Your big day is coming up and you want it to be the most memorable day of your life. But the fairytale wedding you’ve been dreaming of comes at some seizure-inducing prices. Sure it’s sensible and practical to save for your future, but the heart cries for a fairytale wedding. Fortunately, there are some sure-fire wedding ideas you could implement that will not bludgeon your budget.

So, stop with the pacing and tearing your hair off over the exorbitant budget, (you wouldn’t want to bald before your wedding now?), and get on with these superb hacks for a fantastic wedding under a budget. 

1. Guests: Why So Many?

While making up your guest list, you feel obliged to invite the friend of a friend you just met since they offered you some great wedding advice that one time and must be expecting an invite from you. This way, before you know it, your guest list reaches a few hundred. 

So, when you feel the niggling guilt, stop right there. It isn’t wrong to want an intimate wedding. You probably won’t even meet these people ever again. So, if you feel like it, just invite your closest friends and relatives; your day would surely end being more meaningful surrounded by only your loved ones rather than mere acquaintances.  

2. Be Smart With Your Venue Choice

A nice wedding venue is enough to leave a gaping hole in your bank account. The best way to avoid that is to host the wedding at your home, in your backyard or you could even borrow the venue from a relative or friend, who has a beautiful backyard or a family farm. 

If you don’t want to go for the home option, try booking your wedding during off-season time. Prices are higher during peak seasons because there is a lot of demand (it is simple economics). Since many venues have an hourly rate, you could even host the reception for less duration of time and save money. You could even think about holding your ceremony in a public park or venue.

3. Don’t be Persnickety About Details

From invitations to flowers to decoration, there is a lot of wedding paraphernalia, which seems necessary to give it a fairy-tale vibe. You don’t have to do away with them altogether, just be nifty with the details. For example, you could DIY plenty of wedding decorations. However, be wise about what you can DIY and what should be done by a professional. Doing everything by yourself is going to strain you before your big day. 

For centerpieces, keep them scant and let a florist make those for you since they’re a glaring décor piece. As for the minor décor, you can handle that yourself. Go for carnations since they are cheap and combine them with other blooms to come up with a stunning flowering arrangement. 

DIY your invitations if you have got the creative streak or ask a friend to design them for you. Also, instead of separate paper for an itinerary, map and invite, get them printed in tri-fold. Furthermore, save paper by enabling the guest’s RSVP on an app, just like you could save aplenty on your internet services with charter spectrum.

4. Cut the Pomp from Food and Booze

Another major wallet hit is food and booze. For the meal, go for family-style dinner rather than five to three-course plated dinner. Avoid all those bread baskets and hors d’oeuvres, instead let your guests eat a proper meal. 

If you and your loved ones have the skills, opt for preparing food in-house, which will be a huge cost-saver. Pasta dishes and vegetable sides can please the entire crowd and your wallet at the same time, but try making the meal all-inclusive with meat and vegetables both. You don’t have to spend money to make the food and drinks look fancy, you can DIY and dazzle at the same time. 

As for alcohol, include a pour-in service in lieu of giving the guests a free reign to indulge from the bottles placed on each of their tables. A lot of liquor goes to waste since a guest usually consumes half a bottle. Now multiply that with the number of guests you have, which is going to be huge. 

Since most venues charge you exorbitant prices for the liquor, try to opt for a venue that lets you bring your own alcohol, which you can buy in bulk from local breweries at an economical price.  

Wrapping Up

It’s so easy to spend so much on your wedding festivities. After all, these days are something you’ll remember and look back on fondly. However, you don’t have to go with a plain wedding with no frills and fancies to save money, just be a bit smart about some decisions.  For instance, consider prioritizing elements that hold the most value for you as a couple, whether it’s the venue, food, or photography, and look for ways to cut costs on less significant details. By being intentional in your choices, you can create a meaningful celebration that feels luxurious without overspending. Remember, balancing your postwedding plans and your budget is just as important to ensure a smooth start to your new life together.