Is it possible to have a wedding under 5k!?

Hi Jessica!

I too think it is very feasible to have your wedding for 5k. If you shop around, you will certainly find a venue within your price range. Also, community centers, recreation halls and if you are an alumna of a college/university, check with them. They tend to have reasonable rates.

As far as your budget, here are my questions:

-are you wanting to have alcohol?

-are you set on a dinner vs heavy hors d'oeuvres (note: hors d'oeuvres tend to be wayyy cheaper)

-if you are willing to do cupcakes vs cake, they tend to be cheaper. Bakers can create cupcakes for weddings that look just as elegant.

-if you are using flowers, you can DEF create your own bouquets. If you order the bridal bouquets through a florist, flowers can cost you over $500 when you can buy a bunch a flowers for way less and create your own. Pic attached.

Oh, is the budget INCLUDING your wedding dress?

As far as books

/magazines, they weren't too helpful for me. I would suggest seeing if there are any upcoming wedding expos or events in your area. They can be helpful.

Planning can def be stressful, but it will get better...promise!

Hope this helps!

But there's nothing intimate about 50 people. If these vendors consider 50 people intimate, what do they consider 15 people?

ETA: @Terri where are you getting your information? If your wedding is during meal time, you have to give enough hors d'oeuvres to make a meal and they absolutely are not cheaper than a full meal in that case. Also, cupcakes tend to be the same price or more than regular cake if they're quality cupcakes. Not sure where you're finding them to be cheaper unless you're talking about the cheap cupcakes you buy by the bundle from the supermarket.

50 people is definitely small. 15 people is smallER. Read: also small.

Guest size is your biggest factor

I bought The Knots binder and have used the app. When looking at a lot of info, it helps me to see it on paper and not on electronics. The to do lists are almost identical. I liked having the binder because it went into detail more. It gave me lists of duties for everyone that I could check off for what I wanted each person to do. Also when looking into vendors, I hada spot to write info down as I called. It had pages for me to give to the bridal party in case of emergency. But, day-to-day I use this app. If I go to my moms to wedding plan, I bring the binder, I keep all my contracts in there, and I reference wedding wire as well. Find your DJ before the lists say to do it. All the DJs I knew of were booked when I started to look, we still signed the contract before the date the to-do lists gave. Overall, I could plan my wedding without the binder, but it was nice having somewhere to keep the info.

If you shop around alot and I mean alot. Talk with others who knows others YES it can be done.

My best advise don't just jump on a bargain until you read the fine print

But it can be done!

@Colleen...I'm in IT; but still created a paper binder. LOL I use electronics for research; but the binder is the 'real' planner for us.

I did mine for right at 5k. Limited the bar to wine and keg beer. Food was pasta, fruit salad, and veggie trays for 125.

Some things you can get cheaper based on guest list - but things like photographers or djs just cost what they cost. So it depends on what you're expecting out of those things

Skip unnecessary stuff: menus, programs, save the dates, favors, decoration, flowers. Don't do heavy appetizers, it ends up costing more and most people don't like it. Don't do cupcakes, they are much more expensive because they take longer to make and decorate. Don't do a candy bar or any other type of food bar. Just beer and wine. Also a smaller or zero bridal party will save you hundreds of dollars and a couple headaches.

It's possible, just keep in mind that it will probably be more of a low key event. Think of BBQ or Italian for catering, limited decor and flowers if any, and other vendors. You will just have to do a lot of shopping around! Especially for the photographer, good ones could run you about $3k here in Georgia.

Also, once you get the dress, hair, makeup, etc it could go over, very easily.

@Elizabeth!

I live in Richmond(in the South) and so does Jessica! Things in the South tend to be less expensive not necessarily(cheap).

The bakery I am using has been on Cake Wars and they are delicious. For every dozen you get 6 free. It is about $150 cheaper than a cake at the same exact place.

Also, the venue we're using charges WAY less for heavy hors d'oeuvres than for the meal. It'll be quite enough food and less costly. Since the hors d'oeuvres will be more than enough for our wedding, we don't need a 3-4 course meal. That's for our wedding, though/venue and I consider our venue to be elegant...my opinion, though!

What you have to remember is that different areas have different prices and even different venues within the same area. That doesn't always mean it's "cheap" or not a great, viable option.

Yes to the Knot binder! I love mine. Is $5k doable? YES! But you have to make cuts and prioritize being a good host. Be realistic and stand your ground.

It is most def doable! Depending on your area and type of wedding you want and guest list. Shop around for decorations. We have found so much stuff like guest book, decorations, flower girl baskets, etc on wish, etsy and oriental trading. Oh and of course on Amazon. We found a great deal for our photographer and for our videographer. We hit it super lucky with our venue. We are the first wedding there and so we got it super cheap. It can be done but like pp's have said you will need to make cuts. Also, we decided to postpone our honeymoon for a few months to save up for where we want to go.

It's possible. Be sure to have your spreadsheet ready and use it accordingly for everything. I'm not spending that much on mine either. Happy planning!

Jessica, I live in the chattanooga area. I would suggest getting on the local page on Facebook "Everything Wedding". Brides there can help with local vendor suggestions and it is also a resale page. I have found so much of our decor items there (in perfect condition) for much less than retail.

My sister had a bigger wedding in June with a 5k budget. Totally doable.

Yes so far we are under budget and have a guest list of 160. We will have everything wedding favors, venue, open bar , professionally decorated, this amazing caterer, photographers, DJ, etc..... this amount does include my dress, save-the -date, invitations, gifts for the bridal and groom party and my FH attire. I know I've left out a few things but trust it's going to be big and amazing.

Try your local library for ALL kinds of wedding planning books.

Totally easy on the budget.

(You can take out a stack and then buy -- if you want -- the one you find most helpful.)

If you cut the list, you absolutely can. I can even do it in NJ for 12-15 with music, flowers, photography, a great ceremony, a great meal with wine and a cake.

fifty?

Not so much

It's not so much shopping around; very often, people who come here with big lists and small budgets have friendors in place, dry or cash weddings, and their locations are in inexpensive locations.