How to plan a wedding on a budget: 10 ways to save

You don't have to spend a lot of money on your wedding for it to be great. It's possible to plan the wedding of your dreams without going broke or ending up in debt. You just have to be smart with your decisions and know where to cut back.

Planning for a wedding on a budget isn't just about curbing your spending (although that's certainly important). It's also about making clear priorities and finding ways to stretch your money. You can create a memorable celebration that won't strain your finances.

How to have a wedding on a budget

To create a beautiful and affordable wedding that everyone will enjoy, you need a plan. By researching your options and using a little creativity, you can identify ways to save money at each step of the wedding planning process.

Agree on a vision for the wedding

To help you budget more effectively, discuss with your partner what aspects of the wedding are important to you both. For example, do you want a themed wedding or do you prefer a more traditional ceremony? Knowing the details will help you prioritize your spending.

Put together a detailed budget plan

How much do you want to spend on your wedding? After you've determined an amount, create a detailed budget plan and allocate funds to your budget categories (e.g., venue, food, wedding dress/tuxedo, favors, decorations, entertainment, etc.). Be sure to leave room for unexpected expenses.

It’s also important to regularly review your budget and make adjustments as necessary. For example, you may get a great deal on a photographer and have some extra money you can allocate to other categories.

Trim your guest list

The more people you invite to your wedding, the more expensive it will be. If you trim the guest list to include only close friends and family members, you could save money by booking a smaller venue and catering food and drinks for a smaller crowd.

Comparison shop for major expenses

Be sure to compare prices before buying anything for your wedding. If you settle for the first option you find, you may not get the best deal. It’s also a good idea to read online reviews for wedding planners, photographers, caterers and so on to find out if others have been pleased with their service.

Get creative and DIY as much as possible

Instead of hiring professionals for every part of your wedding, look for things you can do yourself to save money. Decorations are often an easy place to find savings. You can find many DIY wedding decoration ideas online that are affordable, simple to make and look great.

Negotiate prices

The prices that wedding venues and service providers quote aren’t always written in stone, and sometimes you can get better deals just by asking. They may also be willing to price match. For example, if you have your heart set on a certain venue, but another is quoting a lower price, you could ask the higher-priced venue if they would consider matching the price.

10 ways to save on wedding costs

The key to lowering the overall cost of your wedding is to look for ways to save on each expense. The savings can really add up.

Here are some easy budget wedding ideas to help lower the cost:

1. Cut back on your wedding flowers

   The cost of flowers themselves is minimal. It’s the labor it takes to arrange them that’s so expensive. To save money, consider non-floral arrangements for centerpieces. Think candles, driftwood, lanterns or art. You could even make them yourself and put the money you save toward other items in your wedding budget.

   If you’re set on flowers, though, in-season flowers grown locally will guarantee the freshest blooms for your bouquets and boutonnieres. They’re also usually less costly. And you may want to stick with certain common flowers like roses, calla lilies and orchids because they tend to be inexpensive.

2. Rethink your beverage strategy

   Many wedding guests will expect some form of alcohol to help you celebrate at your reception. While some people view a cash bar as a breach of wedding etiquette, an open bar tab for your guests can quickly bust your budget. Here are some affordable alcohol options to consider:

   • Serve wine and beer only, with or without a signature drink option.
   • Skip the champagne toast. Many people prefer raising a glass of what they’re already drinking.
   • Have an open bar during cocktail hour, then serve wine and beer for dinner.
   • Nix the top-shelf brands and opt for well liquors.
3. Go paperless on invitations

   According to The Knot, couples spend an average of $530 on printed stationery. That includes save-the-dates, wedding invitations, RSVP cards, menus, programs and place cards.

   Nixing all the paper involved with putting on a wedding is an easy way to save. Digital invitations are often much easier for the RSVP process. If you prefer paper invitations and programs, you might consider designing them yourself and printing them at home.

