How to Plan a Wedding on a Budget of $10,000 or Less

You are eager to organize a wonderful wedding day filled with pixie dust and joyful thoughts now that you are engaged. The issue is that there are no bulk discounts available for pixie dust.

In 2022, the typical couple's wedding expenses came to around $30,000. With only ⅓ of that in your wedding piggy bank, $10,000 can be daunting.

However, $10,000 is not insignificant; you can still organize a fantastic wedding with that money. All you have to do is use some ingenuity and reduce all your significant expenses by an average of one-third.

Alright, you were given. Certain costs, such as the marriage license, are fixed. However, there is plenty of opportunity to save money on other parts of your wedding, mainly if you are okay with doing some do-it-yourself work.

Please continue reading to learn our top suggestions for organizing a wedding on a $10,000 or less budget and a sample budget to work with.

The Wedding Budget Breakdown $10,000

In an "average wedding," let's specify where all the money goes. Our earlier blog post, How to Plan a Wedding on a Small Budget, covered the precise figures. However, this is how the percentage split appears:

• 50% for the venue, cake, and catering
• 15.5% is photography and videography.
• 10.5% for music and entertainment;
• 9.7% for flowers, décor, and wedding favours
• Hair, makeup, and wardrobe: 8.5%
• Unspecified costs - 4%
• Stationery and invitations: 1.8%

To match your $10,000 budget, you only need to modify these percentages. And that appears to be like this:

• $5,000 for the venue, cake, and catering
• $1,550 for photography and videography
• $1,050 for music and entertainment
• $970 for wedding favours, flowers, and decorations
• Hair, makeup, and wardrobe: $850
• $400 for other expenses.
• $180 for invitations and additional stationery

However, you are welcome to modify these figures to fit your preferences, and we will do so without a doubt!

For instance, you can use your entertainment budget to purchase a high-end wedding gown for something other than a live band or DJ at your reception. However, if hosting a wild event is your top priority, you can save money by making your wedding decorations.

What you and your partner consider your "dream wedding day" will determine everything. Here's an illustration of how you could approach it:

The Guest List

Size is essential when it comes to your wedding guest list. Your total bill will increase with the number of guests you invite. Ultimately, each new visitor on the list will require:

• A Request: $3 to $8.
• Renting a chair costs between $1.50 and $6 per chair.
• The average cost of a plate of food from a full-service caterer is $75.
• A Bit of Cake: Besides requiring a giant cake, cake-cutting costs often range from $2 to $5. (Really, it does exist.)

Do you have a calculator on hand? Because that's an average of around $87.75 per guest.

The average couple invited 105 people to their wedding, per a 2021 The Knot study. Just feeding everyone would cost about $7,875 if you keep up with the calculation. Oh no.

However, this does not imply that you should investigate elopement packages. However, having a miniature wedding with a smaller guest list can be worthwhile if you're set on spending at most $10,000 in total.

There should be at most fifty attendees in a genuinely micro wedding. Since you won't have to engage in small talk with your fifth cousin, whose name you can't even recall, it can also make your day feel more romantic and intimate, in addition to saving money.

That being said, you have a lot of leeway with a $10,000 budget. Therefore, you will only need to use cost-cutting strategies for catering and other costs if you want to host more than fifty people. (More about those shortly.)

Wedding Venues on a Budget

Most of your wedding budget will undoubtedly go toward your venue. This expenditure alone accounts for $10,400 spent by the average couple.

For the record, you're not the only one who feels it's excessive to pay for the privilege of exchanging vows in the middle of a barn. Additionally, there are undoubtedly more affordable solutions available. You can find a fantastic, accessible venue if you have wonderful relatives and friends.

Some inexpensive venue choices to think about are:

• Hourly venue rentals: You may rent beautiful wedding venues by the hour rather than the day with websites like Peerspace. Additionally, there are plenty of options to choose a venue for $1,000 or less, as the typical Peerspace wedding venue is $120 per hour.
• Local eateries: On weekdays or weeknights, pubs and restaurants can offer stunning settings for a wedding and reception, frequently at a reduced price. On Peerspace, restaurants usually charge between $25 and $350 per hour. Additionally, they could even provide food and drink bundles for events. Win-win!
• A backyard wedding: If you, a friend, or a family member have a large backyard, now is the perfect time to take advantage of it. A few outdoor wedding decorations will transform the area into something truly unique.
• Public beaches or national parks: These areas are free and accessible. There are many fantastic locations where you can set up for free, even if certain states may charge for a beach wedding permit or a pavilion rental.
• A place of worship: Do you and your significant other frequently visit a synagogue, mosque, or church? Although it is usual to give a little gratuity, you may be allowed to utilize the venue for free if you are a member.

Total: Let's set aside $1,000 for this. Again, if you enjoy outside weddings, you can get this for free.

Wedding Food Ideas on a Budget

According to an Irish proverb, "Laughter is the brightest where food goes."

As we've already discussed, feeding every guest can significantly drain your budget (ba dum tss.).

