21 Tips For A Frugal Wedding

Tips for a frugal wedding!

We all know what frugal means, right? Cheap? Money-conscious? A big saver? When it comes to weddings, frugal means that you and your partner are trying to not break the bank when it comes to paying for things. Maybe you have a tight budget, for a number of reasons. Maybe you just don’t want to spend a lot on a wedding. In either case, it’s all good. You want a frugal wedding, and with some strategy, you shall have it.

Of course, it’s easy to throw a terrible wedding that is low in costs. No one wants to do that, though. Throwing a wedding, of any size, is an endeavor. No matter how much you’re spending, you want it to be worth the effort and the cost. The key with planning a frugal wedding is to also make sure it’s a great wedding, despite the low budget. That’s where strategy and intention come in.

This post is going to share with you twenty one tips for a frugal wedding. None of these tips will impact the quality of your wedding, for the most part. These tips are common sense, and for the right situation, can save you tons. Not every tip will work for every wedding. And, if your priorities or opinions go against some of these tips, don’t follow them. You do you when it comes to your wedding.

Let’s get into it.

1. A FRUGAL WEDDING NEEDS A BUDGET BEFORE SPENDING ANYTHING

Number one tip right here.

You can’t have a frugal wedding without knowing what you’re working with. Before you plan your wedding, sit down with your partner. Set your budget. And then try and fit what you want to spend money on within that budget. Need help creating a budget? Check out this post. Need help getting on the same page as your partner? This is the post for you.

2. RESEARCH, COMPARE PRICES, AND THEN COMMIT

This is crucial. Research and price comparisons are your friends when you want to save money on your wedding.

Before you commit to anything, look at your options. Make some calls. Find online forms and inquire. Compare services among vendors and venues to what you get for the price they offer. Go deep into the details, even if you hate details. You will find intel that will help you save money at the end of the day, I promise. Vendors and venues are the bulk of your costs, so spending time finding the best prices will give you the biggest savings.

3. SEE IF YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY ARE WILLING TO HELP OUT YOUR FRUGAL WEDDING

Here’s the thing. You don’t want your friends and family “working” your wedding. But, you can save money if they help out in some ways.

Maybe you have a crafty friend who can do your flowers. Or someone who can create a great dessert bar. Perhaps your aunt is an awesome seamstress. If you are confident in their skills, and it’s not too stressful for everyone, ask for help.

4. BORROW, BORROW, BORROW FOR A FRUGAL WEDDING

I once wrote a post about borrowing items for your wedding, and you can find it here.

If you have a good system for collecting, using, and returning items, borrowing can save you money on a frugal wedding. Borrow linens, tableware, décor, jewelry, and literally anything else you can from your friends and family. Not only will it help you save money, but it’s sustainable.

5. DON’T DISMISS SECOND HAND OPTIONS

Can’t borrow everything for your wedding? How about buying second hand?

Honestly, most wedding items have life in them after they are used. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to find most of what you need and be able to buy it at a discount. As long as you’re willing to put in the work to search, you will save money at the end of the day.

6. LOOK INTO RENTALS – IT’S NOT JUST LINENS AND CHAIRS

Did you know there’s a huge market out there for wedding rentals? It’s not just for linens and chairs.

These days, you can rent just about anything for your wedding. Tableware for sure. Décor, no problem. You can also rent your wedding gown and of course, suits or tuxes. There are websites dedicated to helping you rent accessories and shoes, too. If you want to rent it, do a quick search and you will find it.

7. BEWARE OF DIY PROJECTS

Switching gears. Some people think that DIY projects will save them money. I am warning you to beware of them.

For the full details on why, check out this post. I will give you the low down, though. If you don’t know what you’re doing, if you’re not careful, DIY projects can bite you. It can be costly to get the materials, and the end product may not be what you envisioned. If you know what you’re doing, or you are confident in your abilities, have fun. You may save money. If not, see if you can borrow, buy used, or rent what you need.

8. SKIP THE THINGS THAT DON’T SPARK JOY

The little things can really add up when it comes to weddings.

Yes, venues and vendors are the biggest costs. However, décor, favors, signage, welcome bags, bathroom baskets, and all the other little things can be a chunk of change. If you want a frugal wedding, don’t do it all. Pick and choose the little things that make sense to you and your partner, and go with them. Or, skip everything. Save money and time. Yes, many of these things are nice, but they aren’t essential.

9. PRIORITIZE WHAT’S TRULY IMPORTANT TO YOU FOR A FRUGAL WEDDING

While we’re talking about sparking joy, let’s talk about priorities.

If you are trying to save money on your wedding, you need to know your priorities. What’s more important? Flowers or videography? Your wedding gown or your wedding entertainment? Rank your “must haves”, and what’s left over is optional, if you have the budget. Remember, it’s okay to skip what is not important to you, especially if you’re trying to save money.

10. GO FOR THE DESSERT BAR (OR SHEET CAKES)

For some weddings, wedding cake can be a big expense. If it’s not among your priorities, look for alternatives.

