How to Plan a Wedding Under $10K Without Sacrificing What Matters

  • July 2, 2025
  • 27 min read
  • Events

Your wedding may very well be the best day of your life. But contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. Although The Knot will tell you the average American wedding costs around $33,000 in 2025, couples pull off stunning weddings for only a third of that price all the time. We know — because we talked to them. 

Often, the messaging around planning a wedding on a budget is one full of caveats, peppered with “sort of”s and “if”s. It’s true: You can spend down-payment-on-a-mansion money on your wedding. Easily. 

But that doesn’t have to be the case. According to the real-life couples and experts we interviewed, pulling off a downright dreamy wedding for less than $10,000 doesn’t have to mean making major sacrifices or quitting your job to become a full-time DIY decor designer. Instead, it’s all about prioritization: figuring out what matters most to you and running towards it wholeheartedly. After all, isn’t this day really about showing up with love and intention?

Table of Contents

Meet the experts

To get to the bottom of how to plan the best budget wedding, we talked to Niki Day, owner and Creative Designer of Ember & Stone Events. Having honed her wedding-planning skills in Las Vegas, crafting “high-end, high-design elopement experiences,” Niki knows how to keep costs low precisely because she knows where couples often spend the most.

We also chatted with Dana Miranda, financial journalist and educator and the author of “You Don’t Need a Budget: Stop Worrying About Debt, Spend Without Shame, and Manage Money With Ease.” Dana’s overall financial message is all about using money as a tool to get what you want out of life — including your wedding — without giving in to undue stress.

The equation: Time, budget, and vibes

Source: Peerspace

Spoiler alert — and perhaps a surprise: For a lot of our couples, the final budget actually came later on in their planning process. Rather than starting with a bottom line and working backward from there, militantly making cuts, couples first decided what was important to them, figured out how to do it affordably, and therefore wound up with an overall affordable wedding.

That’s because when it comes to planning a $10k wedding, the equation isn’t as simple as “budget, budget, budget.” It’s a three-part balancing act, between:

  • Time (and effort): Resources put into DIY projects, personal involvement, and planning.
  • Budget: Both figuring out an ideal bottom line and making wise spending decisions.
  • Experience: Figuring out what truly matters and investing in those elements.

You can basically think about it like time + budget = experience. The trick is balancing those two resources to get to the experience you want. 

As Dana said, “It’s really about naming what it is that matters to you about that day.” Instead of starting with the final budget figure, she recommends couples ask themselves, “‘What is it that matters to us about this day? How can I use money to support that?’”

Then ask yourself, how much time and effort am I willing to put in to bring the cost down — or, on the other hand, what am I willing to pay to not have to do?

Meet the couples:

Along with the experts, we also went straight to the source and chatted with three couples who walked the walk. Each planned their dream wedding for around $10,000 and were generous enough to share their budgets — and advice — with us:

Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris, married September 2023

Omar Lopez and Briana Lopez, married April 2024

Taylor Ann Nagib Gomes and Pedro Nagib Gomes, married May 2025

How your guest list impacts budget

Source: Peerspace

We’ll set the record straight right up front: It’s just true that smaller weddings tend to be more affordable. Wedding costs are often stated “per head.” But that doesn’t necessarily mean your guest list has to be the first to go.

While two of our couples had weddings with a guest list of 50 or fewer (a headcount resulting in what’s known in the industry these days as a micro-wedding), Omar and Briana had 177 wedding attendees. The couple kept the ceremony itself private, with only family and close friends, before opening up the dance floor for the larger crowd at the reception.

However, both Taylors we talked to would tell you that their curated guest lists were just as much about personal comfort as about cost. “Weddings can, for the bride and groom, turn into…hosting,” said Taylor Ann. “I really wanted not to be worried about everyone else on our wedding day.” A smaller guest list can make it easier to stay fully present with each other and your guests, rather than feeling like you’re frantically making the rounds.

Taylor agreed: “We wanted to be able to spend individual time with the people that are most important to us,” she said. With their guest list of 45, she said this was a goal that they “easily accomplished.” 

Of course, the process of narrowing down a guest list can lead to some potentially uncomfortable conversations. Taylor, for example, said she and Keith decided that “when we’re inviting friends, not everyone is going to get a plus one.” They managed their guest list by limiting plus ones to those whose relationships were at least two years old or who’d put a ring on it.

