How to Budget a Wedding (Without Selling a Kidney)
How to Budget a Wedding (Without Selling a Kidney)
Let’s be real: planning a wedding can feel like trying to host a royal gala on a ramen budget. One minute you’re dreaming of mountaintop vows and champagne towers, the next you’re Googling “can I get married at Castle Farms and still have cake?”
As a wedding photographer who’s seen it all—from intimate barefoot beach elopements to full-blown 300 guest count ballroom bonanzas—I’m here to spill some direct advice on how to budget smart and still have a day that feels like you.
1. Set Your Priorities (aka Choose Your Splurges)
You can have anything, but you may not be able to have everything – and that’s seriously okay. Sit down with your partner (maybe with a glass of wine or a spreadsheet—whatever feels natural for your relationship) and figure out what matters most. Is it the venue? The food? The photos? (Hi, I’m obviously biased) The reception party (dj)? The dress? Maybe the decor is really important to you?
My first major tip for you it to make a list, with the first thing thing being most important, and the last thing being least important.
Once you know your non-negotiables, you can build your budget around those big-ticket items and trim the rest without guilt. No, your guests will not remember the monogrammed napkins. Yes, they will remember how gosh dang amazing the tacos were, and the fun dance floor chaos.
2. Don’t Wait to Book Your Photographer
Your photographer isn’t just someone who shows up with a camera and takes some photos for the day. We’re part of the timeline planning, dress fluffing, boutonnière pinning, “where are your vows?” problem-solving crew. Booking early often means locking in current pricing before it goes up—and trust me, those rates don’t go down like gas prices.
Plus, you want someone whose style, vibe, and personality feel right. (You’ll be hanging out with them more than your new spouse on the big day, after all.) So don’t just look at their work; make sure to get on a call with them and make sure you vibe.
For example, I am super bubbly, quirky, empathetic, and down to earth. I am not the ideal match for every couple, but I am perfect fit for the right couples who looking for someone just like me to run their day. I never take it personally if a couple goes in another direction after our consult call. But I do a legit happy dance when I get off a call where we really vibed, and I hear back “Okay, yay!!! Let’s freaking do this!!”
3. Budget for the After-Party (aka The Photos)
Spoiler alert: your wedding day will fly by in a blur of hugs, happy tears, and “Wait, did we even eat?” Your photos are what you’ll come back to—again and again—long after the cake is stale.
Make sure your budget includes photography that actually speaks to you. You want someone who gets your style, your humor, your awkward cousin Dan… and documents it all beautifully. Think of it as your forever souvenir (with zero dusting required).
4. DIY Thoughtfully (aka You Don’t Have to Be Martha Stewart)
Pinterest makes everything look easy. “Just whip up 150 personalized name tags with dried flowers and gold calligraphy!” Sure, in theory. But your time is worth something too—and your sanity, even more.
DIY a few things that feel fun or meaningful, but don’t try to handcraft your entire wedding. Burnout isn’t cute. And no one will know if you didn’t hand-press your table linens.
5. Build a “Just in Case” Buffer
Stuff happens. Extra guests, a last-minute umbrella run, surprise corkage fees—your budget needs some wiggle room. Aim to set aside 5–10% as a cushion.
Future you will be so thankful.
6. Invest in the Experience, Not Just the Stuff
At the end of the day, your wedding is about moments. The teary-eyed first look. The laugh-snort during your vows. The epic dance battle between Grandma and your college roommate.
So build a budget that supports experiences, not just aesthetics. Choose vendors who care, who communicate, and who you’d actually want to hang out with.
Trust me, those are the people who’ll help your day feel joyful, smooth, and actually fun.
Your budget shouldn’t make you feel stressed
Budgeting for a wedding doesn’t have to feel like financial gymnastics. Prioritize what matters, invest in people who bring peace and magic to your day (hey again), and don’t sweat the stuff that won’t matter in a year. You’re not just planning a wedding—you’re crafting a memory. Make it one worth reliving.
And always remember – it’s YOUR day. It’s not aunt Sue’s day or that cousin you haven’t talked to in ten years; it’s your day. So drown out everyone else’s opinions and do what makes you two happy.
