Budget weddings: Smart tips for planning a wedding on a tight budget

Planning a luxury wedding on a tight budget

Most people dream of a luxury wedding, but their budget just isn’t up to it. Here’s a list and a range of tips on how you can keep costs down to make your dreams come true with a budget wedding.

Decide how much your budget wedding can cost and stick to it. What are the must-haves and what can be left out? Keep it simple; don’t make the wedding too complicated or elaborate. The most important thing for a successful low-budget wedding is time. So start planning as early as possible to spread the costs over a longer period and to have time to sort out all the arrangements and DIY tasks yourself.

A budget wedding involves a lot of searching and ‘do-it-yourself’ tasks, as well as finding people who are willing to help for a small fee. That is, unless you’re having a secret wedding with no guests or reception. The reception is usually the most expensive item on the list, whether you do everything yourself or hold it at a restaurant. So there’s plenty of money to be saved here!

Save money on invitations and colour schemes

Create your invitation cards, programme, save-the-date cards etc. using the Bröllopsguiden’s Programme Tool, and either print them yourself or send/submit a PDF of the invitation you’ve created to a print shop. Or buy cards and envelopes and handwrite your invitations – it’s beautiful and unique.

Choose a colour scheme for the wedding and stick to it – it makes things easier. By buying a few inexpensive accessories, decorations and bits and bobs in this colour, you can create a cohesive look even if everything else is a mix of borrowed and hired items.
Colour scheme inspiration

Budget wedding outfits: Second-hand and sales

Wedding shops usually have sales between September and November, so make the most of it. You can get up to 70 per cent off if you’re happy to buy a dress from the spring collections. Many shops also rent out dresses.

Vintage is in fashion, and you can find bargains both in second-hand shops and online. Blocket.se and Tradera.se have a wide range of second-hand wedding dresses and menswear.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also order wedding dresses from China via various websites. Remember, too, that not everything has to be new – don’t forget what’s already in your own wardrobe!

Wedding rings and jewellery at a better price

Gather up your old gold and use it as part of the payment when you order your rings. Check pawnshops, auction sites and auction houses for alternatives to a new wedding ring. Second-hand jewellery costs less than new.

Wedding rings A–Z (all about metals, etc.)
Find wedding rings at brollopsguiden.se

Find affordable wedding venues

Visit your local council’s website to see if they have any venues available for hire. Many local councils have venues in beautiful castles and manor houses that you can book. Sometimes the hire price can vary depending on the day. Some venues rent out function rooms for half price on Sundays! Other affordable options include camp sites, heritage centres and conference centres.

Find them on brollopsguiden.se:
Country houses & castles
, Venues etc.
, Banquet halls etc.

Food, drink and wedding cake on a budget

A homemade tapas buffet might be the cheapest option on a day like this, but you could also prepare a lighter starter yourselves and order the main course from a catering company. Skip the dessert if you’re having a wedding cake.

The wedding cake will cost considerably less if you buy one or more ‘princess cakes’ instead of a classic tiered wedding cake. Decorate the cake yourselves with flowers and a bride and groom figurine, for example. Individual-sized cakes can also be ordered in this way. If you or your friends are travelling abroad, buy some wine and bring it home with you.

For serving staff, you can get in touch with a catering college, where there are often students looking for part-time work. Just bear in mind that you’ll need someone in charge who’s used to organising and keeping everything running smoothly when it comes to food and service, to ensure everything goes to plan.

More ways to keep costs down

Affordable wedding photography

This is a day that won’t happen again! The photos must be good, and to be on the safe side, it’s wise to hire a skilled photographer who’ll be there to capture the most important moments, such as the wedding ceremony. If you’re willing to take a bit of a chance, there are photography students at media colleges you can approach, and you’re bound to know an amateur photographer among your friends who’d be happy to help out for a small fee.

Don’t
miss a thing: Print out the photography checklist (PDF)
Find a photographer at brollopsguiden.se

A budget-friendly honeymoon

It’s perfectly fine to ask for your honeymoon as a gift in the form of a gift voucher from a specific travel agency. Gift vouchers for discounted travel are often sold by private individuals on online ‘Buy and Sell’ sites. You can also find charming and affordable trips within Sweden or abroad online and at regular travel agencies if you book well in advance.

3 ways to book your honeymoon
Find a travel agency on brollopsguiden.se

Ask friends and contacts for help

Discuss with your parents which people in your circle of acquaintances you could turn to for help. You often know someone who’s good at the things and services needed for a wedding – everything from hairstyling and catering to singing during the ceremony.

Remember to enjoy yourselves

When you’re organising most things yourselves, it’s especially important to be able to let go of everything on the big day. Having a host couple take charge of all the arrangements on the wedding day means that you, as the bride and groom, can really enjoy yourselves and relax!

Business directory

Do you need help finding suppliers for your wedding? Have a look at our business directory.