• I canceled my $30,000 fall 2020 wedding due to the pandemic and got one for $2,500 in 2021 instead.
• To do this, I focused on just two must-haves, shortened my guest list, and looked for bargains.
• Don’t rush to make decisions, you will have to negotiate and do a lot of research to achieve this.
• Learn more about Personal Finance Insider.

Right after my engagement in 2019, I felt a lingering sense of apprehension about planning a wedding. Most of that negative emotion buzzed around seeing how much it was going to cost to throw a celebration for 175 people.

After deciding to get married in October 2020 on a fixed budget of $30,000, the pandemic entered all of our lives and we quickly ended that game plan (and thankfully got all of our deposits back).

Once the idea of ​​having a large and expensive wedding was dropped, I felt more comfortable thinking about planning another type of party – one that doesn’t deplete my savings account and incorporates always the things that mean the most to me.

In March 2021, my partner and I got married. The best part? We spent under $2,500 for the entire event. If you’re looking to have a memorable wedding but don’t have the funds to support it, here’s how you can plan a more affordable celebration that’s still just as special.

1. Pick 2 must-haves

Whether you’re planning a wedding with a budget of $30,000 or $2,500, it’s important to start by figuring out what you really care about on your big day.

Rather than going through a checklist of what everyone has at your wedding, decide on the two things that matter most to you and your partner. If it’s live music and a big cake, or the perfect dress and personalized gifts, write those things at the top of your list.

Then, when you move on to budgeting for each item, prioritize finding ways to buy those two must-haves before worrying about anything else.

This way, you can remove less important and expensive items from your spending list once you’ve sorted out the things that matter most to you.

2. Write down all your expenses and work backwards

Write down all the things you need for this wedding and your two must-haves. Then take your $2,500 budget and work backwards. If you want a live band for $500 and a big cake ($250), you now have $1,750 to spend on the rest of your items (food, drinks, location, outfits, etc.)

Once you know what you’re working with and what you need to spend money on, you can match different vendors to your wedding planning budget that match your numbers, not the other way around.

3. Find inexpensive alternatives

Although $2,500 doesn’t sound like a lot of money, it can be a lot if you’re strategic. Find a place that doesn’t cost you too much to hold the celebration such as a park, local community center, local cafe or bar. You can also source food from local restaurants instead of a full-fledged caterer, and hire photographers, florists, and entertainment from concert venues, like GigSalad or Thumbtack. These sites are useful for finding talented sellers at a cheaper price.

Rather than researching wedding vendors, who might just offer packages and services to fit a larger wedding budget, work with other event vendors who might be more open to customizing a plan for you. .

If extravagant floral arrangements or a 10-tier wedding cake aren’t a must for you, consider hiring people more new to their craft (students with side hustles) or those just starting out.

4. Adjust your guest list

One challenge you may have with a $2,500 budget is reducing the number of people you can invite. Depending on the venue, caterer, and beverage supplier, you may have to pay a per-person fee, which can add up quickly.

Once you know how much it will cost per person, you can then work backwards with your budget to see, based on other expenses, how many people you can invite.

If you can’t find a venue or food and beverage vendors that won’t charge you per person, consider narrowing your guest list to accommodate only immediate family and loved ones. Then, offer the rest of your guests access to watch your wedding virtually.

5. Don’t rush into decisions

Planning a wedding with a budget of $2,500 will feel like playing a game of Tetris. You’ll try to see how many different providers and services you can afford without spending a penny more.

This will require research, negotiation, and dropping items from your list that don’t mean much to you (for me it was flowers).

In the end, your wedding might be different than you imagined, but it will be a memorable celebration that won’t put you in debt. I can really say “yes” to that!