How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

Congratulations, you’re engaged! You’re probably flying high with visions of wedded bliss in your head, but here’s a statistic that’s sure to bring you back to earth: According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $19,000.(1) That's a pretty steep wedding budget—and it doesn’t even count the honeymoon expense!

After reading that you may be ready to elope! Compared to footing the bill for a lavish wedding, taking a simple trip to the courthouse is obviously more economical. But dreamers, don’t despair. You can still have a traditional wedding ceremony and reception without going overboard. You just need a budget!

Figuring out your wedding budget can be confusing if you’ve never planned a large event. It’s difficult to nail down a dollar amount if you’re unsure how much bang you can get for your buck. Sometimes the wedding a couple wants doesn’t align with what they can afford, and that’s when the trouble begins.

Your wedding is one of the best days of your life, so you may feel pressure to plan an elaborate celebration. But there’s no need to go into debt. You can have a wonderful, memorable wedding—no matter what your budget is!

How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget

1. Determine the kind of wedding you want.

When you picture your wedding, what do you see? A swanky reception at a downtown loft? A backyard barbecue with all your friends and family? A classic hotel ballroom reception?

If you need a little more inspiration, think about all the weddings you’ve been to, seen on TV, or scrolled through on Pinterest. What did you like—or not like—about them?

Don’t get hung up on the little details just yet. Instead, think about the overall feel you want your wedding to have. When it comes to planning a wedding on a budget, knowing your priorities matters.

2. Have the wedding budget talk.

Everyone paying for the event (bride, groom and parents) needs to sit down and look at the total wedding budget. This might be your first experience budgeting with your future spouse as a team. What a priceless experience! Learning to talk openly and honestly about how much you can spend—and how much you’re willing to spend—on your wedding is going to lay the groundwork for wonderful budget date nights once you’re married!

As uncomfortable as this budget talk might be, just remember—it’s a heck of a lot easier than still paying for your wedding day on your fifth anniversary!

When I say budget here, I’m not just talking about how much money you can spend total—I’m talking about how much you should spend in each specific area.

I suggest breaking the total wedding budget into categories and figuring out what percentage to devote to each:

• Reception: 55%
• Ceremony: 12%
• Photography: 10%
• Wedding Planner: 10%
• Dress and Tux: 8%
• Miscellaneous/Cushion: 5%

These aren’t set numbers; that’s just the ratio Winston and I used. You should set your ratios based on what’s important to you. Maybe you’re willing to splurge on photos, but flowers don’t really matter to you. If you care more about one area than another, change up the percentages.

3. Decide what is non-negotiable.

Based on your percentages, take a moment with your fiancé to decide on your top three must-haves for your big day. They can be practical or totally frivolous: an outdoor reception, a plated surf and turf dinner, loads of flowers, a live jazz band—whatever is most important to you.

You can come up with your wish lists separately or together, but make sure you sit down and determine what you both really want. Let that vision dictate your budget.