Weddings can be such an expensive and stressful event for so many couples. So, most people are looking for tips on planning a perfect simple wedding that will be both elegant and inexpensive. Obviously, the simplest wedding possible would be in front of a judge at the courthouse or at a drive-thru chapel in Las Vegas. However, many couples want something a little closer to the real thing with too much extra cost. Fortunately, there are several was to have a small yet beautiful ceremony if you use your brain instead of your wallet. You won’t be having the destination wedding of your dreams, but it will be a fantastic experience.
Below, we have outlined some tips and planning techniques. They are for couples who want the classic staples of a wedding ceremony such as flowers, bridal party, dinner, and dancing. Using these methods, you should be able to have a fun and relaxing experience on a very low budget.
Small Guest List
One of the easiest ways to save money on your wedding is to keep the guest list small. The idea here is quite simple; fewer guests equates to fewer upfront costs. Additionally, having a small guest list eliminates planning chores such as extensive seating charts. With only a select group of guests attending, you can also do away with things like an open bar which quickly add up to be very expensive.
Dinner Service for a Simple Wedding
Extravagant dinners can really add a lot of stress and expense to a wedding reception, so the simpler the better. Limit the number of food options presented to guests and try to go for very simple foods. Many couples are opting to have appetizers instead of a full course such as wine, bread, and cheese. With an elegant presentation that is well-suited for a reception, even inexpensive and simple items can be a huge hit at your reception.
Choose Your Venue Wisely
Your wedding and reception venue will undoubtedly be one of the largest expenses of your simple wedding. However, if you choose a venue that can accommodate both your ceremony and reception, you can usually save a great deal of money. Also, you can ask your friends and family to use their backyard or vacation property. If that option isn’t available, you can always look for public venues. Places such as parks or beaches which are usually very cheap or even free for wedding ceremonies.
Avoid the Need to Decorate
No matter what, you will need to do some decorating to bring the venue to life. However, choosing a venue with natural beauty such as an outdoor venue can save you time, money, and stress. Venues such as flower gardens, orchards, and beaches offer lots of beautiful elements. Best of all, you don’t need to hang up one decoration. You can even get away with using artificial flowers made from wood in your centerpieces to save money. The more gorgeous of a venue you can find, the less work and money you will need to put into it. This is a vital step to keeping your wedding simple yet elegant.
Avoid Too Many DIY Projects
DIY wedding projects are a great way to save money. However, they also add a ton of planning, work, and stress to the event. If you are planning a simple wedding, the last thing you want to do is to give yourself more tasks. Spending weeks or months of work ahead of time doing DIY projects that are unnecessary is an awful plan. For instance, you could follow a DIY recipe for homemade sparklers, but it’s so much easier to just buy them. Don’t be afraid to spend a little money on wedding favors, decorations, and other inexpensive items. It will save you the time and stress of putting them together yourself.
Trim the Fat to Create a Simple Wedding Plan
First, you will need to eliminate anything and everything you can from your ceremony and reception to keep it simple. You don’t want to eliminate anything that will make the day cheap looking or tacky. However, you also want to put as little effort into the planning and execution stages of the ceremony and reception to keep it a truly simple wedding.
Obviously, some people may see these ideas as over-simplification and compromising the occasion. However, others will find that the amount of stress that planning a simple wedding relieves is well worth the trade-off. And, of course, you can always renew your vows in a few years! Then, you can have a more extravagant ceremony if you decide you want to do a little more in the future. Just keep things simple and focus on the basics and you’ll do great!