But at the end of the day, it’s your big day — not your second cousin’s or work acquaintance’s. “The way we approached our guest list,” said Taylor Ann, “was, like, who really knows us as a couple and has walked the years with us? And the people that came to mind immediately were the people that were on the guest list.”


Pro Tip: Wedding planning sites like Zola and Joy offer guest list functionality, but never underestimate the power of a good ol’ spreadsheet. If you don’t have Microsoft Excel, you can use Google Sheets for free.


How to figure out what matters most to you

Source: Peerspace

So—how do you decide which experiences are truly worth your time and money? Here are some tips.

  • Talk it out. Any dream wedding takes two — so plan a sit-down with your sweetie.
  • Start with your story. Consider a theme that’s unique to your relationship.
  • Consider size. The smaller the wedding, the smaller the price tag.
  • Start with a rough budget figure. A tiny bit of wiggle room can go a long way.
  • Talk timing. The longer your engagement, the more time you have to save up.
  • Understand your schedule. If you’re working 80-hour weeks, DIY is a lot harder.
  • Divide and conquer. Bring your skills — and trust your partner to bring theirs.

Pro Tip: While making a list of all the things you want for your wedding — and taking a red pen to it — may sound painful, it can be a great way to visually and emotionally clarify your values in an instant. “If you put things at the bottom” of the list, said Dana, “you can have that gut check when you cross it off: Do I actually want this or is it worth the extra $250? Doing that prioritization and having the conversation can help you get in tune with what matters.”


How a $10K wedding budget breaks down

Source: Peerspace

As we’ve just discussed, the specifics will vary depending on what’s most important to you. Maybe you decide it’s worth it to spring for a DJ at the expense of your party favors — or maybe you and your guests know how to have a good time without alcohol on board. We recommend choosing three elements you decide are most important and investing your resources — both time and money — into those.

While your specifics will likely be a little different, here’s a sample breakdown of a $10,000 wedding.

  • Photography: $2,500
  • Venue (through Peerspace): $1,800
  • Food: $1,800
  • Attire and accessories: $1,200
  • Decor, ambiance and party favors: $1,000
  • Drinks: $900
  • Flowers: $350
  • Invitations: $50
  • Entertainment: $0 (Yes, really. More on this below!)

Note: This budget leaves you an additional $400 for miscellaneous costs, including your marriage license. 

Additionally, we’ll share figures from our couples’ budget breakdowns in the Additional Resources section below.

1. Photography: $2,500

Source: Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris

It might surprise you to see photography listed right here at the top, ahead of food and way ahead of alcohol. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment — which means many couples find it’s worth the money it takes for picture-perfect memories of it.

Professional photographers don’t come on a shoestring budget — and these days, you might also feel tempted to add a videographer and even a professional content creator to the mix. Many photographers offer a package price that reflects their time and labor and includes a limited number of images, but beyond that, you may have to purchase additional photos a la carte. 

Even so, many couples are glad they spent money on getting their big day correctly captured. “I knew photographers were going to be really important,” said Taylor. “I was willing to spend upwards of a third of the budget on that.”

Omar, himself a wedding photographer, was able to ask a professional photographer friend of his to shoot the wedding. That choice saved the couple a lot: all they had to cover was a flight and hotel for their friend. 

Taylor Ann and Pedro are similarly blessed with artistic friends, including several skilled amateur photographers. Instead of paying for photographic services, they just paid for rolls of film and development for a particularly skilled film photographer friend of theirs — a total of about $150 to $200, Taylor Ann estimated.

Of course, these days, we all have high-powered cameras in our pockets — but given that it’s your wedding, it’s a good idea to have someone specifically dedicated to the cause, and ideally someone with proven abilities. Some couples prefer to keep all their guests present and unburdened by their cell phones, which means a photographer is, for many couples, a worthy hire. 

Shopping a peer-to-peer marketplace like Snappr could help you connect with a professional photographer for a fraction of the traditional price; on this platform, you can hire by the hour and scale based on your personal budget. Prices vary by region, but in a sample quote pulled for Portland, Ore., a four-hour all-inclusive wedding shoot was less than $500. And of course, make sure you’re asking the right questions before hiring a photographer.


Pro Tip: Photography was the one thing Niki said she would advise couples not to cut corners on. (We asked.) If you want to save money on your professional photographer, she advises, “maybe you don’t need the full amount of time for the dance floor.” Have the photographer work the floor for just the first hour. “That’s enough,” she said.


