Not trying to go broke, but I’m boujie

For decor, check out Facebook groups for local weddings! Brides often sell their decor after their weddings, and you can get great quality items for cheaper than buying new. Also check out places like Oriental Trading Company, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy for anything that you want to buy new. For other costs, skip things like paper menus, signs, and ceremony programs (unless you have something that needs explanation in your ceremony).

I live in No. Cal and do not recommend a wedding in Yosemite between August-November. It is prime wildfire season and every year for past 5+ years it has been incredibly smoky/evacuations, etc.

If you're having less than 30 guests, you shouldn't have any issues with budget! Sit down and decide exactly how much you and FH are comfortable spending + how much you can reasonably save and start ticking off your list. If photographer is most important, start with them. Move down the list of things that you are willing to spend more money on to things you are not willing to spend a lot of money on.

This method worked great for us. Destination in Mexico including 11 day honeymoon for 100 people: 25k.

Word of the wise: more people will come than you think. We expected 50 people and to spend less than 20k. We invited all the "we have to invite"'s and here we are, 50 people over what we wanted. lol. Only invite those who you 10000% want to be there or be ready for a bigger, more expensive wedding.

Pick seasonal flowers! Its a massive cost saver if you're going with fresh flowers. Don't try and get flowers typically grown in April for a November wedding - google your wedding month and flowers that are in bloom and pick your colors from there.

Also, from one bougie b to another - if you want a high end pair of shoes etc but you don't want to pay full retail price, check out places like The RealReal, Gilt, Poshmark, and even eBay. I've found some really gorgeous shoes and bags for soooo cheap (we're talking Prada pumps, Jimmy Choo boots, Dolce and Gabbana pumps, Alexander McQueen boots, Prada sandals) for a FRACTION of the cost. Same with bags. It might take some searching - but that's half the fun.

Also if you're a slim figured gal, you can find a lot of beautiful dresses second hand for the other events surrounding your day (rehearsal dinner, bridal shower etc) that are super high end and bougie. Personally for my rehearsal dinner I'm wearing a pair of Prada pumps and using an Escada purse that I paid less than a 10th of what I would have paid retail. And they are in gorgeous condition. I'm also making sure all of the things I get for my wedding (except the actual wedding dress) don't scream BRIDE so I can wear them again.

Budget budget budget. Plan that out first, then dive into details and vendors. There are plenty of second hand or off the racks stores to visit for everything from rentals to florals to dress to decor

The best way to have a budget wedding is to keep it simple. Hotels, food, gas, amenities by a national park are more expensive. Depending on weather conditions, roads can get shut down. You need a car to get there, so that would require a rental or a cross country roadtrip. Your vendors may want you to pay for their hotel. Some of the roads are steep and mountainous, making night driving more dangerous.


Destination weddings are usually "cheaper" on face because they're generally in a developing country with cheaper costs, and guests staying at the resort indirectly subsidize your costs. Think about how you're going to bring food, chairs, cake to your site. Where will you change? Go to the bathroom? Get hair and makeup done? You probably need a permit. You may be dealing with a bunch of tourists. My friend got married at a gorgeous public park and randos were standing in the back videotaping their first kiss.
I'd love to do an elopement, honeymoon, or engagement photos at Yosemite, but a 30 guest wedding would be too rough for me.
IMO, the most budget friendly wedding of your size would be at a local, public park or beach. The permit should be a couple hundred. Then serve cake with refreshments or take everyone out to a restaurant. There are some venues that will charge by the hour for a super small party.
Happy planning!

See if you can find vendors who can cover multiple services. Our venue is all-inclusive, and it includes catering, bar service, tables, chairs, plates, linens, etc. On its face, it's more expensive than a blank-slate venue where you're just booking the space, but having to find separate vendors for those services, travel costs for each individual vendor, service fees, etc., adds up and makes a lot of blank-slate venues more costly in the end.