25 Ways to Achieve the Wedding of Your Dreams At a Price You Can Live With

You want to throw a beautiful wedding ceremony with a blow-out reception bash, but your wedding dreams and your budget don’t exactly match.

Not a problem! Contrary to what social media posts may have you believe, you don’t need to shell out loads of cash to host a memorable wedding.?

In fact, there are lots of ways to cut costs while still getting most of what you want. It’s simply a matter of creative thinking and a willingness to be flexible.

1. Prioritize. When it comes to keeping your spending in check, you have to know where you want your money to go. Have a discussion with your partner, your parents, or whoever is footing the bill and decide what elements are most important.
2. Let go of Saturday. There’s no rule that says Saturday is the only day for a wedding, but we can admit it’s the go-to choice for most couples, which explains why it’s the most expensive. For your nuptials, think of a romantic Friday-night affair, or host a Sunday afternoon garden wedding. Either option will be loads cheaper than Saturday.?
3. Invite only your nearest and dearest. Fewer folks to feed and house means savings—big ones! Be sure to include parents, grandparents as well as siblings and their spouses along with a few of your best friends for an intimate and fun affair. Bonus: Fewer guests means more time to mix and mingle without getting lost in the crowd.
4. Limit guests’ plus one. Other than guests who are married, engaged, or in a long-term relationship, don’t allow them to invite a date.
5. Choose all-in-one wedding invitations. Look for companies that have an option to include details for your wedding ceremony and reception as well as the RSVP card in one sheet.
6. Opt for e-vites for wedding showers as well as bachelor and bachelorette parties. Nowadays, digital invitations are commonplace, and the options are endless. Take advantage and choose your signature style!
7. Host an adults-only wedding. Specify there are no children invited.
8. Consider one venue for your event. Look for places where you can host both your ceremony and reception. This saves transportation costs and limits the amount of time your outside vendors are on the job.
9. Keep an eye out for “all-inclusive” wedding packages. This is a great way to save money on your wedding day, so be sure to ask about these options when scouting out your venue.
10. Shop sample sales. If you’re willing to cut corners on your wedding dress, finding a gown on sale or off the rack is a wonderful option. Grab your girlfriends and hit the store for a good ole’ search party!
11. Rock a rental. When it comes to wedding garb, renting isn’t just for the groom and the guys — women can get in on the game, too. Search for wedding dress rentals in your area to check out the local selection. You can rent out jewelry for the big day, as well.
12. Borrow your mother’s wedding dress. This is a sweet tradition that will definitely boost your wedding day on the sentimentality scale. Don’t love your mom’s gown? Look to a cousin or even a friend who’s willing to share.
13. Forgo the veil. Nowadays, many brides walk down the aisle sans veil and instead adorn their hair with a beautiful clip or flowers—or they simply let their hair flow free. Whatever you decide, going veil-free can be chic or casual, depending on your style. It’s a very of-the-moment look if you’re up for it.
14. Go with a DJ. A band is a wonderful and lively feature for a wedding, but you’ll definitely pay the price. If you’re simply looking for great music, a DJ is a less expensive, fun option that tons of couples go with. Plus, with a DJ, you have a lot more freedom to pick your playlist than with a live band.
15. Streamline your cake. A classic cake with a few strategically placed flowers, simple lines, and classic flavor is always a winner. Pro tip: Stick to one flavor for your cake rather than having different tastes for each layer. You can even opt for a small cake for the traditional cutting then pass out fun cupcakes or even sheet cake to guests.
16. Ask for buttercream frosting. Although fondant is typically used to create a more fanciful cake, if affordable is what you’re looking for, then buttercream will do the trick. What’s more, most folks find buttercream tastes better than fondant, so it’s a win-win!
17. Use fewer flowers. You don't have to adorn your entire venue with blooms to make it beautiful. Instead, go with a small and elegant bouquet for the bride and have your bridesmaids carry only one or two blooms tied with a ribbon. Also, consider reusing any arrangements made for the ceremony for the reception, perhaps for the head table or cake table.
18. Ask your florist to use seasonal flowers and greenery. Both of these options save money but can still be a beautiful accent for your wedding.
19. Nix the boutonnières. This is an easy place to save money, and, in all honesty, no one is likely to notice the guys aren’t wearing them.
20. Go fake. Artificial flowers have come a long way, and you may be surprised to discover that you can’t tell the difference from the real thing unless you take a close look. Consider using fake for your wedding decor and centerpieces and going fresh for the bridal bouquet.
21. Use candles as centerpieces. Following on the fewer-flowers theme, opt for sweet and simple candles at the center of your guest tables. The light creates an entirely different feel for your reception, keeping things warm and romantic. Choose a set of three of varying heights to create an interesting effect.
22. Book the second string. Professional vendors like musicians, photographers, and videographers, as well as hair and makeup stylists, don’t come for cheap, but some vendors may have associates or interns working under them who can do a nice job. You can also scour your local university or trade schools for up-and-coming talent.?That said, it’s still a good idea to see if your prospective choices can provide references and examples of the work they’ve done so far.
23. Ask your caterer to serve in-season foods. The easier it is for your caterer to source the food, the more affordable it will be to serve it to your guests.?
24. Skip the cocktails. Every good party needs a few good refreshments and, in most situations, beer and wine will do the trick. Talk to your vendor or venue about budget-friendly beverage packages.
25. Offer fun food options instead of party favors. As your event winds down, it’s nice to send your guests off with something to remember your wedding by, but chances are those trinkets may end up in the bin. Instead, offer small bags of peppermints, other sweet treats or even popcorn for folks to munch as they make their way to the exits.

?When you’re thinking of ways to balance your budget while ensuring your wedding lives up to your expectations, there are endless options. So don’t feel overwhelmed, but be deliberate in your choices. Decide where you can save and where you want to splurge, and go for it! The end result is sure to be all you’re hoping for.

?Roger Igo?is the founder and CEO of special events venue,?The Bell Tower on 34th, along with Houston catering service?Excellent Events, and research resource,?Venues in Houston. He is the author of “Keep On Going, The History of The Bell Tower on 34th,” a former radio host, a graduate of CEO Space International, and an alumnus of The Disney Institute.