How To Plan The Perfect Prudent Wedding For Less Than $5000 In 2022

“Simplicity is not about deprivation. Simplicity is about a greater appreciation for things that really matter.” You’re an average-income American citizen who makes a medium of $52,000 a year. How would paying about half of that for one night make sense? Actually, it doesn’t, and you don’t have to break the bank in order to celebrate a memorable wedding.

Your affordable wedding will have all the elements and necessities that any lavish wedding has but in a simple yet elegant way. Planning a wedding on a budget of $5,000 is more than enough, and it’s all about the best wedding plan. This article will introduce practical tips to save thousands of dollars and throw a remarkable party. Here’s your budget wedding planning checklist:

The success of this special day doesn’t depend on when you’ll tie the knot, how much you’ll spend, or where you’ll celebrate. It’s merely about the company. Thirteen, twenty, or even ten guests, it doesn’t matter. What really counts is who these people are and how close they are to you. It’s your day, and you’re not compelled to invite anyone if you don’t enjoy their presence.

So gather your dearest family members and most beloved friends in a list of 50 guests and start preparing your wedding invitations. And since we’re in the post-COVID times, this is not a significant reduction as the guest count averaged 110 guests, based on a survey conducted by The Knot.

According to research by Statista, “Global production of printing & writing papers has dropped down from 100 tons in 2015 to 71 tons in 2022.” We’re in the 21s century, where paper is the best residence for dust. As a matter of fact, physical invitations are both expensive and old-fashioned.

Printed invitations for 50 guests range from $2,500 to $4,000. The truth is, guests will throw the invitations away as soon as your wedding ends. On the other hand, a digital online invitation is a novel and trendy idea; it’s also affordable. Not only that, but you can go as far as you want with creativity.

You can send guests a save-the-day picture invitation or send a video. Many online platforms would help you design creative wedding invitations for free! Furthermore, digital invitations are eco-friendly and won’t harm the environment.

Saving progress

• Strategy: Create a digital wedding invitation for $0.
• Savings: $2,500 to $4,000.

A distant wedding will be problematic for you and your guests. Some might apologize, and some might have difficulties accessing your site. So, you’ll be compelled to provide an Uber for every guest, in addition to the catering company and the servers, which means more expenses and more money wasted. Find a location that is close and convenient for all guests. Then, save the money to plan a remarkable honeymoon!

Millions of couples worldwide are booking their weddings in affordable wedding venues. It would cost an average of $5000. Although it’s a good deal, it may not be possible in our plan for a low-cost wedding. Our budget is tight, and we need to spend it wisely. You’ll have to think out of the box and consider some unique ideas for your wedding site.

Who wants an ordinary wedding anyway? Get ready to plan an outstanding event, and go for a rustic barn wedding. It’ll be a mountain summit if your family owns a barn or if any of your friends does.

The barn doesn’t come in a completely luxurious package. You should spend some money on decorations, but the result will be outstanding, and your location will be totally different than anything you’ve ever been to. This idea needs some special preparations, but it’s worth it. Gather your friends to empty the barn fully, clean it up to become spotless, and your exceptional site is ready to be decorated. 

Saving progress

• Strategy: Throw a barn wedding with the help of your friends for $0.
• Savings: $5000

Honoring the beginning of a new era of your life where you spent your childhood would be a very intimate idea. Your home’s backyard would serve as a great wedding site. In addition, you’ll feel more comfortable in your own neighborhood.

It’s only a matter of some low-cost outdoor wedding decorations, and your small wedding at home is good to go. Suppose you don’t want sneaking guests into your home to use the restroom. You can rent a couple of deluxe portable toilets as well. The cost per unit per day is no more than $100.

Saving progress

• Strategy: Throw a backyard wedding and rent a couple of portable restrooms for $200.
• Savings: $4,800. 

Are you still looking around for the best place to plan a wedding on a small budget? Then, let waves witness the “I do,” The blue colors of both sky and sea will be your event theme; Have your wedding on the beach!

