How To Plan A Low Budget Wedding

By: Sarah Arnold

Break Studios Contributing Writer

One of the first things many couples research after getting engaged is how to plan a low-budget wedding. Celebrities spend millions of dollars on weddings, but you can get married without breaking the bank. The key to holding costs down is to do the work yourself instead of hiring professionals.

  1. Hold the ceremony in your home or backyard. If you reserve space at an expensive venue, your low-budget wedding will immediately become a high-budget affair. Save some cash by getting married where you live. If you don't have enough room at your residence, see if a friend or relative has a nice yard or a house that can accommodate your party.
  2. Rent the clothing. People often turn to tuxedo rentals when planning low-budget weddings, but it's also possible to rent wedding dresses. Don't splurge on a new gown, and you can trim hundreds or even thousands of dollars off your wedding budget. Another option is to buy a used wedding dress online. Don't feel bad about searching out cheap clothing options; you're only going to wear your wedding clothes once, so they shouldn't be a pricey investment.
  3. Do the cooking and baking yourself. Plan to leave the caterer out of your low-budget wedding. Besides saving money, you'll have a great opportunity to personalize the meal with homemade cake decorations or favorite family recipes.
  4. Use paper plates. Getting enough plates and utensils can be a daunting part of planning a low-budget wedding, but you can save money by using paper. Some stores specialize in elegant paper dinnerware for parties; shop around and get something that looks good and fits in your budget.
  5. Ask friends to provide the entertainment. If any of your friends are musically talented, involve them in your plans.
  6. Hand out disposable cameras and have your guests serve as photographers. No low-budget wedding is complete without pictures. Your guests will be thrilled to capture the event's special moments. Best of all, you won't need to pay them!
Posted on: Sep. 05, 2010