Many people opt to have a dessert bar instead of a big tiered wedding cake. Or, they will have a small cake and then sheet cakes for most wedding guests. The thing is, your guests will never know the difference. Cake is cake once it’s cut. If you want to save money on your wedding dessert, this is the post for you.

11. STAY LOCAL FOR YOUR FRUGAL WEDDING

One wedding expense that’s easy to overlook is the cost of travel.

If you are getting married outside your local area, you’re going to have some travel costs. Maybe it’s just gas money. Or a hotel. You may also have airfare to deal with. To save money, see if you can stay very close to home, or even at home. It’s totally okay to go home after your wedding, by the way. It’s comfortable, inexpensive, and can be dolled up to make it romantic, if you wish.

12. BE CAREFUL WITH BLANK SLATE VENUES

Some people think that a blank slate venue, where you get to bring in what you need and the venue provides very little, is a big bargain.

I’m here to tell you that it’s not.

Blank slate venues can be super expensive. I write all about it in this post. Beware of the “good deal” that provides nothing. It means that you’ll be providing all your items, which can be a lot of work and money.

13. LIMIT THE HOURS YOUR BAR WILL BE OPEN

Are you planning on having an open bar at your wedding? Looking to save costs? Maybe limit how long the bar is available.

By limiting the bar, you’ll limit the alcohol consumption. Less consumption, less costs. Plus, less liability and drama, but I’ll save that Ted Talk for another post. It’s totally okay to limit your bar to as little as one hour, if you want, and then switch to non-alcoholic options. Your guests will survive.

14. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE FOR A FRUGAL WEDDING

The more complicated things are, the more they will cost. If you want to have a frugal wedding, keep things simple.

This means not going overboard. Think minimalism. Less flowers. Less embellishments. Just less stuff overall. Instead of a massive appetizer spread, keep it limited to cheese and crackers. Don’t have a full bar with tons of options. Stick to a wine, and a beer. It will be okay, and keep things less expensive.

15. SELL ITEMS AFTER YOUR WEDDING

This isn’t really a way to save money on your wedding, but it is a way to save money overall.

Sell your used wedding items after your wedding.

Need help to do so? Check out this post. It’s got all the tips on making sure you buy items that can be sold afterwards. There are even tips on photography, storage, and mindset in there. Selling items doesn’t have to be an ordeal, and recouping the costs will be a nice bonus after your wedding day.

16. UTILIZE A FREE WEDDING WEBSITE FOR ALL COMMUNICATION

Instead of having a bulky invitation, go with a free wedding website for all of your wedding communications.

Your wedding website is a huge tool. Not only are they inexpensive, mostly free, to set up, but they can provide a ton of information to your guests. This saves on so much postage because you can cut the added weight in your mailed invites. Plus, if you want to go 100% digital, you can often send invitations and track RSVP’s in your website. Win, win.

17. BARTER AND TRADE, WHEREVER POSSIBLE

Do you have a skill? Why not see if you can trade it for services?

For example, you may have a small business. Perhaps your photographer is willing to trade their services for some of your products. Maybe you’re skilled at organizing, or babysitting. Your florist may be open to a barter or trade. If you can do something of value, see if there’s a win-win out there. You never know until you ask.

18. HOST AT A NON-TRADITIONAL WEDDING VENUE

Want to save money on your venue for your frugal wedding? Host at an unusual location.

I have a whole post about this. From libraries to aquariums, there are tons of options out there. Not only do these venues have great prices for events, but they often come with built in entertainment. Plus, your guests will never forget an unusual venue.

19. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD

Why stop thinking outside the box with wedding venues? Why not serve some unusual wedding food, too?

If you want ideas here, this is the post for you. It has tons of tips on inexpensive wedding food that your guests will love. The key is to pick something that you like, and go with it. Your guests won’t mind, as long as they are being fed good food.

20. KEEP THE GUEST LIST NUMBERS LOW (IF POSSIBLE)

We all know this tip, but I’m going to put it in here anyway.

If you want to have a frugal wedding, without skimping on quality, and you have a tight budget, look at your guest list. If you are able to cut guests, you will immediately save money. Need help? This post is filled with tips to reduce your guest list. In most cases, it is possible.

21. SET UP A HONEYFUND

Last tip!

If you want to save money on your wedding, or at least collect money for your wedding, set up a honeyfund. A honeyfund is a way for guests to easily wire you money as their gift. You can set up a fund on websites like Zola, with a minimal amount taken out as a service charge. After your wedding, these funds can be used towards your honeymoon, or they can be used to replenish your savings, if needed.

THOUGHTS ON HAVING A FRUGAL WEDDING

Friends, there are tons of ways to have a frugal wedding. The key is to pick and choose the ways that work the best for you. In some cases, you will have to be strategic. In others, you may be trading time for money. Remember, at the end of the day your wedding will be amazing, no matter your budget. Happy wedding planning!

More On Saving Money On Your Wedding From Hummingbird Wedding Advice

18 Money Saving Tips For A Big Wedding

How To Save Money On Wedding Catering

15 Wedding Saving Tasks That Don’t Cost Money

Did you find this post helpful, inspiring? PIN it to your Wedding Budget Board on Pinterest!