weddings 101

Weddings can cost a fortune. But they don’t have to break the bank if you’re not married to the idea of a wearing couture gown or lighting fireworks at midnight. Here are seven tips that will help you plan a beautiful wedding for $5,000 or less.

1. Keep it Intimate: Laura Ursin, founder of Brides On A Budget, says to aim for a guest list of 20. That might be impossible if you have a large family, but it makes you realize just how “intimate” the wedding will be. If there are folks that you’d love to include in your celebration, but can’t without overspending, invite them to come to the reception later in the evening; this way, they can be part of your day, but you don’t have to cover the cost of their meals.

2. Consider Consignment: Ursin estimates that brides working within this budget should expect to spend $500 to $1,000 on their dress. Consignment and pre-owned gowns are an option and keep an eye out for trunk sales where you can find styles from previous seasons for a fraction of the price.

3. Have a Garden or Backyard Wedding: Private venues can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000–and that doesn’t include catering! Ask a a friend or relative if you can have the wedding in their backyard or garden. Rent a tent (in case it rains) and decorate the space with twinkle lights, paper lanterns, votive candles and other inexpensive decor.

4. Get Crafty: If you’re having a rustic wedding, there are lots of ways to save money on the decor through the power of DIY makeovers. Use your imagination and transform mason jars into vases for your centerpieces, barn board and chalkboards into handcrafted signage and tree stumps into cake platters. The world of wedding craftiness really is endless, but if you’re choosing this route, make sure you give yourself lots of time for trial and error!

5. Keep the Meal Simple: Stick with the backyard theme and serve your favorite barbecued treats. You can do anything from hamburgers to filet Mignon on the grill, depending how (in)formal you want the meal to be. Or, have a cocktail-style reception with a spread of homemade appetizers contributed by family and friends. Serve individualized cupcakes for dessert, says Jessica Bianchi, founder of Thrifty Bride To Be: they are delicious, cost-efficient and can also act as your favor. Better yet: ask Granny to bake some delicious pies!

6. Serve a DIY Signature Cocktail: Cocktail Deeva, Dee Brun, suggests serving a signature punch or sangria in decorative urns or pitchers during the cocktail hour. It’s inexpensive because it can be made ahead and guests can help themselves, so you don’t need to pay for bartenders. Put wine on the tables for dinner and offer a cash bar for the rest of the night.

7. Ask a Friend to Snap Pics: Suggest that a friend with an artistic eye and a DSLR camera take photos of you and your hubby before, during and after the ceremony in lieu of a wedding gift. Bianchi suggests putting disposable cameras on tables at the reception so guests can take photos throughout the night. It’s not expensive to develop the film and the pics are bound to be far more hilarious than what a professional photographer would have captured.

8. Forgo the Favors: There are many ways to thank your guests that don’t include spending money on favors that could go to waste. Thank guests for coming individually as you mingle throughout the evening, and acknowledge how much it means to have everyone included in your special occasion. Another option is to make a small donation to a charity of your choice in lieu of wedding favors.

Images, from top to bottom: BerryTree Photography; A Brit & A Blonde Photography; i2istudios; Wild Eyed Photography; Beth and Ty in Love; Katie Stoops Photography; BerryTree Photography; Vanessa Voth Photography; Simply Rosie Photography.