- Use a credit card to get cashback – If your credit card offers rewards in the form of discounts or cashback, use it for your wedding purchases. You’ll save a little money, which could save you if you happen to go over budget.
The Breakdown
Now that you know the tips for planning a wedding on a budget of less than $1,000, let’s see how the advice breaks down financially.
Here’s an example of how much your wedding could cost if you follow some of these tips:
- Get married in your backyard: $0
- Rent seating for 50 guests: $100
- Rent tables for 50 guests: $121.50
- Buy a $99 dress: $99
- Groom’s outfit: $100
- Hold a potluck: $100 for condiments and extras
- Have guests bring liquor: $100 for non-alcoholic mixers
- Make your own decorations: $100
- Plates, cups, and silverware: up to $150
In this example, we’ve left some leeway for surprise expenses or extras. You might need to buy shoes (but you can borrow them or go barefoot to save money). Perhaps you have to pay for alterations to a suit or gown. You may need to purchase some tents if the weather is inclement.
When you’ve planned a wedding with a bare-bones budget, you can afford to pay for these additional unexpected costs as they come along. Plus, you’ll have lots of extra money left over for the honeymoon.