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how to have a cheap wedding

A cheap wedding is all about smart priorities, flexibility, and being intentional with every expense.

How to Have a Cheap Wedding

Quick Scoop

  • Keep the guest list small and meaningful.
  • Choose an off‑peak date, time, and simple venue (think weekday, brunch, garden, or village hall).
  • Save big by renting, reusing, DIY‑ing, and cutting “extras” people won’t miss.

1. Set Your Priorities (So You Can Cut the Rest)

Decide what actually matters to you as a couple (for example: great photos, good food, or a relaxed vibe).

  • Make a “Top 3” list (e.g., ceremony, photography, music) and give these most of the budget.
  • Everything not on that list becomes negotiable: cheaper alternatives, DIY, or cutting it completely.
  • Remember: the more you try to “have it all,” the more the costs creep up.

2. Guest List: Your Biggest Hidden Cost

Guest count silently drives almost everything: venue size, catering, rentals, stationery, and favors.

  • Keep it small and intentional: close family and real friends only.
  • Consider a micro‑wedding or “ceremony + tiny reception” now, bigger party later.
  • Expect smaller bills for food, drinks, chairs, tables, and space when you shrink the guest list.

Think of it this way: trimming 30 guests may save more than skipping the cake or the DJ.

3. Date, Time, and Venue Tricks

Pick a Budget‑Friendly Date & Time

  • Choose off‑peak months or mid‑week days when prices are lower.
  • Morning or brunch weddings can be cheaper than Saturday evening receptions (lighter food, less alcohol, shorter party).
  • Ask venues directly if they offer discounts for weekdays, off‑season dates, or shorter bookings.

Choose Simple, Affordable Venues

  • Consider community halls, pubs with back rooms, village halls, gardens, or a family backyard.
  • Some couples do the ceremony at a registry office or church, then a relaxed reception at home or a local pub.
  • Ask: “What’s included?” If they provide chairs, tables, or sound equipment, you save on rentals.

4. Food, Drinks, and Cake on a Budget

Food Ideas

  • Shorter receptions save money: think 2–3 hours with canapés or a simple buffet instead of a full plated dinner.
  • Brunch or afternoon tea is often cheaper than a full evening meal.
  • Consider: buffet, grazing tables, or family‑style service instead of formal courses.

Drink Strategies

  • Offer a limited bar (wine, beer, soft drinks) instead of full open bar.
  • Provide a set number of drink tickets per guest or have a cash bar after a certain time.

Cake Savings

  • Do a “display” cake plus cheap sheet cake in the kitchen for serving.
  • Or swap a big tiered cake for cupcakes, a dessert table, or a simple one‑tier cake.

5. Outfit, Hair, and Makeup for Less

  • Look for sample sales at bridal boutiques to get designer dresses for much less.
  • Consider pre‑loved or “recycled” wedding dresses and suits (resale apps, consignment stores).
  • Renting attire for you or the wedding party can be cheaper than buying everything new.
  • Keep the wedding party small so you’re not paying for many dresses, hair, makeup, and gifts.

You can also skip professional hair/makeup and ask a talented friend or do a trial‑and‑error practice at home.

6. Decor and Flowers Without the Big Bill

Venues That Don’t Need Much Decor

  • Choose spaces that already look nice: gardens, pretty halls, characterful pubs, or family homes.
  • The more naturally attractive the place, the less you spend on decor.

Cheap Decor Strategies

  • Rent decor and furniture instead of buying things you’ll never use again.
  • Lean into minimalism: fewer centerpieces, simple single‑stem flowers, clean tables.
  • Use candles, fairy lights, greenery, and reusable items (bottles, jars, frames).

Flowers on a Budget

  • Use fresh flowers sparingly and mix with greenery, dried flowers, or faux flowers.
  • Consider renting silk bouquets and centerpieces at a fraction of fresh‑flower prices.

7. Stationery, Invites, and Admin

  • DIY your invitations using templates and print at home or via an inexpensive online printer.
  • Keep things digital where possible (save‑the‑dates, RSVPs, extra info via email or a simple website).
  • Choose simple flat printing instead of costly methods like letterpress.

8. Photos, Music, and Entertainment

  • Ask a skilled friend or semi‑pro photographer with a good portfolio, or book a pro for a shorter number of hours (just ceremony + couple photos).
  • Skip a live band and use a curated playlist with a good sound system.
  • Ask musically talented friends to play for the ceremony or first dance as their gift.

A carefully crafted playlist and some fairy lights can create a great atmosphere without expensive extras.

9. Things You Can Totally Skip

Many couples cut these and no one really misses them:

  • Wedding favors (especially little trinkets that get left behind).
  • Over‑the‑top centerpieces and elaborate floral arches.
  • Printed programs or menus for every guest (one per table or none at all).
  • Extra outfit changes, expensive transportation, or arrival “grand gestures.”

10. Sample Budget‑Saver Table

Here’s a quick overview of high‑impact savings moves and what to do instead.

[7][5] [7][1][3] [9] [1][5] [5][3] [1][3] [3] [5][3]
Expense Area Costly Option Cheaper Alternative Why It Saves Money
Guest list Inviting everyone you know Small, intimate guest list Reduces food, drink, seating, and venue size costs.
Date & time Saturday evening in peak season Weekday or off‑peak brunch wedding Venues and vendors often charge less off‑peak and for daytime events.
Venue Luxury hotel or estate Backyard, pub room, village hall Lower hire fees, more flexible food and drink options.
Food & drink Formal multi‑course dinner with open bar Buffet or canapés, limited bar Less staff, simpler food, fewer drinks covered by you.
Attire Custom designer outfits for everyone Sample sale, pre‑loved, or rental outfits Big discounts on dresses and suits you’ll wear once.
Decor & flowers Heavy florals and bought decor Minimal decor, rented items, faux or mixed flowers Lower flower costs and no need to store or resell decor.
Stationery Formal printed sets for everything DIY or digital invites, simple flat printing Cheaper printing and fewer items to order.
Extras Favors, elaborate cake, extra entertainment No favors, simple cake, playlist instead of band Cuts low‑impact costs guests won’t really notice.

11. Mini Story Example

Imagine a couple who:

  • Book a Thursday brunch wedding at a pretty local hall.
  • Invite 35 guests instead of 120.
  • Buy a sample‑sale dress and rent the groom’s suit.
  • DIY simple greenery centerpieces and print their own invitations.
  • Use a playlist and ask a photographer for just four hours of coverage.

They still get heartfelt vows, good food, and a joyful dance floor—but their costs drop dramatically because every choice supports a lean, intentional plan.

12. Quick TL;DR

  • Focus on what matters most to you as a couple, and cut the rest.
  • Shrink the guest list, pick an off‑peak date/time, and choose a simple venue.
  • Use renting, DIY, minimal decor, and stripped‑back extras to keep your wedding beautiful, personal, and genuinely affordable.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.