How to Plan Your Dream Wedding as a Budget Bride

Good morning, lovely dreamers! And welcome to another article filled with wedding advice here on the DoB blog! Today our focus is on the beautiful budget brides that are not only the stars of the show (with their significant other, of course!) but the stars of the wedding budget. Because we know that the bride has the final say in anything for their special day.

As a former bride who saved thousands for her mediaeval-themed wedding and only spent under 6000$ on her special day (and not all of it on herself), I felt the need to share some of the things that helped me keep my sanity and my money in my pocket.

Yes, your wedding day is special.

And yes, you should feel, look and have the most amazing time of your life! It’s THE DAY when you and your partner draw all of the attention and cause all the smiles. 

But it doesn’t mean that you should go crazy with spending, or in any other way. Nobody likes a bridezilla, so let’s leave the extremes on Reddit, shall we?

Related:

How to Plan the Perfect Themed Wedding on a Small Budget in 10 Steps

A Comprehensive Guide to DIY Wedding Photography: Capturing Your Big Day Yourself

For me, going from girlfriend to fiance was so intense and so strange! Growing up I was never a princess, even though my dad always said I was - I always replied with “troll, not a princess”. I never dreamt of my wedding, or having someone to spend my life with. I’m not a “girly girl”. Never was, never will be.

I was always a loner - and was never sad about it. I knew that I would be happy being surrounded by cats for the rest of my days. 

When I met Andy, I knew it was a special moment. It was like in the movies when one of them sees the other across the room (but in my case, only I remember this encounter as he was pretty tipsy, lol). 

But still. I knew there was something about him. The way he talked, how tall he was (finally someone taller than me!) and his amazing green eyes. 10+ years later, we’re still in awe of each other. Let’s be real, we wouldn’t be married now if this was not the case.

But let’s get back to today’s topic - the bride. 

As a bride, you’ll find out that everything gets stupid expensive when you put the word “bridal” in front of everything you’ll need for your wedding day. 

• Bridal bouquet? Mine was 100 euros - and I was one of the lucky ones who knew what she wanted and picked the nicest florist in Oradea. 
• Bridal make-up? Where I live prices range from 100 to 200 euros on make-up alone. 
• Bridal hair? At my length, same as the make-up and even more. 
• The shoes and the dress? Please don’t get me started. 
• The veil? 200 euros and up! 

When you add everything up, plus jewellery plus garter, you’ll find that you could spend all of your wedding budget on yourself. It’s crazy how much money a bride could spend just on herself for one day.

Today we’re here to try and help you stay grounded and focused on what really matters.

But enough with the chit-chatting! Let’s get to it!

Say “I do” to Saving! 5 Money Hacks for the Budget-Savvy Bride

1. The Wedding Dress:

We’re starting with the big one: THE dress. Here you have some good options: 

• Consider buying a pre-owned or sample gown to save money. (mine was a sample, more than half off, and nobody knew!)
• Look for sales or shop during trunk shows for discounts. (I bought mine at the end of a show, and even if it was already discounted, the amazing lady that owns the bridal salon I got mine from gave us an extra discount on it!)
• Explore non-traditional options like renting a dress or opting for a simple, off-the-rack dress.

Your wedding dress can be whatever you want it to be, white, black, purple, red… As long as you feel like a bride, and you are happy, that is all that matters. No matter what anyone says. 

2. The Accessories and Jewellery:

When it comes to completing the look, think to:

• Borrow accessories from family or friends. (my earrings were borrowed from my mom)
• Shop for affordable jewellery options or consider wearing sentimental pieces. (My veil was my mom’s before me)
• Explore handmade or vintage options for unique and cost-effective accessories. (My crown was handmade by my husband, and my cape was made by my mom and me. And I made my own garter as well.)

3. The Wedding Shoes:

Yes, they should look good, but also make sure that they are comfortable. There’s nothing worse than having blisters and wounds on your feet at your own wedding. Ways to save here:

• Look for sales or discounts on bridal shoes.
• Consider wearing comfortable shoes you already own or opt for affordable alternatives like ballet flats or sandals. 

They don’t have to be marketed as “bridal”, especially since there are soooooooo many beautiful and fairly cheap shoes out there. I wore my big black boots, and it was the best thing I could have done for my feet that day (especially since I had severely injured my knee 3 weeks prior to my wedding). 

4. The Wedding Day Hair and Make-up

With so many tutorials on YouTube, and so much information out there it’s almost impossible not to find something that you could do yourself, or with the help of someone talented for assistance. Here's what you can do:

• Use your own products instead of going to a salon.
• Attend free or discounted bridal beauty events for consultations or trials.
• Take advantage of free makeup and hair trials offered by local salons or beauty schools.
• If you want professionals to do it, consider hiring freelancers who are just starting out - they most certainly have lower rates and will be more careful with their work.

I opted to do my own make-up with stuff I already had. I don't wear much make-up in general, so a full face of 20 layers of make-up was never what I wanted. The only thing I really wished for was for my eyes to POP, so I got my lashes done for my special day by a pro who works magic.

5. The Miscellaneous Wedding-related stuff:

When it comes to your wedding, no matter how much they want to be involved, you know that your partners will most certainly rely on you to do most of the work. After all, you have the last say in everything involving your big day. With this in mind, here’s where you can save some hard-earned money: 

• Skip the bridal shower and rehearsal dinner altogether
• Have a simple and fun bachelorette party (at home or out), but without going too crazy with the phallic confetti and decorations. 
• Utilize free wedding planning resources and online templates.
• DIY certain wedding planning tasks, such as creating invitations or making decorations.
• Prioritize what is most important to you as a bride and allocate your budget accordingly.
• When it comes to photography, consider hiring a student photographer or a talented amateur photographer, opt for a shorter photography package to save money on hourly rates or ask friends and family to take additional candid photos during the wedding (or do as I did and DIY your own wedding photography).

In conclusion, please remember:

It's essential to set a budget and prioritize what matters most to you as a bride. By being resourceful, creative, and open to alternative options, you can save money without compromising on your dream wedding day. 

Aaaaaaaand that’s all for today, lovely dreamers! We hope you enjoyed our money-saving tips for the budget bride, and if you did, please make sure to share it, pin it, and tweet it! 

QOTD: What’s your number one must-have at your wedding?