Planning a wedding can be stressful, but planning a budget-friendly wedding is tough. As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen it all. As a Reno wedding photographer, I love helping my couples make their dream wedding come true. Throughout this budget-friendly wedding guide, I’m breaking down where to splurge and where to save!

Set a Budget for Your Budget-Friendly Wedding

No one tells you how expensive weddings can be, so when you plan yours, it’s shocking. First, when planning your budget-friendly wedding, prepare a budget. Sit down with your fiance, mom, dad, grandma, whoever pays for the wedding. This conversation has to happen before all the planning to help ensure you stay on track. No one wants to get a second job to pay for the flowers!

Where to Splurge and Save for Your Budget-Friendly Wedding

Save $$

Let’s discuss where we can save you money for your budget-friendly wedding. This day is supposed to be the best day of your life, and I will make sure it stays that way. Throughout the planning process, you may get overwhelmed or unsure whether something is a good or bad deal. One of my favorite budget-friendly hacks is for flowers.

Flowers

Oddly enough, flowers can be super pricey! But, if you buy them from a wholesale club like (Sam’s Club or Costco) you can get them at great prices. Later, you’ll combine the flowers for centerpieces, bouquets, etc. This is a great budget-friendly option and a great place to save $$.

Budget Friendly Cake

Next up, the cake. Cake can be another piece of the puzzle that can be more expensive. Getting a cake at a wholesale club is another great way to save money. However, who says you must have cake for your budget-friendly dream wedding cake? Skip the cake and have cookies instead, or make cupcakes! Not only is this a fun and unique wedding idea, but it could save some money, too. Cookies could also double as wedding favors!

The Dress

While the wedding dress seems like the one thing you should splurge on, I will tell you why it isn’t. The dress will only be worn once, but you can find your dream dress for a reasonable price. David’s Bridal has excellent sales on their beautiful gowns throughout the year. If you want to buy a dress, this is a great option.

Another option is to rent a dress. This may sound crazy, but many brides rent their wedding dresses for anywhere from $200 to $500. While this may not seem ideal, hear me out. You don’t have to worry about getting the dress preserved and dry cleaned to perfection to stuff in a closet or under your bed. You won’t have it just hanging in your closet waiting for you to do something with it (which is where many bridal gowns end up).

Renting the dress gives you the dress of your dreams for all the pretty pictures and on your dream day. Then you get it cleaned and give it back. Your budget-friendly wedding will be that much better, and you will be able to spend money elsewhere.

Budget-Friendly Wedding Decor

Throughout your planning process, I’m sure you have been on Pinterest pinning your perfect day down to the perfect centerpieces for your wedding. Many other brides have been doing the same thing, have had ideas and visions similar to yours, and have already gotten married. They’re selling their decor on Facebook Marketplace to brides like YOU! Scour Facebook groups, marketplace, and bridal pages for decor. You’ll be surprised to see what people are selling, and you might be able to find the perfect decor for your dream day!

Here are a Few Things You Can Do Without..

Elaborate Wedding Favors

Let’s skip the fancy jams and personalized napkins. Your wedding guests won’t use them or will forget to grab them from their table when they leave. Instead, make homemade cookies, give a small bag of little kisses, or even a tiny package of flower seeds they can take home and grow. Keep wedding favors simple, practical, and low-cost.

Planning any wedding and all the details can be confusing and frustrating. However, planning your budget-friendly wedding doesn’t have to be! Skip all the fancy extras and focus on what matters most and why everyone is coming together—not for the fancy gifts but to see you on the happiest day of your life.

Wedding Dinner

Food is expensive, especially for many people. Why not serve appetizers or desserts instead? Your guests can mingle, dance, and have something to eat. The simpler you get, the more enjoyable your day will be.

Do you still want to have dinner but keep the budget low? Try a nacho bar. It’s the perfect budget-friendly meal that everyone will love. Your guests can customize the nachos to their liking, and you’ll have a delicious meal after saying, ‘I do!’

Splurge $$$

Photography/Videography

This may not come as a surprise from a wedding photographer/videographer, but it’s so important to find the right fit to capture your dream day. Throughout the day, you won’t have to worry about whether Uncle Tom got the moment you became husband and wife or if Nana got her finger in the picture. Saving money throughout your budget-friendly wedding planning will be worth it. You will be so grateful you did it when you look at those pictures.

Trust me, it’ll be hard to change your vision for budget reasons. Are you still seeking the perfect Reno wedding photographer to capture your day? Let’s chat!