AREN’T YALL SICK AND TIRED OF PAYING CRAZY AMONTS OF MONEY FOR WEDDINGS? These crazy $30,000+ weddings are stressful, overrated, wasteful, and full of other people’s opinions. I am going to let you in on a secret… your wedding doesn’t have to be as much as a house downpayment. *Gasp* I am going to walk you through what your possible wedding day could look like with a 10K budget for the WHOLE entire experience.
Let’s say you are a couple looking to elope in a National Park. You plan on inviting 7 of your friends and family members.
Location’s within budget
Elopement Ceremony
Okay, so you’re looking into national parks, and let’s say you want to get married in Zion National Park which is located in Utah. To get married in this park you’d have to pay a $100 to obtain a special uses permit (which you can find here).
Ceremony: 100
If snowy mountains is more your vibe you could end up in spots like these all within budget. Left is Tibble Fork Utah. Right Is Boulder Colorado.
Your stay
I am a sucker for Airbnb’s and think they’re awesome for weddings! Let’s say you plan on staying for the weekend, and book this airbnb for two nights for $300 a night and have your guests stay with you (expect to be hit with fees so let’s account for $200 worth of fees)!
Your stay: 800
( I mean you really wouldn’t have to go anywhere if you didn’t want to in this location!)
Budget friendly Vendors
Food
Depending on how you want to spend your night you could hit a restaurant in town and order off a menu. You could hire a private chef. Or you could even order a pizza and call it a night.
Let’s say you go with a little bbq theme. One where everyone cooks, listens to music, hanging out, and creates a meal together. Then you end your night by the fire dancing and having a blast!
Dishes from a local grocery store that you all whip up together could come to $200 if you really wanted. Crazy, because I know this what hits people’s budgets hard, is choosing how to feed 250 people. Not anymore!
Food: 200
Photographer
Please, hire someone you trust to capture the day the way you want to remember it. Do you want to remember the day in only pretty posed pictures? Or do you want to remember how it felt, all the moments and emotions? ( if you said option two, you’re my kinda person).
The average photographer ranges between 2,000 and 8,000 …. Yeah, I know that range isn’t very helpful. But let’s say you hired me (yay) , and you wanted me to capture the day from beginning to end. Then you’d be looking at $4,700 with all things included like travel, images, etc.
Here is when I am going to plug my website because this would be an actual dream and I’d love to tag along: https://michaelakesslerphotography.com/
PS. please choose someone you truly love and trust despite your budget. I know we’re not cheap but don’t go cheap just because you want to save a few hundred dollars. These are once in a lifetime. Make them important!
Photographer: 4,700
listen, pretty much the big things are handled and figured out and so far the total is 5,800…. Wicked right!?
Attire
My absolute favorite bridal shop is Rue de Seine which has these beautiful lace dresses that just scream beauty and adventure. And you treat yo self to this one Wild Harlow dress from their classics collection for 3,450.
For your spouse if they plan on wearing pants and coat of some sort. There are so many suits that are worth buying or if you already have some of the pieces there’s no point on getting a whole new tux/ suit!
But if you are in need of a rental this site has some affordable rentals: Stitch and Tie and you decide to go with one that is $200.
Together the Attire is: 3,650
Other
Then let’s say you spend $200 on your beautiful bouquet. Another $300 on decor and rentals. Then you decide to do your own hair and makeup but buy a new perfume just for the day $50.
Grand total of : 10,000
Can you believe that!? I just proved it’s possible to elope with a 10,000 budget. Now there ways to save so much money on a dress that I share with my brides when they book, but this is for those who have always dreamed of getting a Rue de Seine dress or one like it!
It’s just not worth wasting so much time, energy, and money on things that will just simply not matter once the day is done and over. I’m not saying certain things aren’t important and worth it. I am saying that it’s possible to spend 10,000 or less on a wedding when you focus on just the two of you!
