Planning a Wedding on a Limited budget
When my partner and I finalized our wedding, the first question that came up was – “How do I have a great wedding, and that too on a budget?” During our stay in the US, we learnt that with a little understanding and creativity, you can have a beautiful wedding without emptying your bank account. I want to share my experience with you so that if you are on this path, this guide can be helpful to you.
First: Budget and Prioritization
We sat down and decided on our total budget – for us, it was around $8,000. Then we made a list of what was most important to us: for me decorations and photography were important, and for my partner food and music. We could compromise on other things. This is very important to decide, as it helps you keep expenses under control.
Limiting the guest list – not easy, but important
We do have a wedding only once, but it is not necessary to invite everyone. We kept our guest list to around 50 people, which included only our close friends and family. This not only reduced our expenses, but also made the wedding feel more personal and beautiful. The fewer the people, the lower the catering costs – and the more loving the atmosphere.
Venue on budget brought relief
While looking for venues in the US, we realized that hotels and ball rooms were too expensive. During research online, I found a list of the most beautiful wedding venues in the US on Travel-trick. Firstly, I shortlisted 2-3 venues according to our budget and then finalized one of them which was providing the best service within our budget.
Food on a budget
Catering in the US can be quite expensive. We spoke to local home caterers — and an aunt, who cooks from home, gave us the taste of home and prepared the food at half the price. Plus, we had a small food truck serve delicious food — guests loved it.
Wedding dresses: Rented and felt like a princess
I found out that designer dresses are available for rent, especially in areas like New Jersey and California. I got a beautiful dress for $299 – and honestly, no one even knew it wasn’t mine! I chose artificial jewelry, which looked very elegant.
Decorations and invitations: DIY saved hundreds of dollars
We did the wedding decorations ourselves — hey, we have treasures like Pinterest and YouTube! Our friends made colorful flowers, candles, and DIY pandals. We made the invitations digital — we made beautiful cards using WhatsApp and Canva and mailed them. This not only saved money, but also saved paper.
Photographer: Real memories from a practicing photographer
Professional photographers were out of our range, but we spoke to a photography student who was practicing for his portfolio. He charged very low fees and took some amazing pictures. You just need to do a little research — you can find such talent in Facebook groups, Craigslist or local colleges.
Group bookings and small discounts
We did group bookings for travel and stay — Airbnb has bigger houses that are cheaper if you book them for 2-3 days. We also negotiated for services like car rental and photographer. Negotiating in the US is not as difficult as we think — you just need to be polite.
Keep the reception simple but special
We kept the wedding and reception on the same day and at the same place. Wedding in the afternoon and reception in the evening with light music. Food was light and spicy, with a dance floor and some games. That was enough fun – no over-the-top event was needed.
Money planning: Not borrowing, but sensible
We did use a credit card for the wedding, but zero-interest ones. Also, we tracked every expense – by creating an Excel sheet. We understood one thing: the happiness of the wedding depends on your planning, not the amount of spending.
Finally
The wedding day was very special for us – no show-off, no unnecessary spending. Just with our own people, in our own style. If you are also planning a wedding in the US and have a limited budget, then my experience can show you a short cut. Remember – big dreams can be fulfilled even on a low budget, all you need is a little planning and heartfelt effort.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
