Good morning, friends! Are you in the midst of planning your wedding and freaking out about the budget, and wondering what you can cut? We hear you! Your big day doesn’t need to cost thousands of dollars. We at GWS wholeheartedly believe that the most important part about the day is the two of you and the love you share: that’s it.
We’ve had a number of couples ask something along the lines of, “How would you suggest saving money? What things are necessary? What can I do without?” And we figured it was about time we share a few of our fave tips! The team at Wedfuly is here to highlight these things. :) Their mission: to help people plan their absolute dream wedding while being reasonable about the financial side of things. We bring professional wedding planners online to help make that dream a reality by making the planners accessible and affordable.
Let’s take a look at the snaps Kate Salley Photography took + take in the tips!
The Location
When it comes to the location, think of places that are significant to you + your love: perhaps the location of your first date, a coffee shop you frequented, your favorite park, a place you two road tripped together, etc. If you consider national parks, some you may be able to use the location as a free space for an elopement, or they require a small fee for a permit.
The Outfits
When it comes to wedding day attire, there truly are NO RULES! (Truth be told, there are no rules for any of the wedding—you can make anything + everything your own!) If you want to wear overalls, go for it. Found a dress in a bright + bold color? Do it! Or, if the dress is where you want to splurge, try to save on food. Find the things that are important to you and make trade-offs.
For those that want to wear a glam gown, but looking to get it at a discounted price, you might want to try some of the secondhand sites!
Another option is to find something that isn’t necessarily deemed ‘bridal’—Nordstrom, Free People, Reformation, ASOS, and Show Me Your Mumu have some great options that can be dressed up or down.
Take a peek at this bride’s bold yellow gown for some inspiration for a colorful gown.
Keep the Décor Minimal
This kind of goes with the location, but if you find a gorgeous setting (cool coffee shop, epic park, clifftop), you can let the surroundings speak for themselves. Go minimal with the décor!
Or, if you want to add a fun backdrop to frame the space, you can do a DIY project with your love!
DIY
If you’re savvy with hair + makeup, opt for doing your own on the big day. There are also quite a few YouTube videos on how to create your own wedding bouquet. Another tip: If there is a flower mart near you, you can pick up your flowers wholesale.
Pack a Picnic
Pick up some of your faves and pack a picnic…or if you’re throwing an intimate wedding and want to do something different revolving around food—invite your guests to bring their favorite dish and have a pot luck-style dinner! That way everyone can sample new dishes and get inspired. Sounds like a foodie dream to us!
Wedfuly shares: The biggest piece of advice we would give brides would be to stray away from the norms. You don’t need to wear a white dress to look amazing on your big day—heck overalls may be way more fitting to your personality!
Keep the Guest List Intimate
One of the biggest ways to save money is to keep the guest list small. Perhaps make it an elopement, or an intimate wedding—strictly family and closest friends. We realize this doesn’t work for everyone or every situation, but figure out what things are most important to you, or who is most important to you, and go from there.
GWS Takeaway Tips
- Find a location that is meaningful + possibly outdoors
- Wear a secondhand dress or something not necessary “bridal”
- Keep the guest list small + intimate
- DIY whatever you can: florals, backdrop, hair + makeup
- Keep the décor minimal
- Pack a picnic or make it a pot luck-style dinner
- Most of all: figure out what things are most important to you—splurge there, and find alternatives elsewhere
What tips would you suggest? We’d love to hear in the comments below!
photography: Kate Salley Photography // venue name: Keystone Ranch, Keystone, Colorado, USA // event design: Wedfuly // planning: Wedfuly // florals: Flora by Nora // bride's ring: The Diamond Reserve // hair stylist: Fluff Bar // makeup artist: Fluff Bar // groom's ring: The Diamond Reserve // models: Agata and Bryn
I officiate destination weddings all the time. They are about the easiest, most carefree, budget-friendly weddings ever. Some people don’t want the hoopla of a traditional wedding, but prefer a more intimate sort of elopement. And you’re correct–there are no rules (except the legal paperwork and a few minor details that the officiant has to do).
The cost for a destination wedding is a great thing for us to think of. Really it is a helpful post.
Proceeding with minimal decoration based on the location and inviting only a few important guests will be the best way to save your valuable money during wedding.
Dang! Great photos @katesalleyphotography
I might be a little partial thought. #husbandlove
What a thoughtful post. I think so many couples are searching for ways to have a wedding on a budget, but still make it feel authentic and meaningful.