4. Cut the cake early — or not at all

   Cutting the cake early in the reception is a money-saving hack that many couples don’t know about. It can let anyone staffing your wedding, such as the photographer and servers, to wrap up early and, possibly, charge you less. Rather than having people you’re paying by the hour hang around all night, you can do the things they’re involved in first.

   Speaking of cake, nothing says you have to have a cake at all. A designer wedding cake may cost you over $1,000, but wedding cupcakes may only cost a couple hundred dollars.

5. Hire a local band for entertainment

   Hiring a live band usually costs more than a DJ. A band might charge a couple thousand dollars or more while DJs are typically less than $1,000. If you prefer live entertainment, consider hiring a local group. You may also be able to negotiate lower costs from college students or area bands trying to make a name for themselves.

6. Use an online service to have vendors bid on jobs

   Instead of approaching bands, photographers, florists and other wedding service providers and asking what they charge, you may be able to save money using an online competitive vendor service. You create a listing for what you need, then vendors bid to win your business. For example, a wedding photographer you seek out and hire on your own may quote you their standard price of $2,000 for the day. Using an online service, you could take bids and discover someone who will do a great job for half the price.

7. Consider a nontraditional wedding day and venue

   According to ValuePenguin, the venue is the most expensive part of a wedding. This makes it an ideal target for cost-cutting. When evaluating locations, ask about rates for less popular days of the week. Saturday is typically the most expensive day to get married, so you may get a better deal by getting married on a Tuesday. You can also look into saving money with a nontraditional wedding venue, such as a barn, the beach or a unique Airbnb rental.

8. Skip the plated dinner

   Serving a sit-down dinner at your reception is usually the most expensive catering option. A more budget-friendly option can work just as well for your special day. If your festivities will take place in the evening, consider a buffet over a served dinner to lower the cost. A brunch reception on a Sunday afternoon is usually another affordable option.

9. Nix the champagne toast

   With a champagne toast, wedding guests will often take an obligatory sip, then leave the rest in the flute as they go back to their drink of choice. Instead, ask your guests to raise a glass of whatever they already have. If you prefer a traditional bubbly toast, however, consider serving prosecco, which is similar to champagne but costs less.

10. Maximize your credit card rewards

    If your credit card offers rewards, consider charging some of your wedding purchases to get the benefit and planning to pay it off before you're charged interest. You could earn miles to use for honeymoon travel or cash back to help you pay for tux rentals.

    Plus, some credit cards offer purchase protection, which may cover items bought with the card if they're damaged, stolen or lost in a certain time frame.

Tips for building your wedding savings

A budget can keep you from overspending on your wedding. But building your savings is also important because you can avoid borrowing to fund your wedding, which could lead to financial stress if you're struggling to pay it off down the road.

Here are some things you can do to grow your savings for the big day:

• Start early. The earlier you start saving for your wedding, the more time you will have to reach your savings goal.
• Open a savings account. Keeping your savings separate from your checking account may help you avoid the temptation of spending the money on non-wedding purchases. Savings accounts also earn interest, so your money can grow over time.
• Automate your savings. Your bank likely has a way you can schedule regular transfers from your checking account to your wedding fund. This way, you won't forget about putting money in the account and it'll build up practically on its own.
• Cut back on unnecessary expenses. Review your monthly expenses to find anything you could cut to save money. In the lead up to the wedding, you could dine out less often, pause your entertainment subscriptions, cancel unused memberships or carpool.

What to remember

While you're planning your dream wedding, it's important to identify what's necessary and what's optional. This will help you find items and tasks you can let go of to save money. After your wedding day is over, you and your guests won't be thinking about the lack of pricey amenities. Instead, everyone will remember what truly matters — a wonderful celebration of love.

Thinking about how you're going to fund your wedding? Build up your savings bit by bit. With Citizens Savings Tracker™️, you can set up automatic recurring transfers, deposit rounded-up change from your transactions and get Smart Save alerts to put money toward your goal.