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I married the man of dreams May 25, 2014. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor wedding. Being a young couple right out of college and with a baby we had a very tight budget. My husband and I made most of the decorations for our wedding and succeeded in having a wedding for just under $5000 that was planned in a little less than 3 months.
I am proof that IT IS POSSIBLE to plan an
affordable wedding in a short period of time!
affordable wedding in a short period of time!
Choosing a Venue:
The most expensive part of our wedding was our venue which doubled as both our Ceremony and Reception location. We got married on a Sunday so the price was cheaper. If you get married on a week day or Sunday you will save money.
Our venue included all the tables, chairs (inside and out), table clothes, wedding arch, kitchen, bathrooms, bridal suite, portable bar, etc... all for $1200 - GREAT DEAL for a venue! We lucked out with our venue and price because it was a new venue so was cheaper.
When looking for a venue make sure to ask questions. Several of the venues I looked at had hidden fees such as an extra $500 for damages, $250 clean up fee, or you have to purchase your own Alcohol/Food license to have alcohol at their location.
Also double check what time you can arrive to start decorating and what time you have to be cleaned up by so you can plan your wedding & reception accordingly.
Our venue included all the tables, chairs (inside and out), table clothes, wedding arch, kitchen, bathrooms, bridal suite, portable bar, etc... all for $1200 - GREAT DEAL for a venue! We lucked out with our venue and price because it was a new venue so was cheaper.
When looking for a venue make sure to ask questions. Several of the venues I looked at had hidden fees such as an extra $500 for damages, $250 clean up fee, or you have to purchase your own Alcohol/Food license to have alcohol at their location.
Also double check what time you can arrive to start decorating and what time you have to be cleaned up by so you can plan your wedding & reception accordingly.
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Save the Dates & Invitations:
Since we had three months to plan our wedding we skipped the Save the Dates and just sent out Wedding Invitations. I created my own Wedding Invitation and made it look like a Save the Date/Wedding Invitation in one. I put our picture and date on one side then I made the other side of the invitation a little more formal. My mother-in-law works as a Graphic Designer so was able to print our invitations out.
When sending our Save the Dates and Invitations, keep in mind that you also have to pay for envelopes and postage. Stamps can add up quickly when sending out invites, especially if you add a return RSVP to the mix. You can always skip the Save the Dates (most end up in the trash) and post a picture on social media announcing the date and just send our an official wedding invitation or combine them like I did.
Several photo companies have templates you can use to create your own Save the Dates & Invitations. You can also purchase a design from Etsy. You can print the designs through Walmart, Walgreens, Shutterfly or Snapfish - make sure to check for promo codes!
Creating your own Save the Dates and Invitations will save you a lot of money because Graphic Design companies can be very pricy.
Since we had three months to plan our wedding we skipped the Save the Dates and just sent out Wedding Invitations. I created my own Wedding Invitation and made it look like a Save the Date/Wedding Invitation in one. I put our picture and date on one side then I made the other side of the invitation a little more formal. My mother-in-law works as a Graphic Designer so was able to print our invitations out.
When sending our Save the Dates and Invitations, keep in mind that you also have to pay for envelopes and postage. Stamps can add up quickly when sending out invites, especially if you add a return RSVP to the mix. You can always skip the Save the Dates (most end up in the trash) and post a picture on social media announcing the date and just send our an official wedding invitation or combine them like I did.
Several photo companies have templates you can use to create your own Save the Dates & Invitations. You can also purchase a design from Etsy. You can print the designs through Walmart, Walgreens, Shutterfly or Snapfish - make sure to check for promo codes!
Creating your own Save the Dates and Invitations will save you a lot of money because Graphic Design companies can be very pricy.
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The Food & Beverages:
We looked into getting a caterer but for 200 people we were looking at a minimum of $1800 and not a lot of food so I came up with a menu and we made a trip to good old Wally World to purchase all the supplies. Costco or Sams club would be great stores to buy in bulk as well.
We then gave immediate family members who volunteered to help (aunts and mothers) a simple recipe to make. We still spent a couple hundred dollars but spent probably a fifth of what it would of cost for a caterer and had tons and tons of food leftover.
The food table was set up buffet style, several tables in a straight line so guest could easily go down both sides. Most of the food was placed on trays onto of wood slices varying in sizes and height.
