How to Plan a Small and Affordable Wedding

Congrats! You’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with—but there’s just one problem: money.

Almost every girl dreams of one day finding her Prince Charming and having the big, lavish wedding of her dreams. Shows like Bridezillas on WeTV have certainly shown us as much. A content creator on TikTok shares stories from her clients as a makeup artist (MUA), and while the reenactments are quite hilarious, they also highlight the complexities of weddings and the stress placed on brides as the day unfolds—or even leading up to it. Something as simple as choosing the right DJ, venue, or flower arrangements can cost thousands. Oh, and let’s not forget the photographers!

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With all of this in mind, planning a small and simple wedding may just be the solution. But how do you go about it? First, set a budget. Budgeting in this economy may feel laughable, right? Sure—but one thing it does do is make the wedding planning process much smoother. Not only do you need to finalize your budget, but you must also stick to it.

Let’s say your budget is $10,000 for the entire wedding. This includes flowers, venue, photographer, MUA, hairstylist, and of course, your gown. It might not sound doable to most—but believe me, it is. You just need the patience to shop around, compare pricing, and best of all—DIY a few things. Little details like centerpieces, photo booths, and table décor can be done at home with items from the dollar store and a hot glue gun.

Weddings aren’t something you can dive into headfirst and expect everything to turn out perfectly. You need to plan from the beginning—and sometimes that starts with the engagement ring. Most partners try their best to find a ring their significant other has shown interest in. If you and your partner have been together for a while, there’s probably already a mutual understanding of what you can both afford. As a girlfriend, it’s okay to start dropping hints about the types of rings he can purchase—rings you know he can comfortably afford.

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Goodstone is a great place to consider. Their radiant cut engagement rings are both affordable and elegant, making them a solid fit for most budgets. And keep this in mind: once you're married, your income becomes one. If your fiancé is pressured into spending an exorbitant amount of money just on the engagement ring, it’s safe to assume that once you sign that marriage certificate, that debt becomes yours too.

Do you really want that to happen?

Get ahead of the planning process by being mindful of your spending—and your partner’s—early on to avoid arguments later down the line. According to statistics, over 50% of marriages end in divorce, with 90% of those initiated by women. The study also shows that excessive arguing and lack of commitment are the top two reasons for divorce, with issues like inequality in relationships and lack of preparation for marriage coming in third and fourth.

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In case you’re wondering what most couples argue about—finances. Financial abuse can also creep into marriages, especially when one partner hasn’t been honest from the start about their financial burdens or debt. Engagement rings and wedding expenses often contribute to this, with budgets quickly skyrocketing and leaving couples struggling to repay later. Some brides and grooms have even gone as far as charging guests to attend their wedding—something that, as most of us know, doesn't always go over well.

Planning a budget-friendly wedding starts with financial literacy. Ask yourself: do you want to accidentally spend upwards of $200,000 on a wedding, or would you rather budget wisely and walk away from vendors whose prices are simply out of your range? That said, many vendors are open to negotiating with potential clients.

Don’t be too quick to walk away—ask if they have any specials, package deals, or referral discounts. Maybe you have a sibling or best friend getting married soon—these connections can be valuable when trying to cut costs and build good rapport for future events. Nowadays, vendors prioritize customer retention and return clients. So while it’s smart to negotiate, it’s also important to be respectful of their rates. Striking that balance is key.

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If you’re aiming for a beautiful wedding that won’t break the bank, you’ll need to brush up on your people skills. Vendors and service providers are more likely to help out a kind, respectful couple than one that comes off as entitled. Be open to suggestions that may include downgrades or substitutions to stay within budget. For instance, don’t be offended if a florist says hydrangeas are outside your price range but offers an alternative—like roses—that’s still elegant and eye-catching.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the wedding—it’s about the marriage. It’s about waking up every morning and choosing each other. And you can’t do that if you don’t trust your partner with money or if you’ve been duped into having an extravagant wedding that far exceeded your budget. Never go into a marriage carrying avoidable debt. Be intentional about your spending—and it starts with something as simple as hinting to your partner that you’d prefer a nice, budget-friendly engagement ring.

by Harley Miller