2. Venue: $1,800

Source: Peerspace

For many couples, the wedding venue is the single largest expense on the docket. According to The Knot, the average cost of a reception venue alone is more than the entire wedding budget we’ve laid out here: $12,200.

In comparison, nearly 75% of wedding venues booked on Peerspace in 2024 cost less than $2,000 — and the median cost of a Peerspace wedding venue is just $1,160. Peerspace also allows couples to book by the hour, so they pay only for the time they truly need, as well as offering transparent, fee-inclusive pricing throughout the booking process.

Each of the couples we interviewed used Peerspace to book their wedding venue. Briana and Omar booked a Peerspace for $602 for their small wedding ceremony spot and then a room in their local community center for the reception. Taylor and Keith secured a naturally beautiful indoor/outdoor wedding reception venue in Chicago—hosting both ceremony and reception there—for just $1,200. Finally, Taylor Ann and Pedro paid about $2,300 for their Peerspace beach house.

If you do want to book a traditional wedding venue, it may be difficult to find a space for a price as low as we’ve listed here — though choosing off-peak days and hours can help reduce the price to some extent. 


Pro Tip: Saturday weddings are often thought to be the most expensive—but here’s some good news: on Peerspace, they’re actually 6% less expensive than Sunday weddings.


While many couples talk about the “wedding tax,” the jury is officially out; some experts maintain that the costs are not meant to gouge couples, but rather to reflect the higher level of service and longer planning timelines many weddings require. In any case, though, traditional venues can be painfully expensive.


Pro Tip, Part Two: No matter what venue you choose, Niki recommends couples look to maximize the money they spend by asking what’s included. The “basic bones” of tables, linens, serveware and glassware can really add up if you need to rent them all. “If your venue includes a lot,” she says, “that’s a win.”


Before you sign or click “book”, skim our essential questions to ask a wedding venue before booking to skip any unwelcome surprises later.

3. Food: $1,800

Food can be one of the biggest wedding day expenses — so much so that, after BOYB, BYOE (everything — food and beverage) is the second-highest amenity search filter here on Peerspace. The third: BYOF (bring your own food).

Source: Taylor Ann and Pedro Nagib Gomes, Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris

It’s also one of the most flexible expense items, however. While a sit-down plated dinner can easily run you upwards of a hundred dollars per head, couples who are willing to put in a little bit of upfront planning can save thousands while still keeping their guests well-fed.

Taylor and Keith, for example, kept their Chicago wedding on-theme by making it a deep-dish pizza party. For eight pies and two big salads, they spent about $400. “It was filling. Everyone loved it,” said Taylor: “Carbo-loading for the dance floor.”

Pedro and Taylor Ann were lucky enough to have their family pitch in to help them keep their food costs low. Along with main dishes catered from a local barbecue restaurant, the couples’ loved ones put together appetizers and sides like salad and cole slaw. (Just be sure to clear with your venue that home-cooked or BYO food options are allowed.)


Pro Tip: Another key tactic for keeping overall food costs low is cutting the cake — literally. Instead of towering tiers, consider opting for a smaller, couples-only cake for the must-have photo, and then serving a separate, more cost-effective dessert for guests. Taylor Ann and Pedro, for instance, set up a chocolate fondue fountain, with bites like fruit, cookies and crispy rice treats for guests to dip and enjoy. “It was a hit,” Taylor Ann said.


4. Attire and accessories: $1,200

Source: Omar and Briana Lopez

Let’s be honest: If you want to, it’s easy to spend a significant chunk of a $10,000 wedding budget on the dress alone. That’s before shoes, accessories — or an outfit for anyone not wearing a dress.

Even just wedding gown alterations can cost up to $1,000. Fortunately, there are alternatives that can keep costs far lower.

These days, many brides choose to rent a dress rather than owning one. (After all, far too often, gowns end up smashed in the back of a closet in a dry-cleaning bag.) Rent the Runway is an amazing resource for dress rentals, not just for brides but for bridesmaids and wedding guests. For the boys, Thred is a great resource for renting suits and tuxedos. 

Even if you want to hold onto your wedding outfit forever, though, you can find affordable options. Nearly Newlywed and Stillwhite can connect you with brides selling gently used dresses — but even major retailers like David’s Bridal have an “Under $500” section for brand-new garments. Taylor was able to find a gorgeous sequined gown for just over $400 through The Outnet — and each of the brides we talked to opted for alterations with a local tailor, rather than hiring a more expensive in-house bridal seamstress.


