Your most awaited engagement has happened. Congratulations! You’ve decided to tie the knot with the person you love and couldn’t be happier. But while The Beatles may be able to sell, “all you need is love,” the wedding industry sings a very different tune. On average, weddings can cost over $20,000, which most couples don’t have just sitting in their back pockets. But money shouldn’t have to hold your I-do’s hostage, and the word “cheap” shouldn’t strike fear into your heart. Let us help you! There are cheap ways to get married while still making it look as expensive as it can be. Here are some simple steps on how to turn cheap weddings into a drop-dead gorgeous celebration that will only look like you’ve hit the jackpot.  

Trim the guest list.

You want to share your happiness with all of your friends and family – that’s understandable! But each guest invited to your day will need food, drinks, and seating, which can add up quickly. So, if you keep your guest list short and sweet, you’ll benefit from having a more manageable number of seats to fill, mouths to feed, and hugs to share. You won’t need to settle searching for venues for weddings on the cheap side. Plus, when you have fewer guests, you can indulge in quality over quantity. Adding something like a raw bar, a custom seating chart, or personalized favors might be something fun to consider with all that extra cash!

Location, location, location.

Planning an intimate wedding can allow you to choose a meaningful, beautiful, and often less expensive location than a larger, more traditional wedding. With a lower guest count, the length of the ceremony is much quicker, meaning you won’t have to rent your ceremony site for several hours, which will save you more on the rental fee. Another way to have a cheap wedding ceremony is to have it in a place that may cost you less or even nothing at all. Remember that gorgeous waterfall hike where you first said, “I love you”? Or the park where you strolled hand-in-hand after your first date? You can likely get married there! Destination weddings for cheap prices are also possible. Decide with your partner about the places you both love to visit, and then make some calls to figure out some of your best options. So long, venues that charge an arm and a leg!

Two for the price of one.

Consider having your wedding in the same location as your honeymoon. Why not? You can skip the time and cost of traveling for both your ceremony and your honeymoon by heading straight to wherever you and your honey call paradise to also tie the knot! Plus, destination celebration is the cheapest way to have a wedding because typically it has a shorter list of confirmed RSVP’s, so this might help you save some cash in more ways than one. Hello, intimate beach soirée in Hawaii!

Choose an intimate reception.

When you plan a cheap wedding, having a ceremony location that might not suit your reception may sound like an additional expense but that’s not necessarily the case. You can actually save more by considering hosting dinner at your favorite restaurant or hanging some string lights gathering in your own backyard. You’ll gain the freedom of affordable food options and be able to spend more quality time with your guests. A personalized reception is even more intimate and meaningful for you and your guests. To have one less space to rent and decorate means one more step towards a more affordable wedding.

Simplify your scheme.

How to have an affordable wedding without giving up the idea of a beautiful celebration? Choose simplicity. From flowers to decor to dress code, clean, simple details can make your wedding day cheaper and more personal while giving you more freedom to focus on what is essential for you. Not to mention the elegance that simplicity exudes. Also, minimalist ceremonies are popular nowadays if you’re looking for cheap ways to get married.

 

Something borrowed, something used.

Borrow items from a friend or a family member, like your BFF’s gorgeous sequin handbag or your grandmother’s vintage pearl necklace. Bring items from your home to decorate the space, like picture frames filled with memories of you and your partner or your favorite souvenirs from all the places you’ve traveled together. If you’re in a location that already has a breathtaking background, you won’t need to spend much time or money on added elements like aisle decor or an ornate altar. Small cheap wedding ideas can be incorporated into your planning. A good rule of thumb? Hold off on purchasing something brand new if you won’t find a use for it after the ceremony.

Dress for the occasion.

Smaller weddings can open up your options for attire as well. For instance, a ceremony on the beach means you don’t need to spend hundreds on fancy heels. Perhaps you can skip the veil when saying your I-do’s on a mountaintop. But if your heart is set on those pretty little details, there are plenty of sites where you can rent bridal attire — even your wedding dress, if you were really hoping to save some cash!

A bundle of love.

Shameless plug: at Simply Eloped, we’re all about making things more affordable for our couples. We help make cheap weddings look expensive because we want you to feel nothing but love and happiness, not under the crushing weight of debt. With our customizable elopement bundles to choose from, you get to have three cheap ways to get married without letting go of your lifelong dream wedding. Contact us to get started planning your ceremony the simple way.