It’s no secret: weddings are notoriously expensive. At $30,000 (or more) a pop, the average wedding costs more than one year of in-state college tuition. The high price tag coupled with economic uncertainty and changing priorities have led some couples to explore budget-friendly alternatives to the traditional pomp and circumstance.
At Eventective, we believe that you can plan a wedding on any budget — even $5,000. Here are our top tips for budget-friendly wedding planning.
Establish your priorities
Before you plan anything, it’s important to outline your priorities for the big day. With a tight budget, every decision needs to be intentional. Just because something’s trending on social media doesn’t mean you have to spend money on it!
Things to consider:
- Guest list
- Venue
- Photography and videography
- Food
- Alcohol
- Flowers
- Decorations
- Favors
- Reception entertainment
What items are non-negotiable and what are nice-to-haves? The guest list, for example, will likely steer most of your budget decisions. Is it more important for you to have a big party or an intimate gathering? A micro wedding will be easier to plan with a $5,000 budget, but it’s not the only option.
Rank these categories in priority order and use this list as a starting point for your planning decisions.
Allocate your budget accordingly
Once you’ve established your priorities, you’ll want to allocate your budget accordingly.
Research shows that the most expensive wedding categories are: venue and catering (45%), photography and videography (12%), reception entertainment (10%), and flowers and decor (10%).
With a $5,000 budget, that breaks down to:
- $2,250 for venue and catering
- $600 for photography and videography
- $500 for reception entertainment
- $500 for flowers and decor
- $1,150 for everything else (invitations, alcohol, favors, hair, and makeup)
Does this breakdown align with your priority list? If so, great — less math to do. If not, that’s okay! Take time to reassess and reallocate your budget dollars.
For example: you might not want to spend 10% of your $5,000 budget on reception entertainment. Ask a friend to control the aux cord and use that $500 towards your alcohol budget or a slightly larger guest list.
AI can help! Tell ChatGPT your budget, your guest list, and your top priorities. Then ask it to outline your personalized wedding budget for maximum value with minimal spend.
Get creative
The key to a budget-friendly wedding is to get creative. There are so many simple swaps you can make to save money and still have the wedding of your dreams.
Remember the diet book series Eat This, Not That? Channel that energy with these substitutions:
- Use wooden or dried flowers instead of live plants
- Book a weekday wedding or weekend morning ceremony instead of prime time
- Serve brunch at your reception instead of a plated dinner with chicken or fish
- Hire a college band to perform instead of a professional group
- Make your own stained glass wedding signs
- Buy your dress secondhand instead of brand new
- Get a sheet cake from Costco instead of a fancy wedding cake
- Ditch the open bar and offer two signature cocktails, or even just beer and wine
Don’t get hung up over what other people might want or what they may think about your decisions. It’s your special day and your money — celebrate and spend it how you see fit!
Is $5,000 enough for a wedding?
With clear priorities, a strong game plan, and a little creativity, you can absolutely plan a wedding for five thousand dollars or less.
Need some help? Head to our wedding hub for a list of venues, vendors, and everything in between. Pro tip: sort by price range to find the budget-friendly options near you.
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