Pro Tip: Taylor Ann was able to score her “gorge” gown at a local bridal shop — simply by stating her budget directly. “Just say what you want to pay,” she said, “because my $1,000 dress looks the same as the $5,000 dresses.”


5. Decor, ambiance, gifts and party favors: $1,000

Source: Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris

They may be little things, but they can really add up: decor, ambiance, and the party favors you offer to your guests as a memento of the day. We allocated a full $1,000 to this category alone because it’s pretty hard to get away with less.

This is the area where DIY can really help you shine, whether it’s making your own place cards for the tables or stringing up fairy lights around the venue. But it’s also an area where you can lean into choosing the experiences that matter most to you. Briana and Omar, for example, chose to have a photo booth at their wedding. It was only $600 for the whole day, and it both amplified the atmosphere and offered their guests a creative take-home party favor to magnet-stick to their fridge.

Another great resource for decor that requires less DIY time: Facebook Marketplace. Gently used vases, runners, flower arches and more make regular appearances among its offerings. (It’s honestly also a great place to shop for bigger-ticket items like a wedding gown, if you’re okay with buying used.)

Keep in mind, too, that this part of the budget accounts for any rentals you may need: tables, linens, glassware, servewear, etc. As we discussed above, it’s always a good idea to see if your venue or any vendors you’re working with include any of these — package deals are a great way to save money. If you do need to rent, tblscape is a great platform to explore; Taylor and Keith were able to outfit their venue for less than $500 using it.)

It’s also worth noting that you may be able to more affordably buy table linens through outlets like Amazon as opposed to renting them. That’s what Omar and Briana did — and they bought a mirror for the reception that they then ended up using as decor in their home.

“A table is a table. A linen is a linen,” as Niki put it.



Pro Tip: Pinterest is chock-full of DIY wedding decor options, but another great resource is reddit. Swapping ideas in real time with other couples gives you the added bonus of being able to ask clarifying questions about the design and creation process.


6. Drinks: $900

Source: Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris, Taylor Ann and Pedro Nagib Gomes

The Knot lists the average cost of alcohol at a wedding as $2,800 — a staggering figure that makes sense if you’re offering a full bar. However, if your venue allows you to bring your own alcohol (and you stick with beer and wine), you can get away with paying a fraction of that amount.

Better yet, it can still be cute. Taylor Ann, for example, offered guests beer, wine and seltzer in a vintage clawfoot bathtub filled with ice. Taylor and Keith went a similar BYO route, and even with a few hard liquor options kept their alcohol budget to about $300. (You can push the price even lower by shopping ahead of time through a discounted online liquor store like Cost Plus Liquors.)

Just like food, though, you’ll need to double-check with your vendor, because there may be rules about who’s allowed — and not allowed — to bring and serve alcohol.



Pro Tip: This won’t work for every couple (or, more importantly, their guests), but it is possible to have a wedding that’s both dry and fun — as did Briana and Omar. Along with the cost of the alcohol itself, it also saved them the extra money the community center would have charged them for security. “It saves money and a lot of problems when you don’t drink,” Omar said.


7. Flowers: $350

Source: Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris, Peerspace

Yes, wedding flowers are a big enough deal to have their whole own separate section aside from decor. And yes, you can get beautiful florals for just a few hundred dollars.

When she first contacted florists, Taylor Ann said, she was quoted minimums around $3,000 or $5,000. She DIYed her flowers and ended up spending less than a tenth of that amount. Her secret weapon? ChatGPT.

“I gathered a bunch of inspo from Pinterest,” Taylor Ann said, “and then I popped it into lovely ChatGPT, and I asked it, ‘What flowers are these?’” The AI was able to help her not just identify the right kind of flowers, but also to determine how many bunches she would need from her local wholesaler. Adding in flower foam, pearl pins and ribbon, her total cost was still less than $400.

Honestly, you don’t even need to go that far if you don’t want to. Taylor was able to adorn her tables with beautiful arrangements she designed herself. She purchased the florals from Trader Joe’s.

This is another area where Facebook Marketplace and bridal groups can be a big help. Couples getting married on the same day or the next day might be happy to reuse the same flowers and split costs — which also makes for a more sustainable wedding. If there’s one rule for throwing a bash on a budget, it’s leaning into community! 

Pro Tip: While arranging the bouquets does require a bit of work, it can be a fun activity for family and friends to do together the day before the event — which is what Briana and her bridesmaids did with their DIY flower arrangements.

