How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Publish date: 2024-06-13

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With wedding costs averaging at $29K , it can feel like an impossible task for some couples to plan a wedding on a budget. That said, we have some good news: it can be done. Countless couples have incredible weddings every year without sacrificing on style or going over budget, and you can do it, too. All it takes is planning ahead and a little savvy regarding your big day.

Though this may initially come across as intimidating or complicated, we at Zola have the best advice to guide you during the process of wedding budgeting. Read on below for our top tips when it comes to planning your special day on a wedding budget. We may even be able to help you save money along the way.

1. Set Your Budget

The first step to planning your wedding on a budget is figuring out what your budget actually is.

First thing’s first: Determine who is paying for the wedding. More often than not, the to-be-wed couple, themselves, takes on the task of footing the bill. This may be out of pocket or via personal loan. Before taking a single step forward with planning, ask yourselves if this—or an alternative—will be the case for you. Are either (or both) of your families helping? How much does everyone plan to contribute?

Next, crunch the numbers to figure out your total spending limit. Put together what you’re comfortable with and able to spend and how much anyone else is going to contribute and not a dollar more. Be realistic, while also remaining optimistic. It’s never a good idea to acquire debt while paying for your wedding—stick to a budget amount that doesn’t require loans or credit card charges that you cannot repay within a few months’ time. The longer it takes for you to pay off a loan, the more interest you will end up paying on top of initial costs.

Here’s how most couples set their wedding budget breakdown. (Note that this totals over 100%, as not everyone will include every category in their wedding).

Here’s how most couples divide up their wedding budget breakdown. (Note that this totals over 100%, as not everyone will include every category in their wedding expenses).

However, this is more of a general guideline than anything. Your priorities will likely shift these numbers at least a little bit.

2. Trim Your Guest list

After you set your budget, begin to build your guest list. While we understand that you might want to invite many people to your celebration, bear in mind that the more people you invite, the more you spend. Conversely, for smaller weddings, you tend to spend less. Here are a few tricks to help you trim your guest list:

  • Break down your list into A and B lists. The A list should include people who are the most important to you and whose presence would make your day feel completel. The B list should include anyone whom you would like to invite, but could be removed from the guest list if you need to trim totals.

  • Host an adults-only wedding. Even if you love children, excluding kids from your guest list will help reduce your overall costs.

  • Limit +1s. Reserve +1s for guests who are married or in a long-term relationship.

    • 3. Research Average Costs

    The average cost of a wedding and vendor prices vary a lot by location. For example, a wedding florist in Los Angeles, CA might be less expensive compared to vendors in Boston, MA or Tampa, FL. Do a little research to figure out typical costs in your area and what percentage of your total budget should be allocated to the vendors you absolutely need to pull off your wedding day. A lot of couples experience sticker shock when they receive price quotes from vendors. Knowing what to expect will help you stay within budget and let you start to hone in on areas where you might be able to cut costs.

    4. Determine Your Priorities

    Speaking of cutting costs, a great way to scale back on spending is to figure out what’s important to you as a couple and prioritize those areas. For example, your wedding day vision might place great food as a focal point. In that case, set aside a larger portion of your budget for booking a wedding caterer with a great reputation. On the other hand, if live music isn’t going to make or break your ideal celebration, you can explore DIY options like creating your own playlist and broadcasting it over a speaker using a laptop or cell phone.

    We recommend that you and your partner each list your top three priorities for the wedding day separately, and then come together to discuss your lists. This will give you the opportunity to think about what’s most important to you without influencing each other, after which you can begin to talk through how you will allocate your wedding funds.

    5. Cut Costs Where You Can

    A common strategy for couples planning a wedding on a budget is to think outside of the box. Here are a few ways you might find you’re able to save some money:

    Wedding Budget Breakdown

    With all of this information at your fingertips, you may still be desiring some hard numbers. For that reason, we’ve put together a budget breakdown, complete with price ranges for many portions of a wedding.

    Conclusion

    The wedding planning process can be overwhelming as it is. Moreover, the discussion of wedding expenses isn’t exactly fun. However, with a little bit of research and some dedication, you can work through your wedding budget and stick to it with ease.

    Luckily, you also have us at Zola to help you through it. With our help, you can create your wedding website, registry, and coordinate all of your wedding planning in one convenient place. Not only that, but you can search through a variety of wedding registry gifts—from household items, to gift cards, to cash funds—in our Shop.

    Your dream wedding is only some hard work (and a few clicks) away.

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