Price of wedding

There are tons of ways to have a "lower budget" wedding if you don't like the price you're seeing with certain vendors and venues

If there are people out there that will regularly pay it, they will charge it! Just keep looking until you find something in your budget. Weddings have become so unique and personalized, that nearly anywhere can be a venue these days! So don’t be scared to think outside the box!

View Quoted Comment I’m starting to learn that quickly! Thanks so much for helpful and encouraging advice !

Totally get it. Spent near $30k on ours at a do it yourself venue. We just happened to pick some expensive vendors. But yes weddings are not the cheapest things

View Quoted Comment Wow! My budget is less than half that! Totally considering a park

View Quoted Comment My budget was $15k. Until I started looking at vendors I really liked. Then I realized how expensive it was going to be. Our venue only cost us $7k. But that didn’t include food or anything. We still had to pay for a bartender, food and all the other standard vendors on top of that. And I purchased a lot of our decor and then DIYED a lot of stuff. We didn’t go on a honeymoon because we used our gift money to finish paying off our wedding. I don’t regret it. I had the day I dreamed of and had a great time. But yeah it’s jarring when you start finding out what people charge. There are a lot of parks though that you can have weddings in!

View Quoted Comment Parks are usually really affordable options! So are wildlife refuges and campgrounds (if you live in a picturesque area, some campgrounds are absolutely stunning!). Beach/waterfront weddings are always super affordable, if you live near water. And definitely check out nontraditional venues! I’ve heard of weddings at libraries, art galleries, greenhouses and cafés. I even know somebody who had their Wedding at a rollerskating rink! And let me tell you, it was the most fun wedding ever!! (and the pictures were incredible).

Oh, I nearly forgot – I also attended a wedding on a boat in the Midwest! It was one of those cool old river boats that was used for dinner cruises on the
Mississippi River. I’m not sure what that cost, but the couple said it was cheaper than any other venue they looked at.
Another idea would be to think of places that are meaningful to you. Maybe where you first met. Or your first date. Where you first exchanged I love yous, etc. Then at least the venue would be meaningful to you

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That's a good way to save money. Be aware that you'll need to check and see if a permit is needed. You'll also need to think about things like seating, washrooms, power sources, shelter and others.

Best way to reduce a budget is to lower the guest list. There are other tips such as to have the event on a Friday or a Sunday, have a lunch instead of dinner, and cut back on non-essentials (like favours) just to name a few.

I know right? It was ridiculous. Venues are a budget killer depending on what you’re looking for. My advice is to look for places that aren’t solely used as venues, like botanical gardens, museums, etc. it’s usually less expensive since it’s not their sole revenue.


Not much advice about saving on catering, DJs and food though. A lot of times you get what you pay for.

My daughter is having your wedding on her fiancés property. You would thing that would be a money saver. Nope!!! Gotta rent a tent, chairs, tables, dance floor, linens, etc.

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We tell people that all the time around here!

While it is true that the Wedding Industry is predatory, not every vendor is dishonest or unethical. There are countless factors involved in the cost of a venue alone.


Are you in a high cost of living area that doesn’t have any low cost options such as parks and community centers in 100 mile radius? Have you been looking only at venues that advertise specifically for weddings and nothing else? Is the venue all inclusive, which is much more expensive because the rental fee doesn’t cover any catering (often 5-6 figures on its own), bar, or other required vendors that are already chosen for you? Are you open to a blank slate venue that provides tables and chairs and full kitchen, and lets you pick a budget caterer and other vendors that you can comfortably afford? Low cost food options that are appropriate are asking a favorite local restaurant to deliver catering (casual Mexican and Chinese restaurants offer this and you already know the food is good, plus it covers most dietary requirements), pizza delivery or work with your coordinator to work out pickup (local independent restaurants including Costco’s food court and chains are budget friendly crowd pleasers vs gourmet options that are not always appealing to everyone). There is also the option of cake and coffee for everyone while you socialize for 2-3 hours and then call it a day. A lot of WW and the Wedding Industry says that is not an acceptable option because it’s not an expensive full meal.
Grocery store cakes are less expensive than fancy bakeries. Contrary to popular opinion, cupcakes are very expensive in comparison due to the labor involved. Grocery store bouquets, whether from Safeway or Costco are much cheaper and they sometimes have in store florists who will make what you want at a lower cost than a wedding florist. Even FiftyFlowers.com is less expensive. Faux flowers, whether wood or silks, are much more expensive and they are harmful to the environment.
A majority of current trends that are “minimum standards” in the Wedding Industry are easily able to be cut and they will make your day run smoother. Bridesmaid proposal boxes are new and they go straight to the trash, plus they put people on the spot to say yes immediately with no information on whether they can afford to or want to participate. Destination bachelorette parties are new and there are many complaints online that they are expensive and inconvenient, even when those invited have the $$$ to afford it, and those who can’t afford it or don’t want to spend the money are painted as bad friends. Not everyone likes champagne so that often goes to waste. Instead of buying thank you gifts for attendants based on individual interests, they are given props for the wedding day (jewelry, robes/pjs) that go in the trash afterward. Signage is largely irrelevant and guests don’t pay attention to it. If you are the only wedding at a location, then guests should not be confused who is getting married unless they were given wrong directions and they know they are welcome. Card boxes and escort cards are self explanatory. If you have ushers directing guests to their seats, they can also answer any questions about where to put cards, where to pick up escort cards and so on. Large wedding parties means more costs paid to/for them.
DIY is almost never economical. You are better off eliminating something entirely than making your own because the cost of supplies plus the cost of labor, transportation, and sanity at minimum wage per hour is more expensive in the end than renting. That is why renting linens, arches, dishes, etc and paying for someone to transport, clean, set up and tear down, is cheaper in the long run than buying new and trying to resell later. Unless you donate everything to your house of worship or regularly host 50+ guests at a time at parties in your home, buying is not economical.
A Spotify playlist is not the best choice for every group. Some music is great to listen to but it clears a dance floor in an instant. Not everyone is tech savvy enough to know how to use it and not everyone has dj quality equipment , namely speakers or the knowledge of how to keep sound at a reasonable level. An MC is not needed. Between a DJ and month of coordinator to tie all loose ends behind the scenes and work through potential snafus, guests should never be asked to work so that you can save money, because it prevents them from being able to enjoy themselves even one minute as a guest.
That is why it is suggested to sit down with fiancé and hash everything out before you start looking for venues. Budget of what you are willing and able to spend without assistance, which includes giving up any say when someone else pays. 3-5 most important areas that you plan to spend money and attention on and cut out the rest. Finalize your guest list of your must have loved ones who you can’t imagine the day without. Don’t invite anyone out of obligation that you don’t have a relationship with. All of that must be worked out first.
Contrary to what is encouraged and suggested post-Covid, a reception at a later date after the legal wedding has taken place is where the bulk of money is spent. The ceremony is super inexpensive whether you have 1 guest or 500. It is not an inexpensive alternative to inviting all VIP guests to a ceremony and reception on the same day that you make the marriage legal.

View Quoted Comment I have a 8,000 budget . Which is considered “lower budget”. But I still think that’s an outrageous price for a single day.

View Quoted Comment Serve pizza from your favorite local restaurant or Costco food court and get cake and flowers from the local grocery store or Costco. Have everything at the local park. All of that including license and officiant under$8000. Alcohol is optional and most people will not miss it.