A small wedding on the shoreline is a cheap wedding location. But, it isn’t %100 free of charge; there’s a modest permit. According to Wedding Spot Blog, “These permits can cost as little as $20 or as much as $500.”

Saving progress

• Strategy: Host your wedding on the beach for $500.
• Savings: $4,500.

Your wedding site is empty in all the above scenarios; it doesn’t include any wedding furniture; it’s your job to get them. So, let’s do the math if you’re hosting 50 guests in addition to you and your partner. You’ll need 52 chairs, but how many tables? The truth is, your wedding site is tight, and your guests are few. That’s why small or medium-sized tables are the best suitable choice; ten would be great.

According to Wedding Wire, “The average starting price for wedding reception tables in the U.S. is $8 per table” You can go as easy as you want on the tables as a table skirt will cover them. But, chairs must be classy and comfortable. Resin or wooden chairs are the leading styles for a small elegant wedding. The cost is $2.25 to $5.00 each.

Saving progress

• Strategy: Rent 52 chairs and 10 tables for $340.

According to Thumbtack, the average cost of wedding decorations is between $700 to $1,000. No one can deny the effect of a neat and classy decoration, and it can turn a boring site into a pretty impressive one.

It’s the power of harmonious colors, thoughtful organization, and lavish elements. Don’t worry about it, and forget about the price mentioned above, because there are numerous DIY decoration ideas for a wedding on a small budget. You can decorate your site using frugal elements that look exquisite.

These two elements are our favorite for an average wedding budget, and they will transform your site if paired smartly. These low-cost DIY wedding decoration items could be used on the tables, chairs, and even the arch. White tulle is the best option for a small elegant wedding; you’ll need many colors when it comes to flowers. Combining fake beige, pink, and white flowers with the tulle will look extravagant. Tulle and flowers decoration cost between $100 and $150.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Decorating the site with tulle and fake flowers for $100-$150.
• Savings: From $600-$850. 

Wheat stalks are the new trend most wedding planners use these days. There are many outdoor home wedding ideas to applicate using these two elements. Some wheat and flowers here and there will add a rustic touch to the site, and it would be fabulous for a beach wedding. Combine a wheat comb with fake red roses or lavender for table décor. Include some wheat in the frugal bride’s bouquet; it would be a unique touch.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Use wheat stalks and fake flowers for $100.
• Savings: $600 to $900.

Bright lighting is your secret ingredient in the recipe for a marvelous affordable wedding. In addition, it’s a crucial factor that contributes to stunning, memorable pictures. “In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.” – Aaron Rose. But, what’s the cost of “the right light”? The average price of wedding lighting is between $1,100 to $3,500, depending on the site’s space. However, on a small budget for our wedding, the right light’s cost doesn’t exceed $100.

String lights are the new trend that all wedding planners are using; it’s a great and affordable option as the price of 4 Pack 33FT 100 LED is $16; two would be great, which is $32. These lights can serve as both a light up and decoration. For example, you could wrap them around a couple of trees if you went for an outdoor wedding. Or, spread some on the bride and groom’s table and guests’; It would be a romantic wedding idea. 

Don’t overuse them, or string lights will become your wedding theme. In addition, they’ll look splendid indoors. You can design a wall of lights and pair them with tulle.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Use string lights for $32.
• Savings: $3,468.

Trees and led lighted branches are the best couple. An outdoor wedding in the heart of nature should blend with its elements, and this kind of light is absolutely breathtaking. Like string lights, they’ll add glam and a special touch to the site. The cost is no more than $100.

Saving progress

• Strategy: Combine lighted branches with trees for $100.
• Savings: $3,400.

Music is a crucial entertainment part that no event can succeed without. But, paying $1,200 for someone who will switch songs and mix music doesn’t sound like the best idea for a wedding on a budget. There’s always an inexpensive alternative, and you can be the DJ! First, you have to rent speakers and equipment.