We then gave immediate family members who volunteered to help (aunts and mothers) a simple recipe to make. We still spent a couple hundred dollars but spent probably a fifth of what it would of cost for a caterer and had tons and tons of food leftover.
The food table was set up buffet style, several tables in a straight line so guest could easily go down both sides. Most of the food was placed on trays onto of wood slices varying in sizes and height.
Here is a list of the food we served at our wedding incase you need help coming up with ideas. You can't please everyone so serve what you want to eat on your wedding day. Honestly we probably over did it but more than enough food is better than running our of food.
Main Dishes: Pulled Pork, Meatballs, Ham and Turkey Sandwiches, and PB&J's for the kids (they were surprisingly a big hit with the drunk adults)
Main Dishes: Pulled Pork, Meatballs, Ham and Turkey Sandwiches, and PB&J's for the kids (they were surprisingly a big hit with the drunk adults)
Appetizers: Cheese, Pepperoni and Cracker Tray, Fruit and Veggetable Trays, Potato Salad, Marshmallow Fluff, Puppy Chow, Popcorn Mix, Pretzels, Nuts, Chips and Dips, Rice Krispies, Chocolate Fountain, etc...
Beverages: We bought several canned soda and waters to fill up the decorative bath tub with. We bought 2 Liters as back-up incase we ran out. We also had a dispenser full of Strawberry Lemonade.
I recommend buying extra water because that was the first to go. 2L are a lot cheaper than cans but would of looked funny in the bath tub, plus cans are just easier to serve and less work.
I recommend buying extra water because that was the first to go. 2L are a lot cheaper than cans but would of looked funny in the bath tub, plus cans are just easier to serve and less work.
Alcohol: We had two kegs and two glass dispensers filled with a blue and purple Martini recipes we mixed ourself.
The Martini's were a huge hit and a lot cheaper to make yourself then to have an open bar. This way you limit what your guest are drinking and spend less.
The person who picked up the kegs ended up paying for them as a wedding gift even though we had it in our budget, but we are thankful for the gift!
I also made toasting glasses for the bridal party and us to use during the reception. You can check out the full tutorial HERE.
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The Cake:
I contacted several people about making our wedding cake and the average price I was getting for the amount of people was $700 plus all the extra delivery fees. Being on a budget, we couldn't afford a cake that expensive plus who wants to spend that much on a cake when you know it doesn't cost that much to make.
Luckily I found an old teacher of mine that made cakes on the side and knew our budget was between $250-$300. He never gave me a set price, just said wait until you see the cake then decide what you would like to pay. We ended up tipping him $50 more than he suggested because he stayed to cut the cake and pass it out for us.
There are tons of people that make cakes for fun and would make a wedding cake for cheaper. An alternative is to buy a smaller, decorative cake for the bride and groom to cut into and have a sheet cake in the back or cupcakes to serve the guest.
I bought the cake topper at Michael's (use a coupon) and the decorative butterflies off amazon. I couldn't find the exact ones I bought but here are some similar butterflies. They also have Edible Butterflies for sale now.
Along with the cake, my mom made her famous Strawberry Cheesecake and Oreo Cheesecake to act as the groom cake. Yum!
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The DJ:
Every wedding reception needs music to keep the party going but if you are on budget, a DJ can seem like a waste of money. My husband and I DJed our own wedding, to an extent.
We made several playlists on our computer and borrowed our friends sound system and speakers. My sisters boyfriend played the ceremony songs and my brother announced and played the special moment songs (first dance, bouquet toss, etc..)
Creating your own playlist allows you to control what is being played, avoid curse words and dirty songs for the families sake, and is FREE, that is if you are able to borrow a stereo system. If not, you can rent one usually for cheaper than the cost of a DJ or you can look into buying your own Stereo System , a nice one will cost between $300 - $500.
We made several playlists on our computer and borrowed our friends sound system and speakers. My sisters boyfriend played the ceremony songs and my brother announced and played the special moment songs (first dance, bouquet toss, etc..)
Creating your own playlist allows you to control what is being played, avoid curse words and dirty songs for the families sake, and is FREE, that is if you are able to borrow a stereo system. If not, you can rent one usually for cheaper than the cost of a DJ or you can look into buying your own Stereo System , a nice one will cost between $300 - $500.
Check out my blogs How to DJ your own Wedding & Wedding Song Ideas for those Special Moments to help you build your playlist if you decide to DJ your own wedding.
