Finally, How to Plan a Wedding Under $10,000

Do you want to plan an amazing wedding WHILE spending less money?

Uh…

Yes and

Please!

The key to great planning is figuring out your wedding budget breakdown. If you didn’t know, then let this step be an introduction to your exciting journey.

if you are looking to spend less than 10k, then this article was written for you

Not setting a limit is a wedding mistakes you need to avoid. So how do you plan a wedding on a budget without spending insane amounts of money?

Some couples want to plan their savings for a new home or another priority. To keep things reasonable you need good money management. Luckily you can pull it off by reading our pro tips below!

Can You Plan a Wedding Under 10k

The quick answer is yes. There are multiple reasons why wedding planning costs so much money. When you look at wedding traditions they have existed for millennia.

the actual wedding industry has only existed since the 1920s

When you think of your wedding reception, it is a bunch of items/services that need to move from location A to location B. This involves logistics and most importantly labor to render services.

The issue is that the pandemic of 2020 and current employment trends show a shortage of labor and this is a big concern for the wedding industry. Vendors are responding in a way that makes sense for their business.

A majority of wedding vendors raised package prices to make up for lost income from the pandemic. Even though the pandemic has passed, prices have not decreased to pre-pandemic levels.

Why do weddings cost so much?

• inflation has increased the cost of services

• economy has slowed increasing competition

• increasing labor costs are passed onto clients

DIY your wedding under 10k by avoiding high labor costs

We embrace the wedding industry & want to play our role in helping vendors thrive by renting services they can use without having to invest. We ship these same rentals nationwide to planners & decorators can so they are available to you!

Planning the Ceremony & Reception

For this part, we recommend setting aside half of your overall wedding budget ($4,500 to $5,000). This will mostly go towards your reception because this has a higher cost than your ceremony.

If the venue doesn’t do both, opt for a ceremony in the open. It can be a location that has either religious or personal importance in your life.

Another chic idea is to use balloons in various shades and sizes for a modern effect. Set aside $100 to $500 for your officiant or as a donation for the religious institution.

If you are saying ‘I do’ outdoors, then all you need is a decorated arbor. You can easily learn how to decorate a wedding arch with fabric. Try adding a few floral arrangements. The trick here is to do simple decorations and not overthink them.

if not provided make sure you rent white folding chairs for your ceremony

When it comes to the reception, it will consume most of your budget. This is because of high food costs. One way you can plan it is by booking a venue without its catering. Try finding a decorated venue that allows outside catering.

This is sometimes allowed for cultural weddings because they are not familiar with how to prepare the food (think of Indian weddings). Most DIY banquet halls allow food alternatives or you might go informal & hire a food truck.

Alcohol is important & accounts for 8% – 15% of the total wedding budget. This cost can be marked up by venues that have in-house bartenders. This service might cause you to spend over ten thousand dollars on a wedding.

If your venue allows outside alcohol you can save a lot. We recommend purchasing (1) 5th a week until the week of your wedding. You will have all the alcohol you will need!

slim down guest count, this is why most couples go over budget

An affordable alternative is to host the celebration & plan a rehearsal dinner in your backyard or family property. Then, you can spend the rest on décor & catering. Find a beautiful venue that offers hors d’oeuvres instead of plated meals.

You should go through all your choices and decide which is best for you. As for your wedding cake, set aside $200 or $300 depending on the size & ingredients.

Wedding Attire & Accessories

Whoever told you that bridal gowns are too expensive is wrong. Trust us, you can find so many quality dresses that are under $1,000! Plus, you can buy off the rack or take advantage of sample sales.

many designer pieces can be purchased from $700 to $800

When it comes to the groom, there are gorgeous wedding suits that are about $200 and rentals for $100. Additionally, set aside about $300 for shoes, accessories, bags, etc.

Wedding Flowers & Decorations

Our top tip is to focus on the bouquet and several centerpieces that will make a striking impact. If you want to learn how to do a wedding for under $10,000 then consider DIY wedding décor or buying secondhand.

What we love is substituting fake flower arrangements for real. This can be a real cost saver and it looks just as good in your wedding photos. There are many great places you can work artificial flowers into your wedding reception decorations.

How to rent artificial flower décor?

• • greenery wall

  • ceremony backdrop décor

• hanging wisteria on the ceiling

• garland table ideas

• floral garlands

• wedding boutonnieres

You will find brides who are selling online in marketplaces. Sourcing from thrift stores & creating DIY centerpieces are also great options to make the most of your wedding budget.

DIY uplighting is affordable & improves wedding photos

If your party will be mostly during the night, consider cafe lights outdoors for a rustic vibe. DIY uplighting is a simple way to transform your space in color without having to hire outside help.

You can even pinspots centerpieces to highlight their details. Not only will this level up your vibe, but doing so will save you a huge chunk of your budget! For lighting & floral, set aside about $900 – $1000.

Wedding Photography

The memories from your special day are priceless. Your photos will be a lovely keepsake that will remind you of this incredible chapter of your life.

Your wedding photos are one of the only ways to look back on your day. We think that finding a good photographer is a must & so it’s listed as one of the (6) essential services budget brides need.

suggested vendors’ prices may be more or less than the prices in this article YMMV

According to The Knot, some photographers charge upwards of $2,500. Consider planning about $1,200 for budget photography services or even less from someone just starting. You can also rent a budget-friendly photo booth for $300!

Not only you will get extra photos for your reception, but guests will love it too! This is amazing for the entertainment of everyone. Let’s be real… no one can resist candid shots.

Entertainment

As long as we are on the same page regarding guest entertainment, booking a DJ will cost a lot less than having a band. Depending on the DJ company, this may be from $600-$1500, but in all honesty, everyone needs to have a great time. Plus, the equipment will be well worth it for your speeches.

find musically trained students at local colleges, guests won’t know the difference

Another form of entertainment is having a (3) piece string trio for your ceremony. We have seen some ensembles online charging upwards of $750.

There is a little trick to get this for a fraction of the price or even free! Offer to give them photo/video/media credit. Assemble your own 3-piece quartet & instruct them to wear all black.

Want to give an extra flair? There are many ideas for reception games (you can play during dinner). Oh yeah, these will cost you almost nothing!

Wedding Invitations & Stationery

For invites, you can easily go the DIY route. Buy customizable stationery sets that cover all the essentials.

Choose from invitation designs, save the dates, menus, table numbers, seating charts, thank you cards, place cards & more. We recommend you plan about $300 for your printing & posting expenses.

Transportation

Your transportation can be either a shuttle service or a stylish car! If you have rented a block of rooms from the hotel, then your shuttle might already be included. It doesn’t always have to be a shuttle service.

You may opt for a party bus or car rental that fits your wedding theme. Depending on your location and where you are hosting the ceremony and reception, set aside about $300 – $500 for a modest rental.

Wedding Gifts & Favors

For your wedding favors, we recommend you fully commit to the do-it-yourself mentality. Choose edible tokens of appreciation and wrap them yourself in a stylish but affordable way.

no guest will turn down a delightful favor full of flavor!

As for gifts, spend the remaining funds to buy your bridal party and parents some lovely items! A good breakdown for this budget is $300.

Final Pro Tip

There may be some unexpected fees you should be prepared for. From dress alterations to hidden parking costs & vendor tips. Go through all options & read every contract in depth.

You don’t want to have costs pop up after you have already maxed out your wedding budget at 10000 dollars. This is a great way to keep your wedding budget realistic.

feel free to reach out to us if you need help planning a wedding under $10,000

Having about a $500 – $1,000 cushion budget on the side will reduce the anxiety if any issues happen. You want a stress-free wedding day.