Trying to throw a small yet elegant wedding on a low budget? Here’s an idea for a wedding that should cost you $1000 or less!

I have gotten some “Ask Tinka” emails about throwing a wedding as little as $1000 so I decided to respond with an idea I have.  Afterall, everyone deserves to celebrate their wedding– even those who don’t have $15,000 to spend!

If I were getting married with a small budget and wanted to have a simple wedding day with only close family and friends, this is what I would do: I would have the wedding and reception at my home or the home of a close relative or friend. It’s cozy and best of all, FREE! I would wear a simple white sundress and have my groom wear something casual like khakis and a white shirt. Then, instead of a traditional buffet or sit-down dinner, I’d serve coffee, hot chocolate, and cake! Get your favorite songs together to play on your stereo and have a designated area for dancing. Keep the reception short– about an hour or two and maybe serve wine and beer.

That sounds just delightful to me

Trying to stick to a strict budget? Don’t forget these hidden costs of having a wedding!

1. Gratuity! Gratuity is usually added to the final bill for your caterer. However, it is also polite to tip waiters/waitresses, bartenders, church musicians, and any others who you think deserve it.
2. Taxes! Don’t forget to include taxes in your budget for the dress and tux, flowers, food, and beverages. You may think you are paying $20 per person and end up paying over $25!
3. Overtime! Many wedding vendors such as photographers and DJs charge overtime fees. You never know until the day of your wedding how long you are going to need them so make sure to work this out BEFORE your big day!
4. Food for your wedding vendors! Don’t forget to feed your wedding vendors! Your photographer, videographer, DJ, etc. will probably be at your wedding for more than 6 hours. Unless you want them to leave to get dinner, make sure you have a meal for each of them.
5. Postage! Some invitations can cost up to $2 for postage. If you are sending out 100 invitations, that adds up to $200. Make sure to leave some room in your budget for stamps.

Here is a sample budget for an average priced wedding!

Budget: $10,000
Ceremony venue: $300
Reception venue: $800
Officiant: $100
Florist: $700
Caterer/Food: $1500
DJ: $800
Wedding dress & alterations: $700
Suit/Tux: 150
Bride & Groom Accessories: $400
Cake: $200
Photographer: $1000
Videographer: $600
Invitations/Announcements: $300
Favors: $150
Hair, Make-up, etc: $100
Transporation: $200
Rings: $800
Wedding party gifts: $200
Marriage license (depends on state): about $50
Alcohol: $500
Other costs (decorations, ceremony accessories, etc): $450

I get a lot of questions about the “average” cost of different wedding vendors so I decided to do a little bit of research. I chose 5 major US cities and looked up 3 of each of these vendors for each city. Based on the prices given on their websites, here are the average costs of these wedding vendors: Continue Reading »

Want to know the secrets that are saving brides hundreds or even thousands of dollars? Keep reading!

1. Search “wedding coupons” online. You won’t believe how many coupons you will find.
2. Go to the websites of the stores you want to buy things from and sign up for their e-newsletter (if they have one). They will probably send you coupons and deals. You can also sign up for special offers at some stores. Continue Reading »

Dear Tinka,

I am having some trouble managing my budget for my May wedding. My fiance and I are always fighting about how much money I spend. Our budget of $15,000 is quickly drying up, and I am beginning to panic! I am almost ready to reschedule the date so we’ll have more time and more money. Any tips?

Stressed-out Bride named Olivia

  Continue Reading »

10 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHEN PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL DAY!

When planning your wedding, remember that you are starting your life with the one you love. And it is important to get that life started on the right foot! That means having a special wedding day but also keeping the life ahead of you in mind. You don’t want to come home from your honeymoon to bills, bills, and more bills. So, the question is—how do you have the wedding you have always dreamed about without putting a huge dent in your bank account? Continue Reading »

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Goebel Media Group is a Georgia-based multimedia services company specializing in wedding and event videography. Founded on the notion that videography shouldn’t be expensive, we offer packages to fit any budget.

Why choose Goebel Media to film your wedding?

• You have us ALL DAY LONG with no extra cost.
• We do not tell you what your video will have in it. You tell US.
• You receive 1 DVD or VHS copy absolutely free!
• Your video will be a fully produced and edited production with music.
• We offer unique services such as guest interviews, titles to show the names of the wedding party, custom DVD labels, picture segments, “getting ready” montage