The small wedding package includes two speakers in addition to all the DJing necessities for an average of $370. Then, prepare your music list, and add all the songs you and your partner enjoy. However, make sure not to stick to one style of music. Instead, include many different types, dance, classical, pop, romantic, etc. In addition, add some quiet, soft background music to play during the catering serving and mealtime. For music streaming, use Spotify. And for the emcee, an upbeat friend will do the job.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Plan a music list and rent speakers for $370.
• Savings: $830

A bright smile, heartwarming cuddle, and happy eyes aren’t repeatable moments. So, documenting these distinctive memories should be done with utmost care and professionalism. Yet budgeting $1,600 to $3,600 for an expert wedding photographer would cost an arm and leg.

Do you know who would be excited to commemorate your day even more than you’re? An amateur photographer. Contact the local university to get matched with a talented photographer and videographer. The prices are very reasonable and inexpensive; they vary from $50 to $100.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: hire a photography student for $100.
• Savings: 3,500.

According to many wedding guests, tasty and appealing food is what they most remember plainly about the event. How to plan an affordable wedding catering? We advise you to go for a family-style service as it’s one of the cheapest catering options.

As a matter of fact, it gives an impression of abundance, and it sticks in people’s minds more than a plated style or any other style. How much per plate at a wedding? It’s $145, a total of 7,250 for 50 guests. Family style is exquisite and economical; the cost per person is between $20 to $30. Not only that, but the price might be more competitive if you collaborate with a family-owned restaurant. The icing on the cake is that you won’t need to hire servers; guests will happily serve themselves.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Family-style catering for about $1500.
• Savings: Around $6,000.

Your wedding bar is where a significant number of the guests will be hanging out most of the time. And since you’re not hosting the event in a venue, you have to plan and stock your bar, and getting them yourself will save you 75% of the costs.

Moreover, you don’t have to serve a variety of options as it will go over the budget. For serving, you can hire a bartender for the job. According to Brides, “a starting point for a bartender is $35/hour”. All in all, it would be $1300 for the beverages and $200 for the bartender.

Saving progress

• Strategy: Stock your own bar, and hire a bartender for $1500.
• Savings: $1,700

A wedding is never complete without a multi-layered cake, which costs at least $350. Still, you’re not giving up this part. You’ll have a great cake that corresponds to your budget excellently. How comes? Go for a rental fake cake with whatever design you want. Options are numerous, and the cost is absolutely manageable. But what will guests actually have for dessert? The actual dessert is a sheet cake. You can make it yourself entirely by following some online recipe. It could be sliced and served after you cut the fake cake, and no one will notice! 

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Homemade cake and renting a fake cake for a total of $180.
• Savings: $170

“When you share a cupcake, you share love.” Cupcake as a wedding dessert is an unprecedented idea. In addition, it’s delicious and affordable, $1 each. Any bakery would offer many options. So, taste some samples and decide on many flavors. The next step is buying a cupcake stand, which ranges from $7 to $35.

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Cupcake as a dessert for a maximum of $135.
• Savings: $215

“I can’t explain why a bride buys her wedding dress, whereas a groom rents his tux.” — Lou Holtz. Actually, neither do we. A wedding dress is single-use clothing, and it’ll be forgotten in your closet for God knows how long.

You’re literally buying troubles for an average of $1,600. On the other hand, there’s a fascinating collection of rental dresses for you to select from. The average budget for rental wedding dresses starts at $50.

Say yes to an exquisite dress for a %50+ off the cost of a simple purchased dress; a trendy, clean, and trouble-free gown. Glow with it for six hours and give it back for its owners to handle. 

Saving progress 

• Strategy: Say yes to a rental dress for $50 to $600.
• Savings: From $1,000 to $1,550.

All couples deserve to live and feel the happiness of a wedding celebration. No matter how limited your budget is, never consider canceling this once-in-a-lifetime event. Don’t wonder, “should I have a wedding or not?” Even if you’ll be getting married at home, it’s worth it.

Good luck with your budget nuptial!