Getting married only costs about $500. Flowers, gowns, visitors, food, a bubble machine, and a horse-drawn carriage won’t help you get married. Sorry to break your happy-ever-after, but it’s true. It is rather inexpensive to marry. The rest of what the wedding business sells is what will set you back.
The wedding industry, which is a gigantic money engine that tries to separate you from your money by connecting emotional links to every transaction, will try to sell you wedding things you don’t need to tie the knot.
Family and friends may also poke their noses into your wedding arrangements, either intentionally or unintentionally inflating the cost.
I should be aware. I recently married, and I was able to do so without a lot of fuss, expense, or emotional downtime.
We began by assuming that getting married costs only $500 and that everything else is optional. Yes, we added a little glitz and glam for good measure. This is where we wasted the most money, cut the most corners, and got married for hundreds of dollars rather than thousands.
I try to keep the guest list to a minimum.
The cost of a wedding is mostly determined by the number of guests attending. (Reread that sentence and take it all in.) The number of guests will influence not only the size of your location, but also the amount of food and wine you’ll need to provide—two of the most expensive wedding expenses.
The greatest approach to save money is to limit the number of guests. So, what exactly is a tiny wedding? Some people believe it’s under 100 people, but I propose 10 to 50 people if you want a really small (and cost-effective!) gathering.
Going traditional, why not?
Why not make the most of your smaller guest list and have a party somewhere that would otherwise be off-limits? This could be a stunning overlook in a national park, your favorite brunch location with your family member’s private garden.
In most cases, these types of venues simply require a permit, a private room rental, or a thumbs-up from a relative, and they are typically less expensive than a traditional large-scale wedding site.
Because my guest list is limited to my closest relatives and friends—the majority, if not all, of whom are likely to attend—I have greater flexibility in choosing an off-peak day or time for my celebration. I’m thinking about having a Sunday brunch wedding with a stacked waffle and bottomless mimosas!
Pro Tip: Many venues have places for small weddings that aren’t advertised, so ask about all of your alternatives!