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Photographer:
I contacted several photographers ranging from $500 - $8000. We almost went with the $500 one not because of the price but she was one of my favorites but decided to go with my husbands aunts brothers sister or something like that.
She just wanted DVDs to put the pictures on and gas money but we still paid her $150 because she literally took thousands of pictures and stayed the entire time. I know it isn't much but it's what we could afford.
My advice is finding someone who does photography as a hobby or is just starting out to avoid paying the big bucks. There are several amateur photographers out there so it shouldn't be to hard to find a cheap one, just make sure to look at their work before you hire them.
If you have trouble, type in Photography in Facebook and click on Pages.
She just wanted DVDs to put the pictures on and gas money but we still paid her $150 because she literally took thousands of pictures and stayed the entire time. I know it isn't much but it's what we could afford.
My advice is finding someone who does photography as a hobby or is just starting out to avoid paying the big bucks. There are several amateur photographers out there so it shouldn't be to hard to find a cheap one, just make sure to look at their work before you hire them.
If you have trouble, type in Photography in Facebook and click on Pages.
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Decorations:
Decorations can add up if you aren't careful, especially if you hire someone to do it for you. Real Flowers alone are a fortune which is why I decided to do it myself. Not only because I love making things but it was so much cheaper. I made everything from the bouquets to the signs and flower girl dresses.
I understand that making everything isn't possible for everyone but you can make what you can or buy the supplies and hire a friend to make decorations for you. I've also seen several cute and cheap wedding decoration bundles on Facebook Yard Sale sites so you can check there.
Road Sign Directing Guest to the Venue:
This is a horrible picture of the sign, but my husband and I took this photo and had it blown up to poster size and stuck it out by the road to direct our guest to the venue.
I understand that making everything isn't possible for everyone but you can make what you can or buy the supplies and hire a friend to make decorations for you. I've also seen several cute and cheap wedding decoration bundles on Facebook Yard Sale sites so you can check there.
Road Sign Directing Guest to the Venue:
This is a horrible picture of the sign, but my husband and I took this photo and had it blown up to poster size and stuck it out by the road to direct our guest to the venue.
Rustic Wood Signs: All of our wood signs were made from cutting up and old wooden gate on my grandparents property. I kept the wood as is because I wanted the rustic look and used white acrylic paint to decorate the signs. The signs were all FREE because I had all the supplies.
- Guest Seating Sign
- Bride & Groom Signs on back of our chairs
- Wedding Date sign for a picture prop
- Bar Sign *pictured above
- Lemonade Sign *pictured above
Chalkboard Signs: I bought frames at the Dollar Tree for $1 and chalkboard spray paint. I sprayed the cardboard backs of the frames then wrote what I wanted on them. I left the glass out incase they were knocked over. I also cut some cardboard boxes to size and sprayed them for other signs needed.
You can find Chalkboard Signs online or at most craft stores but cardboard surprisingly works great.
You can find Chalkboard Signs online or at most craft stores but cardboard surprisingly works great.
We had a Glow Stick Send off with purple and blue glow sticks we bought online. The send off was set to happen at 10:30 but it ended up being a little after 11:00.
Table Decorations: We had a family friend cut some already fallen trees on my grandparents land into centerpieces and aisle decorations. The table centerpieces were all cut to the same size. The food table wood slices varied by height and size.
I bought the purple table runners at Hobby Lobby (wait until they are 50% off). We wrapped rubber bands around clear glass bottles we collected and spray painted them shades of purple and blue. We used fake gerber daisies to fill the bottles (I cut up the Bushels of 12, 50% off at Hobby Lobby). Fake flowers are at least a third of the price of real flowers.
Bridal Party Table: We bought Martini Glasses at the Dollar Tree ($1) and glass candles at Wal-Mart to place onto of them. Make sure the candles are in glass. If not they will melt down your glass and onto the tablecloth. Place the top of a gerber daisy under the glass.
You will probably want to use wine glasses instead of Martini glasses. We used Martini glasses because that is our last name.
Ceremony Aisle Decorations: We used ten tree stumps to line the aisle. We put mason jars on top of the tree stumps with tissue paper wrapped around fake flower bouquets to match the color scheme.
