10 Tips For Planning the Wedding of Your Dreams on a Budget

Updated on March 22, 2017 at 5:20 PM

It's been said again and again — weddings are expensive. If you've spent years planning every inch and detail of your wedding day out, from the pink peonies you'll carry in your bouquet to the exact wedding dress you envision yourself walking down the aisle in, you may find yourself coping with a giant headache and an even more gigantic pile of debt while trying to bring that perfect wedding day to life.

Here are 10 key tips on how you can plan the wedding of your dreams on a very strict budget.

DIY What You Can

You'll find yourself saving money by DIYing the wedding items that you can. Whether it's your centerpieces, your gifts for the bridal party, or even the smaller items you'll have on display during cocktail hour and your reception, head to the craft store and see what you can make at home.

Talk to Your Wedding Vendors

You may feel strange about asking your wedding vendors for a discount, but it's completely normal and OK to do. You can also take a look at the standard packages they provide and ask if there's room to go down on the price if you cut things out.

Skip the Party Favors

Instead of spending hundreds or even thousands on items your guests can grab and take home when they leave, skip out on that wedding tradition and put that money toward something else that matters to you.

Go Local

Stay local and you'll find yourself saving on travel and accommodations for yourself during the wedding. You may also be able to get a discount from local vendors who may have known you for years.

Make a List of Must-Haves

While it may seem unreasonably expensive to plan the wedding of your dreams, one way you can make sure you have the key items you really want is to make a list of must-haves. After you have that list, you can start crossing things off that don't matter much to you but may cost a small fortune.

See What You Can Borrow

One way to save big is borrowing items from past brides who may have purchased them and now have them stored in their garage. Items like table cloths, silverware, and even a card box may be things you can grab for free or even pay a small fee to rent from them.

Ask For Help

If you're struggling to save money with DIY projects, ask the people in your life to help you out. Assemble a team to stand behind you to help you plan the wedding of your dreams on a budget.

Set a Budget

While you may find yourself diving straight into wedding planning, it's best to take a giant step back and set a budget. Keep it strict and stern and try to make sure that you don't spend over that grand number you've decided upon at the start.

Search For Coupons

Sometimes you can find great online sales or coupon codes that'll save you a ton of cash when buying products online for your wedding. Before you check out, make sure you search for a coupon code first.

Pay Yourself Back

If you're struggling to find the cash to pay for your wedding, you can make a promise that you'll front the money now to pay for things and use your wedding gifts to pay yourself back.