If you choose to invest more of your budget in professional florals, be sure to come prepared with these key questions for your wedding florist consultation.

8. Invitations and stationery: $50

Source: Taylor Blevins and Keith Harris

Invitations can get pricey fast — and while they’re lovely, most will still find their way to the recycling bin. Of course, a beautiful save-the-date might be a memento you want for yourself — and you don’t have to skip out on paper invites if you feel strongly about it.

On Canva — where Taylor and Keith designed their invitations — you can get 50 elegant, customized printed invites for under $50, including the envelopes. But in today’s digital world, you can get beautiful customized evites even more affordably. On Paperless Post, they’re both more sustainable and truly just as stunning to look at as the paper version. 

Finally, since couples are increasingly building wedding websites on free platforms like Zola — which make it easy for guests to RSVP — you can also bring your cost down to $0 by simply texting or emailing your guests and directing them to your homepage. 


Pro Tip: Even Niki, with her high-cost wedding clientele, was onboard with minimizing the money put into something as small as the invitations. “Save the dates, honestly — do you need them?” she said. “I think you can get away with not having those if you don’t want to — or you can still do something really cool with digital.”


9. Entertainment: $0

Source: Peerspace

Okay, yes, a lofty goal. But: Hear us out. It’s not just about replacing a $1,700 DJ with well-curated Spotify playlists — although that’s certainly an option, and a great one. 

Take another look at your guest list. Chances are there’s someone coming to your wedding with some level of musical talent and hype-person energy — or at the very least someone who will be happy to manage the playlisting for you. Taylor Ann said her younger sister was in charge of her wedding’s background music, and Keith and Taylor also danced the night away to playlists customized ahead of time. 

Those having smaller weddings, particularly with outdoor receptions, might also opt to add lawn games like corn hole — which someone coming to the event is likely to own already — to their roster in lieu of (or in addition to) dancing.

Of course, if coordinating the Cupid Shuffle ranks high on your list of must-have wedding experiences, feel free to reorganize your budget to shell out for a professional DJ — as did Omar and Briana. These questions to ask before hiring a DJ can help you find someone who matches your style and energy.

Still, DIYing your entertainment has benefits. Along with total control over what songs come on (or, perhaps more importantly, don’t), recruiting a friend or family member can help make your memories even sweeter. At Keith and Taylor’s wedding, for example, the cocktail-hour pianist was none other than Keith’s dad, an entertainment choice that cost nothing and paid high emotional dividends. 


Pro Tip: Every single couple we interviewed said they owed the success of their big day, in one way or another, to their loved ones coming together. “One of the biggest things is just finding friends that are generous,” said Omar — and indeed, friends and family of the couple also helped by paying certain expenses in part. “It was so much friends and family coming together,” mirrored Taylor Ann. Which is to say: Don’t be afraid to ask your family for help. Chances are they’ll be thrilled to have the chance to participate.


10. Miscellaneous: $400

Source: Peerspace

While it can be fun to splurge on a beautiful cake or a once-in-a-lifetime dress, some of your wedding budget just has to be reserved for slightly less exciting expenses. 

Marriage documents

For starters, there’s your marriage license to contend with: Prices vary by state, but tend to hover between about $30 and $120. (Destination wedding parties beware: The price may be quite a bit higher if you’re from out-of-state.) 

Permits

Depending on where you’re having your wedding, you may also need to spend money on a photo permit from the city or venue. This, too, can run between about $70 and $120. Some venues may also require security, particularly if you have a higher head count or are serving alcohol. 

Wedding planning and coordination

Many couples aiming to keep their wedding under $10,000 totally dismiss the idea of working with a wedding planner, but having someone to coordinate the event on the day-of can be a major stress-saver — and far less expensive than having someone with you every step of the way. Mostest is a great platform to connect with planners and coordinators for mix-and-match services that allow you to pay for only what you absolutely need. 


Pro Tip: Another option for affordable day-of coordination help: Copy Taylor and Keith and pay a family friend a couple hundred dollars for day-of odds and ends like picking up food and setting up tables and chairs.


Final tips for staying grounded in what matters

Source: Peerspace

We’re not going to lie: Throwing an amazing wedding for under $10,000 is totally achievable, but it can also be a challenge. Common experiences include sticker shock when shopping vendors, the social pressure to make everything as big and bold as possible, and burnout on the time and effort it takes to DIY everything from invitations to party favors.

The answer to all of these problems is the same thing: Focus, clarity and community.