Backdrops: We bought bed sheets from various places (Target, Walmart, Mejer) in the colors we needed. I folded the sheets and used a fabric cutting blade to cut them into strips about 3 inches wide. I then tied the strips to a piece of twine to make them easy to hang the day of.
I did not use all of the bed sheets so saved them for guest bedding. The backdrops were hung on the arch outside where we were married, behind the cake, and the entryway behind our table/where we entered outside at. The backdrop looked a lot nicer in person. This is a fun and different backdrop idea.
I also used some of the fabric scraps to decorate the baby wagon, the flower girl basket and make the moms broaches.
I did not use all of the bed sheets so saved them for guest bedding. The backdrops were hung on the arch outside where we were married, behind the cake, and the entryway behind our table/where we entered outside at. The backdrop looked a lot nicer in person. This is a fun and different backdrop idea.
I also used some of the fabric scraps to decorate the baby wagon, the flower girl basket and make the moms broaches.
Bouquet & Boutonnieres: I bought some fake Gerber daisies (50% off at Hobby Lobby) to make all the bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces. I wrapped the flowers in the green flower tape to hold them together and added another flower until they looked like I wanted them to. Once they were together I used twine and a hot glue gun to wrap the stems of the flowers.
Flower Girl Tutus: I bought silver, blue and purple tulle (50% off at Hobby Lobby). I sewed together a few strips of the headband material then looped the tulle through the holes until it looked full enough. I tied ribbon to the top to halter over the shoulders. I added a cheap flower clip to the front of the dress so you couldn't see through the material and made a headband to match
Ring Security & Petal Patrol Shirts: I did not personally make these shirts but they are too cute not to share. Our ring bearer wore a "Ring Security" shirt with a tux design on the front and the little boy pulling my daughter in the wagon wore a "Petal Patrol" shirt.
Ring Security & Petal Patrol Shirts: I did not personally make these shirts but they are too cute not to share. Our ring bearer wore a "Ring Security" shirt with a tux design on the front and the little boy pulling my daughter in the wagon wore a "Petal Patrol" shirt.
Flower Girl Basket & Ring Holder: I bought a flower girl basket on sale for $4, tore off the ugly decorations on it and replaced it with a mini version of the backdrops. *see above picture
The Ring Holder was made from a smaller wood slice with a heart design carved into the center painter white. We attached a ribbon and fake rings to it. I
If you can't make your own Ring Holder you can buy a similar Rustic Love Ring Bowl here or check out these cute Mr. and Mrs. Wedding Ring Boxes.
The Ring Holder was made from a smaller wood slice with a heart design carved into the center painter white. We attached a ribbon and fake rings to it. I
If you can't make your own Ring Holder you can buy a similar Rustic Love Ring Bowl here or check out these cute Mr. and Mrs. Wedding Ring Boxes.
Gift Table: The gift table was decorated with fake flowers, a honeymoon fund jar, pictures of my soon to be husnad and I and a mailbox for the cards.
Three Months of planning and crafting resulted in a beautiful, DIY outdoor wedding. From doing my own hair and make-up along with the bridesmaids hair to making all the decoration and being our own DJ, we succeeded in having an affordable wedding just under $5000.
Like I said before, IT IS POSSIBLE to plan an affordable wedding in a short period of time! I know that not everyone is able to or has the time to make all their decorations but I'm sure you know someone that can help out. A lot of nights and weekends where spend crafting. Overall I think our wedding turned out pretty good and the best part was that it was affordable. We had a lot of help the day of the wedding and needless to say I searched for the best deal before purchasing something. I hope this blog post helps with ideas on either budgeting your wedding or decorations. Drop a comment below of a way you saved on your wedding.
Like I said before, IT IS POSSIBLE to plan an affordable wedding in a short period of time! I know that not everyone is able to or has the time to make all their decorations but I'm sure you know someone that can help out. A lot of nights and weekends where spend crafting. Overall I think our wedding turned out pretty good and the best part was that it was affordable. We had a lot of help the day of the wedding and needless to say I searched for the best deal before purchasing something. I hope this blog post helps with ideas on either budgeting your wedding or decorations. Drop a comment below of a way you saved on your wedding.
You may also like some of my other Wedding Related Blogs starting with The Ultimate Wedding Checklist.
- Bridal Party Gift Ideas
- How to DJ your own Wedding
- Personalized Toasting Glasses for your Wedding
- Unity Painting
- Wedding Song Ideas for those Special Moments
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