Question

Engaged/married couples - how much and how did you start saving for your wedding? We just got engaged this past weekend (yay! ) and have set our budget at $5, 000. Any tips and tricks to have a budget wedding that’s still amazing for you? Thanks  

Answer 1

I got married past November. We had our reception at a hotel, and it was way cheaper to get married on a Friday/ Sunday then it was on a Saturday ($450 rental fee instead of $1100 for a Saturday) so by having a Friday afternoon wedding we saved a good chunk! I also did a lot of DIY. My bridesmaid's boyfriend is going to school to be a carpenter and he made us lanterns for our centrepieces and gifted them to us. We kept the wedding under 100 (which was difficult because there is 96 people in my mom's family, just aunts/uncles and cousins). I made our invitations with my aunt. We also didn't do a cake, just had the desserts included with our meal. While it was a little more expensive having it at a hotel, I loved not having to worry about set up. All we had to do was add our own decor, which only took about 2 hours, which was good for us because our wedding party couldn't get off work to help set up, so it was my fiance and I, my parents, and two sisters. I was so grateful for the short set up time because there had been so much stress/drama leading up to our wedding. Overall I think we spent around $8000, and we were able to pay it in full

Answer 2

A lot DIY and get creative with keeping it simple as the main focus

Answer 3

Following! Engaged two weeks ago & we’re looking at a 10k budget but obviously want to stay below. Im saving by stopping my sinking funds and dedicating my extra car payment to the wedding fund. Adds about $900 a month x 8 month engagement to replenish the money we’ll use. The 10k are savings we already have

Answer 4

Following! Engaged this weekend too!  

Answer 5

Figure out what are your splurges going to be (wedding dress, shoes, jewelry, flowers etc. )

Answer 6

We bought our flowers at Costco, they come in bouquets already, you’ll just need to put your ribbon and everything around it. Also, my mother in law did our food for us. We had almost 200 people so it still wasn’t cheap but thousands of dollars less than what we were quoted! Congratulations!  

Answer 7

We spent a total of $300. We also saved a TON of money by only inviting siblings(their spouses/kids) and our parents. After we just had lunch at a nearby restaurant. Our venue was free so that helped alot also. congrats to you!  

Answer 8

We spent about $2500 including the venue. We had a western theme and rented out a barn (she only uses it for weddings), but was just starting up her business so we got it fairly cheap. We searched SEVERAL venues before we found hers. I got my dress (valued at $950) for $200 on clearance because it had a broken zipper, which worked out for me because I wanted a corset back anyways. I paid $75 to have the zipper removed and corset back added in. We cooked our own food and prepped everything so no catering fee. We also provided the beer and wine so there was no bartender.  

Answer 9

I spent $8000. For everything.  

Answer 10

We eloped at a park, we paid only for the legal stuff. Our officiant was a friend and did it as a gift to us. We did however spend about 1000 dollars on the reception and clothes and my husband's ring and the room we had for the honeymoon night.  

Answer 11

Don’t feel bad about not inviting everyone you know. Keep it small and intimate. Less guest=less costs.  

Answer 12

Trying to save about $10k. I hav err a detailed spreadsheet of all the possible costs and a projected cost of that item. We cancelled 2 traditional wedding venues and are getting married on an 8 day cruise in Turks and Caicos. At the beginning we found out when we wanted to get married and how many months that was. Divided our budget/costs by that to see how much we needed to save each month. But as for tips, DIY what you can, reduce guest list, look for off peak rates and days. Look for different venue options other than the top 3 on wedding sites. Buy used. Our invites are from Ann's Bridal Bargains. They were VERY reasonably priced. My dress is from a local consignment store. My wedding band will hopefully be from an antique store. I'm making my bouquet and corsages/bouts for about $50.  

Answer 13

Also, we have been selling our sons clothes he outgrew, planning a yard sale in the spring, saved 90% of our tax return, have second jobs, and finding ways to cut on monthly expenses. We cancelled cable, budget utility plan, etc. At the beginning we thought we would be using a CC for most of it. We are 70% of the way saved and have 9 months to go. You can do it!  

Answer 14

There are fb groups that sell whole wedding decor that was used once

Answer 15

We both worked as much as we could and made as much extra cash as we could. Luckily saving for a wedding is a good excuse to skip everything, lol, if this is how you want to play it. We also did the thing you “aren’t” supposed to do and got a new CC with a low-ish limit ($2500) and used that and it helped. We however used part of our wedding money (New Yorkers don’t give present, only $$)to pay off a big chunk and continually paid it off or nearly off while using it. This helped us bc you need a lot of $$ at once with weddings. We put in about $10K for our portion.  

Answer 16

Put a cushion in your budget for last minute expenses or in case something you really want ends up being pricey than you thought. So instead of going over budget you just used your cushion.  

Answer 17

I had my wedding for about 2500. 00. I did a lot of DIY and it was my dream wedding.  

Answer 18

Instead of making a huge cake for all the guests to share- find someone who does it as a side hobby and have them make you a small wedding cake. Then feed your guests sheet cake from Costco or somewhere like that. Also, I am invited to a wedding in the afternoon this spring and they are just having a dessert reception. I have been to several weddings like that. Remember this a day to celebrate you and your husband joining in marriage—it is not about others expectations of what your day should be. Don’t compare it to others. Shop Hobby Lobby sales. I bought my wedding invitations at Walmart on clearance for about ten bucks. Had my mom take our engagement pictures. Also, have a smaller wedding party and shop Amazon for flower girl dresses. We paid about 1500 total for our wedding and only because my dress was five hundred.  

Answer 19

I wish we did it alot more cheaper and simpler.  

Answer 20

Cake and dessert reception (this is what my daughter is doing). If you need a dinner, just do a small one with your immediate family.  

Answer 21

We spent $3000 including my dress! Got married outside, simple but pretty decor, bought the flowers ourselves and assembled the bouquets, and just had buffet style appetizers. You can do it!  

Answer 22

Free venue for wedding(stepfather/mom's vacation house), low cost community center for reception ($500), friends BBQed for reception food, bought wine at Spec's for reception, rehearsal dinner was "pick up order" from local Italian place with again store bought alcohol. Only served wine, margaritas, and one keg beer at wedding. Told people if they had to have hard liquor they could bring their own. Used fake flower and other low cost decorations. Oh And got our wedding cake from the local grocery store

Answer 23

I may be alone in this on this page, but we wanted a small, quick wedding. We both come from large families, and knew that if we waited, it would be very expensive. My husband got a credit card out and we paid it off quickly. We spent about $10k on our wedding. Paid it off quickly and used the points for our eventual honeymoon.