I promise you, they will get over it.
Let’s be real: planning a wedding can feel like trying to host a royal gala on a ramen budget. One minute you’re dreaming of mountaintop vows and champagne towers, the next you’re Googling “can I get married at Castle Farms and still have cake?”
As a wedding photographer who’s seen it all—from intimate barefoot beach elopements to full-blown 300 guest count ballroom bonanzas—I’m here to spill some direct advice on how to budget smart and still have a day that feels like you.
1. Set Your Priorities (aka Choose Your Splurges)
You can have anything, but you may not be able to have everything – and that’s seriously okay. Sit down with your partner (maybe with a glass of wine or a spreadsheet—whatever feels natural for your relationship) and figure out what matters most. Is it the venue? The food? The photos? (Hi, I’m obviously biased) The reception party (dj)? The dress? Maybe the decor is really important to you?
My first major tip for you it to make a list, with the first thing thing being most important, and the last thing being least important.
Once you know your non-negotiables, you can build your budget around those big-ticket items and trim the rest without guilt. No, your guests will not remember the monogrammed napkins. Yes, they will remember how gosh dang amazing the tacos were, and the fun dance floor chaos.
2. Don’t Wait to Book Your Photographer
Your photographer isn’t just someone who shows up with a camera and takes some photos for the day. We’re part of the timeline planning, dress fluffing, boutonnière pinning, “where are your vows?” problem-solving crew. Booking early often means locking in current pricing before it goes up—and trust me, those rates don’t go down like gas prices.
Plus, you want someone whose style, vibe, and personality feel right. (You’ll be hanging out with them more than your new spouse on the big day, after all.) So don’t just look at their work; make sure to get on a call with them and make sure you vibe.
For example, I am super bubbly, quirky, empathetic, and down to earth. I am not the ideal match for every couple, but I am perfect fit for the right couples who looking for someone just like me to run their day. I never take it personally if a couple goes in another direction after our consult call. But I do a legit happy dance when I get off a call where we really vibed, and I hear back “Okay, yay!!! Let’s freaking do this!!”
3. Budget for the After-Party (aka The Photos)
Spoiler alert: your wedding day will fly by in a blur of hugs, happy tears, and “Wait, did we even eat?” Your photos are what you’ll come back to—again and again—long after the cake is stale.
Make sure your budget includes photography that actually speaks to you. You want someone who gets your style, your humor, your awkward cousin Dan… and documents it all beautifully. Think of it as your forever souvenir (with zero dusting required).
4. DIY Thoughtfully (aka You Don’t Have to Be Martha Stewart)
Pinterest makes everything look easy. “Just whip up 150 personalized name tags with dried flowers and gold calligraphy!” Sure, in theory. But your time is worth something too—and your sanity, even more.
DIY a few things that feel fun or meaningful, but don’t try to handcraft your entire wedding. Burnout isn’t cute. And no one will know if you didn’t hand-press your table linens.
5. Build a “Just in Case” Buffer
Stuff happens. Extra guests, a last-minute umbrella run, surprise corkage fees—your budget needs some wiggle room. Aim to set aside 5–10% as a cushion.
Future you will be so thankful.
6. Invest in the Experience, Not Just the Stuff
At the end of the day, your wedding is about moments. The teary-eyed first look. The laugh-snort during your vows. The epic dance battle between Grandma and your college roommate.
So build a budget that supports experiences, not just aesthetics. Choose vendors who care, who communicate, and who you’d actually want to hang out with.
Trust me, those are the people who’ll help your day feel joyful, smooth, and actually fun.
Your budget shouldn’t make you feel stressed
Budgeting for a wedding doesn’t have to feel like financial gymnastics. Prioritize what matters, invest in people who bring peace and magic to your day (hey again), and don’t sweat the stuff that won’t matter in a year. You’re not just planning a wedding—you’re crafting a memory. Make it one worth reliving.
And always remember – it’s YOUR day. It’s not aunt Sue’s day or that cousin you haven’t talked to in ten years; it’s your day. So drown out everyone else’s opinions and do what makes you two happy.
I promise you, they will get over it.