The dinner bill alone will cost $3,750 if you choose typical full-service catering for 50 people. Even while it can be accomplished on a $10,000 budget, there is still some leeway if you plan to host more people or don't want to shell out over $4,000 for a single supper.

For starters, you can choose a more casual choice, like a food truck, rather than full-service catering, which usually involves several dishes and even wait staff.

A food truck can help you feed a gathering for about $20 to $40 per person, according to Roaming Hunger. In addition to being less expensive, a food truck may add a playful element and a cute photo opportunity to your wedding. Win-win!

Additional cost-cutting strategies for catering include:

• Drop-off catering: You can have food delivered to your reception by a nearby restaurant instead of a formal sit-down supper. Roaming Hunger claims this method can feed a crowd for $12 to $20 per person.
• Buffets: You may save money by having your caterer create a buffet rather than delivering individual items. With this concept, you can feed a crowd for about $25 to $50 for each person.
• Well, why not have a potluck? Asking guests to bring a dish instead as a gift to your reception can help you save a lot of money on food. You can make your wedding reception completely free by turning it into a potluck. However, you can always bring one or two dishes yourself. For example, create a home-cooked main course and invite your guests to bring sides.
• Total: Let's set aside $2,000 to provide upscale food truck service to 50 people. However, if you choose to serve more people, you have choices.

Wedding Cake on a Budget

"Romance is the icing, but love is the cake," -Child Julia

Naturally, you'll need something to slam into your partner's face after supper. The obvious choice here is cake; a baker will give you a ton of cake for $10k.

You might want to spend only some of your money on the cake, but it's okay if you do. However, for $1,000 or less, you can still obtain a somewhat creative design.

The following variables could affect your wedding cake's final cost:

• The size: A cake with five or six layers will cost more than one with three or four.
• The decorations: Naturally, more intricate decorations, such as edible gold leaf-coated flowers, will cost more than more straightforward pipework.
• The flavours: Due to the additional cost of ingredients, cakes with more complex tastes may be more expensive.

Desserts that serve one serving, such as brownies, cream puffs, or doughnuts, can be a delicious way to satisfy your sweet appetite without breaking the bank. Again, no judgment, but you could always serve them with your cake.

Total: According to reports, the typical couple spends about $500 on their wedding cake. Let's include that in our wedding fund.

Wedding Entertainment on a Budget

"Your life's soundtrack is music," said Dick Clark.

And depending on who listens to it, that soundtrack may be expensive. According to reports, the typical couple spends about $1,400 on a DJ or $4,300 on a live band for their reception.

Again, you don't have to spend this much money simply because the "average" couple does. For your first dance to be memorable, Ed Sheeran doesn't have to serenade you personally.

You can find local musicians who can provide fantastic music for your wedding reception through a gig-booking agency, frequently at meagre costs. Additionally, you're assisting a local musician in realizing their ambition.

You can reserve entertainment for your reception on the following websites:

• Thumbtack: Their website states that you can usually hire a musician for your wedding reception for between $100 and $300 per hour. The average cost to hire a DJ here is between $500 and $640 per event.
• Gigsalad: According to their blog, the website offers wedding bands for as little as $850 for four hours. DJs typically charge $400 to $600 for four hours.
• The Bash: According to their blog, this business charges about $115 per hour for DJ bookings.

A Bluetooth speaker can work just as well if you'd prefer to save this price entirely.

Total: Let's budget $500 to reserve a DJ through a gig website.

The Wardrobe

"You look stunning in white," said Shane Fillon.

Your partner would likely still cry even if you wore a paper bag down the aisle. However, we don't blame you if you would like something a bit more unique for the occasion. You don't get to dress up like a walking fairy tale character every day, after all.

The typical cost of a bridal gown is approximately $1,800. Once more, it's feasible on a $10,000 budget, especially if you choose to reorganize other wedding-related costs.

However, you might think about the following solutions if you want to save money and look good:

• Purchasing a used gown: You can find pre-owned or used wedding dresses on websites like Still White and Nearly Newlywed, often at significant savings over their new counterparts.
• Renting your gown: You can hire designer wedding dresses for as little as $50 on websites like Hire the Runway. And until someone asks, nobody will be aware that it's a rental.
• Getting a dress off the rack: Beautiful white dresses are available at department shops like Nordstrom, with prices starting at $50. The price may be considerably lower if you're shopping off the clearance rack.

Similar to wedding dresses, suits and tuxedos can be rented, purchased secondhand, or off the rack. Here are a few websites where you can do that:

• Tux rentals: You can locate stylish formal clothes that you can return after your wedding with the help of websites like Generation Tux and The Plunge.
• UsedTuxedos.com sells used suits and tuxedos, just as you might expect. Additionally, if suits are more your style, you can purchase them.
• Off-the-rack suits: Once more, Nordstrom and other department stores are your allies.

Total: Let's take a chance and spend $2,000 on finding your ideal attire for you and your significant other because we could save money on the location and catering. Give yourself a treat!

The Hair & Makeup

According to reports, hiring a hairstylist and makeup artist to create a bridal look for the day costs about $250 at an average wedding. For a budget of $10,000, that is a drop in the bucket.

