Skinny budget wedding ideas

Got a skinny budget? Fear not, your pennies can still buy you an awesome wedding. First, establish just how skinny your skinny budget is. Second, determine your wedding must haves and the wedding fluff you can cut. Be ruthless and cut, cut away!

Once you’re clear on your budget and priorities, take a looksy at our handpicked el cheapo wedding ideas, which will assist you in keeping costs as low as possible!

Pick a day, any day but Saturday. Most people want to have their wedding on a Saturday evening, so there’s a premium to pay. Instead consider an alternative day and time slot i.e. Thursday breakfast, Friday brunch or Sunday lunch.

Reception at a restaurant. Venue fees and rental fees for tables, chairs, silverware and the like can become very expensive very fast. Save on these fees by holding your reception at a restaurant, which includes everything you need.

Have your wedding in the off-season. This will automatically give you bargaining power with vendors, as vendors tend to be more flexible with pricing when there is a lack of demand. During the off-season, you’re also in with a good chance of scoring a Saturday evening time slot.

Cut the drinks. Instead of an open bar, serve a great variety of beer and wine at the reception.

Skimp on the cake. Wedding cakes can cost thousands of dollars depending on the size and style. Instead investigate what’s available at your local cake shop or supermarket, as many sell inexpensive tiered cakes that can easily be redecorated. Alternatively, order standard cakes in different sizes from your local cake shop, get them to ice your cakes and construct the tiers yourself.

DIY invites. Search the internet for "wedding invitation templates" and you will find a million and one customisable wedding invitation options. Just enter your details, print, and voila! Alternatively, a lovely idea is to hand write invites on a card.

Cut back on the flowers or DIY your flowers. Flowers can be super costly, so use your smarts. Go with flowers that are in season and available locally, reuse flowers from the ceremony at the reception, purchase some of your flowers from your local supermarket, and use pot plants for centrepieces.

Bake your favors: Bake an assortment of cookies and hand them out in cute boxes.

Cut the guest list. While this may sound harsh, it’s Essential with a capital E. First, establish how many guests you want, then compile your guest list starting with family and close friends. Be cut throat and eliminate people you don't know well, people you haven't seen in years, and work friends. Address the wingers by explaining that you’ve decided to have an intimate family affair.

Borrow things, lots of things. If you can borrow items instead of buying them, this will lead to big savings. Think mason jars, vases, decorations etc.

Dress for Less. While the idea of a US $5,000 wedding dress sounds irresistible, really it’s a massive expense for a dress that will only be worn once. Additionally, most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a $5,000 dress and a $500 dress.

Here’s to cherishing your pennies and making them work for you with innovative wedding ideas!

About One Stylish Bride:

Launched in October 2009, One Stylish Bride is an Australian wedding blog that is updated daily with wedding goodness, which includes features on real brides, engaged couples and wedding vendors. One Stylish Bride is focused on providing the details and inspirations that make a wedding beautiful {whether in Australia or internationally}.

Editor Marcela holds a Law degree from the University of Technology Sydney and is passionate about all things beautiful and crafty. Marcela is an Australian that lives in Hong Kong with her fiancé Michael.