Let’s be real. Most “budget wedding” advice you find online isn’t really budget advice. It’s “my aunt is a florist” advice. It’s “my best friend is a graphic designer and gifted us our invites” advice. It’s “we got married on my parents’ estate” advice.

But what if you don’t have any of that?

What if you’re trying to plan a wedding with actual financial limitations, no rich relatives, and zero desire to take up candle-making as a side hustle? What if you’re doing this while working full-time, in the middle of a cost of living crisis, and the whole thing is making you want to elope into the sea?

Then this article is for you.

First of all: It’s OK to feel overwhelmed

Weddings are expensive. Even “budget” ones. You’re literally hosting a party for 100+ people, it’s hardly going to be cheap. But if you’re scrolling through dreamy DIY ceremonies that look like they were styled by Vogue, while you’re trying to figure out if you can afford a second bottle of Prosecco, it can start to feel impossible.

You are not doing it wrong. The system is rigged.

Decide what actually matters to you (and ditch the rest)

The only way to make a wedding affordable and meaningful is to get brutal about your priorities. Think about the things you’ll truly remember ten years from now. Is it the colour-matched napkins? Or the moment you said your vows in front of the people who love you?

If it helps, write a “fuck-it list” – all the wedding stuff you don’t care about and are officially not doing. Matching robes for your wedding party? Fuck it. Chair covers? Fuck it. Engraved cake forks? Seriously, fuck it.

Here’s the honest truth: if you have great photos, you feel amazing in your outfit (no matter how much or little it cost), and everyone eats something delicious, your wedding will feel like a massive success. That doesn’t mean a 12-hour photography package, a couture gown, and a five-course meal. It means choosing what feels good.

Why not book a great photographer for just a few hours? If you marry out of season or on a weekday, they may do you a deal and help you stretch your budget further.

Wear something that makes you feel like the hottest version of yourself, whether it’s a secondhand suit from Vinted or a £30 dress from an online retailer.

Feed people food they’ll actually want to eat. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Cook it yourselves, work with your local pub, or hire a loaded baked potato or taco truck.

Make the party BYO. If you think people are only coming because they want free booze, you can probably uninvite them right now.

What matters most – and what you’ll remember – is how you and your guests felt on the day. Not the signage. Not the favours. Not the goddamn napkin colour.

Budget like you mean it

Make a spreadsheet – even if it’s ugly. Track and include everything (yes, even stamps for invites and Uber rides to the venue). Figure out what you can realistically afford, and work backwards.

And remember: “low budget” doesn’t mean “cheap-looking.” It means you’ve put your money where it matters.

Not crafty? Not a problem

DIY isn’t always the saviour it’s made out to be. If you don’t enjoy crafting, designing, or baking, then doing it yourself isn’t free – it’s just stress in a different costume. Buy secondhand. Borrow. Reuse. Or, hell, skip the thing entirely.

Embrace the imperfect

Your day might not look like the weddings on Instagram. But those weddings often come with hidden help, gifted services, and a lot of smoke and mirrors. Your wedding is allowed to be a little rough around the edges. In fact, those are usually the bits people remember.

Let it be messy. Let it be real.

A few actually helpful, non-bullshit tips

Limit your guest list. Every person adds cost. Intimacy is a budget-saver.
Use one venue for everything, ideally one that doesn’t need tons of extra décor.
Do your own playlist instead of hiring a band or DJ.
High street wedding outfits can look incredible, it’s all about how you style them. Altering something vintage or pre-loved can often be cheaper than buying new.
Food trucks, pizza, or a favourite takeaway can be far more affordable (and fun) than a traditional caterer.
Skip party favours. Literally no one misses them.
Get married on a weekday or off-season if your venue allows it. Suppliers may have cheaper rates for off-season or weekday weddings.
Tell people what you need. You don’t need to be gifted designer invites – but maybe your mate with a decent printer can help with menus. Ask for help that makes sense for your life. Canva is free!

And finally: Your wedding doesn’t have to prove anything

Not your love. Not your style. Not your creativity. Not your social media presence.

You don’t have to impress the internet. You just have to get married in a way that feels honest and possible for you.

If all you can afford is a ceremony in a registry office with your mates and a trip to the pub after – guess what? That’s still a wedding. That’s still yours.

And honestly? That sounds kind of perfect.