However, you can save money by doing your hair and makeup if you need more funds for another aspect of your wedding. Beauty There are plenty of experts on TikTok and YouTube who can help you look your best for the event. Additionally, it's the ideal justification to purchase that new eyeshadow palette you've had your eye on if you want to do it yourself.

In total: Although you could easily omit this price completely, let's set aside $250 for your hair and makeup because it's your wedding day and now is the perfect moment to treat yourself like a movie star.

The Flowers and Decorations

D.H. Lawrence once said, "Love is the flower of life."

The typical couple spends about $2,300 on florist-designed bridal bouquets. Although that is feasible on a $10,000 budget, depending on the kind of flowers you want and what is in season, you may still need to make concessions or reduce some decorations.

Fortunately, fake flowers offer a simple way to receive all the affordable flowers you desire without sacrificing quality.

You can have more decorations with a smaller budget because artificial flowers are significantly less expensive than their counterparts. They also have other benefits, such as not withering. Additionally, if you want to prepare your floral arrangements before the wedding, artificial flowers are suitable for do-it-yourself tasks.

A DIY bridal flower set from Flowersarch costs $299. There are enough flowers and greenery in the kit to create:

• A bouquet for a bride
• Six bouquets for bridesmaids
• Six corsages
• Seven boutonnieres

Additionally, you may always utilize the flowers for another do-it-yourself project if many people still need to attend your wedding.

Need to be interested in do-it-yourself projects? Pre-arranged decorations may still make faux flowers look amazing.

For about $335, you can get a pre-arranged wedding décor package at Sunset Terracotta that comes with a ton of decorations for a stunning ceremony and reception, such as flowers for welcome signs, a garland for your head table, and arch decor.

Total: Let's budget $1,000 for readymade or do-it-yourself imitation floral décor.

The Photography

"We preserve this affection in a picture. Ed Sheeran said, "We created these memories for ourselves."

The typical couple hires a wedding photographer for about $2,400. Additionally, this can be worth the investment if you're serious about getting pictures that look good in a bridal catalogue and placed on your mantel. You can't go back for reshoots later, after all.

However, there are also ways to save money on this price. Instead of following you around with a camera all day, several professionals provide packages with a few hours of coverage. Therefore, you can save money if you don't need pictures of every moment of your day.

Another option is to research student photographers, who usually charge less than professional photographers. Fix the Photo states that the average hourly rate for student photographers is between $50 and $120. Therefore, you can get a full day of photo coverage for $1,000 or less if you're comfortable assisting a student in developing their portfolio.

Let's budget $1,500 for a more modest package from a professional or exceptionally talented student photographer.

The Invitations

The average cost of hiring a professional to create and mail invitations is $530. And hey, if you want something upscale or want to avoid handling them yourself, it might be perfect.

However, you can make your invitations for much less if you want to pay at most $500 to have your mail handled by someone else.

Websites such as these offer free and printable invitation templates.

• Canva
• Greetings Island
• Paper Source
• Cards & Pockets

Select your favourite, add your names and dates, and print it on cardstock.

At a craft store, a pack of fifty 8x10 cardstock sheets costs about $6. The size of your invites, the number of guests (as well as the number of sheets of cardstock your printer can use) will determine how many packs you'll need.

A regular envelope will cost about $0.58 in postage, but you'll need to quadruple that amount if you want to send RSVPs. However, depending on the weight of your invitations, you may use two stamps.

Additionally, consider adding ribbons or other embellishments to your invites if you want to go above and above. Giving them a more upscale appearance is straightforward, and you don't need to hire someone to do it for you.

Let's budget $150 for postage, cardstock, ribbons, printer ink, and any other supplies you may require.

Miscellaneous Expenses

During the planning process, unforeseen fees and expenses may come up at any time, potentially reducing your budget.

Typical wedding-related incidental costs include:

• Your license to marry: This fixed item costs about $60, though it varies by state.
• Your celebrant: Usually, officiant fees come to about $350. However, you can reduce this cost if an ordained friend or family member performs your ceremony. (And getting ordained online is quite simple and affordable.)
• On average, renting a table and chairs ranges from $1.50 to $6.00 per pop.
• Delivery charges: If your catering is delivered, you may also be required to tip the driver or pay a delivery fee.
• Cleanup fees: After your event, you will usually be required to pay a cleanup fee if you rent the space.
• The IRS will want a piece of your wedding cake, yes.

Total: Setting aside about 10% of your overall budget is a good idea to cover unforeseen or sporadic costs. Let's set aside a cool $1,000 for this.

Conclusion

Let's review our entire wedding budget of $10,000. Our last figures are:

• $1,000 for venue rental
• $2,000 for catering
• $500 for the cake, $500 for entertainment
• Clothing: $2,000.
• $250 for hair and makeup
• $1,500 for photography
• $1,000 for decorations and flowers
• $150 for invitations
• Additional costs: $1,000.

The amount comes to a total of $9.900. You even get an additional $100 to spend as you like!

You could spend money on a unique gift for your partner after the wedding or a swimsuit to try on during your honeymoon. You can do whatever you want with it. Get out and do it.