The one thing each and every one of the couples and experts we interviewed repeated was that pulling off a low-cost wedding is all about staying focused on what’s important to you — and enlisting the help of the people who love you the most. When you narrow your priorities, the limited total will follow. 

“I think people try to make [a wedding] something for others,” said Omar. “They try to make it a spectacle so that it can be seen. I think, you know, it’s cool, it’s trendy, it looks nice in pictures. But if it’s not something that you want or you’re not actually enjoying, it’s just a show. Don’t make it a show just to have a show. Make it about your wedding and your union.” 

Planning a wedding with purpose is powerful 

Source: Peerspace

Now that you’ve got these insider tips and tricks in your toolbox, we hope you feel empowered to plan the once-in-a-lifetime wedding you deserve—without making it into something you’ll be paying off for the rest of your lives together. Even better, the specific choices you make in order to make it work are exactly what will lend your wedding a unique and unforgettable event.

Spread the word

Pulled off (or planning) a stunning budget wedding? Pay it forward by swapping your best tips with friends and passing this article to anyone gearing up for their own big-day budget adventure. After all, bringing people together is what weddings are all about.

Fall in love with a venue

Ready to turn all that penny-wise planning into a place that feels priceless? Peerspace’s hand-picked lineup of intimate lofts, hidden-garden patios, and art-filled studios makes it easy to find a venue that fits your budget—and the vibe you’ve been dreaming about. Browse our collection of microwedding venues to see just how far your creativity (and your cash) can go, and let the space itself become the next unforgettable detail of your big day.

Helpful resources for the budget-savvy

Source: Peerspace

Budget Breakdowns

Budget #1: Taylor and Keith

For the couple who’s super into DIY, down to party with a curated guest list of their closest people, and ready to shell out for the professional photographer to capture it all,  check out how Taylor and Keith’s budget breaks down:

  • Venue: $1,330
  • Photography: $3,000
  • Food: $646
  • Attire and accessories: $1,107
  • Decor, ambiance and party favors: $1,449
  • Drinks: $300
  • Flowers: $100
  • Invitations: $50
  • Entertainment: $0
  • Miscellaneous, including travel to Chicago and day-of wedding coordinator: $1,032

TOTAL: $9,014


Budget #2: Omar and Briana

For the couple who wants to go all-out on a gorgeous gown, have a larger guest list, and splurge on entertainment, consider a breakdown similar to Omar and Briana’s:

  • Venue: $602 (Peerspace for ceremony; reception rental brought total to $2,562)
  • Photography: $420
  • Food: $1,674
  • Attire and accessories: $3,508
  • Decor, ambiance and party favors: $1,180
  • Drinks: $0
  • Flowers: $386
  • Invitations: $405
  • Entertainment: $600

TOTAL: $10,734

(Note: Omar & Briana’s total wedding cost was closer to $13,500, but some items were paid for in part as gifts from family and friends.) 


Budget #3: Taylor Ann and Pedro

If a gorgeous beach-side soiree with plenty of homemade touches sounds like a dream wedding day to you, take a page out of Taylor Ann and Pedro’s book.

  • Venue: $2,065
  • Photography: $100
  • Food and drink: $1,500
  • Attire and accessories: $1,800
  • Decor, ambiance and party favors: $0
  • Flowers: $320
  • Invitations: $0
  • Entertainment: $0

TOTAL: $5,785

(Note: Taylor Ann and Pedro’s family and friends chipped in, covering some wedding expenses as gifts.)


Community forums 

Explore these forums to join the under-$10k wedding chat, make some new friends, and have a few “I never would have thought of that” moments.

  • r/Weddingsunder10k – An entire subreddit dedicated to wedding budget-breakdown posts, cost-cutting spreadsheets, and vendors that honor small budgets.
  • r/BudgetWeddings – Another subreddit packed with daily Q&As on affordable gowns, thrifted décor, and potluck receptions.
  • Wedding Wire Community Boards – Message board with regional and topic filters. Great for U.S. venue intel and DIY hacks from couples who just wrapped their celebrations.
  • The Knot Budget Weddings Forum – We may disagree with The Knot’s take on how a wedding under $10K requires “serious concessions”, but its long-running forum still delivers deep archives and fresh advice threads.
  • Weddings on a tight budget (10k and below) Facebook Group – Private group (350k+ members) focused exactly on sub-$10K celebrations. Expect photo inspo, resale décor, and vendor shout-outs in your feed.

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