Wedding Planning Advice 101: How To Plan While On A Budget

“Congratulations! When is the big day?” 

You will hear this from almost everyone you encounter — whether you tell them yourself or they notice your fabulous new ring. This question can be a nightmare to answer if you are recently engaged or are choosing to have a long engagement. 

If you haven’t set a date because planning a wedding is overwhelming, we have you covered. 

We’re going to give you wedding planning advice, and how to do it on a budget. Keep reading for more information! 

1. Create a Spreadsheet

Actually, create two of them or download a wedding planning app. Everyone has a preference as to how they plan, but find yours and use it.

If you choose to use spreadsheets, use one as a guest list and one to plan every other detail. The guest list spreadsheet should have the names of the people you will invite as well as if they are allowed to bring a guest or children. 

The other spreadsheet will be your “little black book” for the occasion. List each category you will need, leave a column for prices, additional costs, due dates for payments, and room for comments. 

You will need rows for the venue, dress, caterer, florist, hair & makeup, photographer, cake, entertainment, favors, and stationery. This will allow you to see all of your vendors in one place and total up costs quickly which is essential to stay within your budget.

2. Find a Venue

You may have a general idea of the time of year you’d like to have your wedding, but before choosing a date, choose a venue. 

The venue will probably be the largest cost for your wedding. Unfortunately, the rental doesn’t usually cover the cost of the bar or beverages — which is also typically paid to the venue. 

If staying within budget is your main concern, call around to every venue in your area. Also, consider event centres within a radius as these may be less expensive due to their remote location.

Choosing an “off” day can also save you money. Most weddings occur on the weekends, but if you can choose a Sunday or weekday, the rental charge may be less. 

3. The Dress

As far as cost is concerned, your wedding dress may be as expensive or even more than the venue you choose. Of course, you can order a dress online for almost nothing but this can fail on every account, from the fit to the fabric. 

If you find a great deal online, order it well in advance in order to have time for the fitting. Be wary of scams and people that claim to be designers — if it seems to good to be true, it is! 

Thrift stores and dress resale shops are also great places to search for your gown. Keep in mind that when you buy a new dress, off the rack from a boutique, the alterations aren’t included. Fitting your dress at these stores can run upwards of $500. 

4. Food and Cake

If your venue allows for outside caterers, take advantage! Over the past several years, buffet-style receptions have become far more favored than more formal, sit-down meals. This is due to many factors including the ability to offer a wide selection of food and keeping costs down. 

Arrange tastings with your caterer and your baker if they are separate. Luckily, these guys will both know how to plan according to the number of guests you have invited — you just must pick the food and flavor of the cake. 

As far as the cake goes, consider a smaller wedding cake. No, it won’t feed all of the guests, but you can have a larger sheet cake of the same flavor(s) out of view of the guests. This can be cut and served by the staff of your venue and be less expensive than a multi-tiered cake. 

5. Keeping Guests Happy

Every great wedding reception has either a DJ or band to keep people dancing. Finding the right entertainment can be tricky. Are you trying to keep your event small and intimate, allowing for great conversation — or do you want a wild, club-like scene? 

It can be tempting to hire a family friend that ‘DJs’ on the weekends and is offering a discount. Unless you’ve seen them live, don’t do it. Hire someone who is reputable in their field and will keep things professional, even if it costs a bit more. 

6. Bridal Bouquets and Boutonnieres

Unless you have helped plan a wedding in the past, you are going to be shocked at how much flowers cost. It is said that you should spend around 10% of your budget on flowers, bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces. 

Obviously, you can help cut down costs by choosing a DIY option. This is excellent if you have time and help to complete these projects. However, if you have a long checklist and your bridesmaids are less than helpful, consider paying a bit extra for items that are already complete. 

7. Photographers and Cosmetologists

Great photographers aren’t cheap! To document your wedding and the people you love, expect to spend a fair amount if you want all of the bells & whistles. 

Cosmetologists will often ask you for a run-through of your hair and makeup. This will ensure that they know exactly what you’d like to look like for your wedding. Use this run-through for your bridal session to knock out two items on your list. 

Your hair and makeup is something that can be taken care of by a family member or non-professional — you can always reapply makeup or repin your hair. 

Recommended: Indian Wedding Photography Ideas

Other Bits of Wedding Planning Advice

Believe it or not, the average wedding will cost a couple (or their parents) more than $30,000. If that cost seems astronomical, set a budget that you can handle before you begin planning. 

Of course, you will need invitations and thank-you cards; but this can be taken care of at an arts & crafts store. Skip the programs that list every person, song, and the officiant as most people have been to a wedding and know the order; they’ll just end up in the trash. 

The easiest way to keep your budget small is by limiting the number of people you invite. You can also choose to elope or even have the ceremony at a courthouse and plan a reception at a later date. 

Finally, skip the standard wedding favors. These, like the programs, aren’t usually kept for more than a few days and can add hundreds or thousands to your budget.

If you have any other wedding planning advice or tips that we’ve missed, leave a comment below! 

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