Planning a Wedding on a Budget
Should your wedding cost a fortune? Is it worth delaying a down payment on your first home, or racking up more debt to throw a one-of-a-kind event?
You don’t have to make these kinds of tradeoffs to have an unforgettable wedding, but sadly, many couples do.
According to wedding planning company Zola, couples will spend an average of $36,000 on their weddings in 2025, and that figure doesn’t even include the honeymoon bill. Meanwhile, around 60% of U.S. adults have less than $1,000 saved for emergencies.
How can you bring down the bill for your wedding? Through a combination of creative tips and tricks that anyone can use. Ultimately, it helps to remember that your wedding can set the tone for your financial life together, so it’s worth considering how the price tag will affect you down the line.
Start by reviewing your finances
Did you know that 31% of newlyweds regret how much they spent on their wedding? One of the main reasons for the regret is that they started their married lives off with stress about debt.
You can avoid this mistake by doing some up-front planning with your fiancé. At minimum, have an open discussion about your personal spending, savings and credit status, and your financial goals.
Having this talk can help you set a realistic budget for your wedding — one that aligns with your shared financial goals for the future. You may even want to schedule an appointment with an NFCC-certified credit counselor to help you build a budget together, or to tackle any financial problems you’re facing.
Marry off-season
In the U.S., wedding season runs from April to October, with three-day weekends in September and October being particularly popular. In terms of day and time, Saturday evenings are the most common choice.
To bring down your costs, consider planning something closer to the holidays, and possibly on a weeknight. A survey from the Knot found that these are the cheapest months to have a wedding:
- January
- December
- November
During the cold-weather season, wedding venues are often empty and priced to move. For weekday weddings, you may have the added bonus of guests drinking less alcohol, since they likely have work the next day.
For weekends, buffet-style brunch weddings can also be a good choice since there are more reasonably-priced menu choices.
Consider alternative venues
What are the biggest costs involved with weddings? Usually the venue is the most expensive, since it adds as much as $12,000 to the total price tag for many weddings. After that it’s the catering, which can cost another $10,000.
To bring down these costs, research alternative wedding venues, such as:
- Family property
- Farm/barn
- Public garden
- Art gallery
- Warehouse
Insurance is also a big issue – liability related to alcohol and food may not be included in the property coverage and you might have to purchase a special policy for the event. Before booking a venue, make sure you check into this and any other location-specific costs.
Watch the extras
Many couples go over-budget during the planning process. From flowers to photography and wedding cake, the costs can quickly get out of hand. But for each line-item, there are affordable alternatives.
If a venue will let you supply your own flowers and decorations, plan far enough in advance to comparison shop for them. Then, do your own pick-up and set-up the decorations with the help of friends or family.
Instead of hiring a professional photographer, look for a skilled amateur who meets your taste and budget. For your gift registry, skip the fancy appliances and furnishings and consider allowing guests to fund your honeymoon or specific expenses associated with the wedding.
Be your own wedding planner
If you’re highly organized and thrifty, you can save several thousands of dollars by planning your own wedding. To help you with the process, look for an online platform that provides free planning resources, like guides or checklists you can print.
Just don’t take this decision lightly, since the workload could make it hard for you to enjoy your big day. This is a major task that involves negotiating and setting up the venues, the food and entertainment for your wedding, which can be overwhelming for some couples.
Plan a destination wedding
A destination wedding can be significantly cheaper than an in-town wedding. Why? Because you’ll probably have a much smaller list of people who can attend, which translates to fewer meals and wedding favors to pay for.
Many resorts in travel destinations, like Las Vegas or Hawaii, offer wedding packages that blend a ceremony and a vacation getaway. If you get married abroad, you may even have the added benefit of lower costs for things like entertainment and a photographer.
You can make your wedding more affordable!
As life gets more and more expensive, there are endless reasons to consider cutting back on your wedding budget. Perhaps most importantly, it can help you and your future spouse avoid money-related stress and ensure you reach your financial goals sooner.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to bring down your wedding costs. You can search for bargains, book non-traditional venues and use free online services to help you stay organized.
