This is the story of
HOW ONE COUPLE saved over $27,000 ON THEIR WEDDING
with a step-by-step guide on how they did it, so you can, too.
LET'S GET INTO IT
LET'S GET INTO IT
As a wedding photographer, I've seen my proper fair share of love stories, but let me tell you, this particular shindig was a corker. Their true blue passion and grit led 'em to create a wedding that was chocka’s of charm, class, and true-blue authenticity – all without thumping their wallets.
In this blog, you’re about to learn their strategies – from snappin' up a budget-friendly and frothing venue, to putting together DIY touches that screamed their love and personalities.
With this step-by-step guide, you'll be able to throw a ripper wedding that's as unique as your love story, all while keepin' the finances in check.
So, chuck a sickie, make a coffee and let’s dive in to the one article that’s going to change everything for you while planning your wedding!
the MONEY SAVING MAGIC we’re about to UNCOVER:
How to save over $10,000 on your wedding venue.
The easiest way to get your dream wedding dress for under $500.
Put $10,000 straight back into your bank account honey-moon money-saving hack.
The cheapest way to have awesome photos, without the price tag.
Save over $4,000 on a live band with this simple solution.
The best wedding feast ideas that will leave your guests satisfied, for as little as $5 a head.
The best kept secret to save over $4,000 on your wedding flowers.
Make thousands of dollars in the process of planning your wedding.
WHY ARE YOU SHARING THIS?
I've been in your shoes – planning a wedding can be a real whirlwind, full of excitement and stress, especially when it comes to keeping the costs down.
I’m Levi, a wedding photographer out of Byron Bay.
When my wife and I got married in 2021, I felt the overwhelm of trying to create a beautiful day without rupturing our bank accounts. It was gnaaarly. As a wedding photographer, getting married myself gave me a perspective I didn’t know I needed as someone working in the industry. Over the last six years I've seen the struggle and frustration my brides go through when they want to cut costs without sacrificing the dream vision. I get it!
We're all in this together, and love shouldn't be overshadowed by financial stress. Make a coffee and let’s navigate this adventure together. Ready!?
Onto the magic, lessgooo!
these are the EIGHT GREAT IDEAS
that can save you over $27,000 on your wedding.
01. This is how to save over $10,000 on your wedding venue.
Did you know the average wedding venue costs between $6,000 to $11,000, which aren’t the friendliest numbers when you’re trying to save as much as you can on your wedding (for most couples, that’s 25% to 50% of their total budget).
Does a friend have an amazing/rustic backyard you could borrow? Perhaps you’re friends with a restaurant owner who wouldn’t mind you borrowing that space on their day off? Do you have a special skill or talent that you could barter for a free or reduced-cost wedding venue?
Look at who and what is around you and I guarantee you can find an incredible venue for literally next to nothing, that’s what this couple did! They used their work venue to host their wedding and their bosses didn’t charge them a cent.
// Price Tag: $0
// Savings: $6,000 — $11,000
02. The easiest way to get your dream wedding dress for under $500.
Pheeeewwwyy. Girls, this pocket of knowledge gold is for you. I know, I know. When you pick up a copy of that wedding mag you tinkle a little over the designer gowns. Everyone wants to look like a princess on their wedding day, but not everyone has the coin to get every dress they see. The average wedding dress costs $1,500 with more expensive brands charging $2,500+! I want to show you how you can do even better than those crazy brands, without that ridiculous price tag.
Now, what this couple did may sound crazy at first, but bear with me. Six months before their wedding they looked around for second-hand lace dresses, found a few, offered cash to drop the price a little lower, and had a family friend alter them together. The result was a one-off, hand made wedding dress that cost less than Harvey Specter’s haircut.
// Price Tag: $500
// Savings: $2,000+
03. Put $10,000 straight back into your bank account honey-moon money-saving hack.
Everyone’s experienced wanderlust at some point, travelling is probably the coolest thing since sliced bread, and honeymoons are the perfect opportunity to realise your wanderlust. The problem is, your average honeymoon costs $5,000 to $10,000!
If you’re clever, do what this couple did and skip the wedding gifts (chances are you’ll return anyway), and ask your guests to put that money towards your honeymoon instead of going through the trouble of choosing traditional gifts and hoping you like them. Your guests love you and want to bless you with something they know you’ll really appreciate, mix what they put towards your honeymoon with your own honeymoon budget and you just saved a lot of money!
// Price Tag: $1,000
// Savings: $4,000 — $9,000
04. The cheapest way to have awesome photos, without the price tag.
You’re not alone to want amazing photos of your day to share with friends and family, and who doesn’t want timeless imagery to look back on in 30 years while drinking a bottle of red and reminiscing of the good times.
I’m speaking from my professional field here, experienced photographers cost more than what most are probably prepared to spend. And that’s okay! This might seem counterintuitive for me to suggest, but there are other ways to still get photos of your day that don’t have the volume some price tag.
With the amount of information online nowadays and the cost of basic camera setups being so accessible, there’s no excuse anymore. Just give your younger cousin who’s studying photography a coupla’ hundred bucks to take some photos. They won’t say no! The couple were very dear friends of mine and I was happy to bless them with a cheaper rate than I normally charge, which attributed to their overall wedding costs being so low.
// Price Tag: $500
// Savings: $2,000 — $6,250+
I only recommend this if you’re a serious budget. You only get married once.
SAVE $7,650 ON YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS
I’m currently running the most bang-for-buck offer you’ve ever seen from any wedding photographer, ever.. Seriously, it’s silly. More info at the bottom!
05. Save over $4,000 on a live band with this simple solution.
Did you know live bands cost around $4,000 on average, and DJ’s cost around $1,300 on average? That’s a lot of money you can save, as well.
All you need is couple of good speakers and a Spotify playlist loaded with groovy tunes, that’s what this couple did! Do you have a local church or family friend that has access to some mean boomboxes? After a few drinks, your guests won’t even notice if you had a six-piece band or the best playlist of the century.
// Price Tag: $100
// Savings: $2,000 — $4,000+
06. The best wedding feast ideas that will leave your guests satisfied, for as little as $5 a head.
Don’t be afraid to go against the pod here. This couple hired an incredible wood-burning pizza truck that made next-level gourmet pizzas with double the festive factor than a normal caterer, at half the price. At $40 a head with traditional catering, that’s a decent amount of dollars straight back in your wallet.
To round this out, maybe you have an amazing neighbour who can make all the gourmet appetisers at cost. If you put your mind to it, you can be super inventive & budget-conscious at the same time, without your guests even knowing it. Think girl, think!
// Price Tag: $100
// Saving: $2,000 — $4,000
07. The best kept secret to save save over $4,000 on your wedding flowers.
Oh, I know you’ve been waiting for this one. I get around the smell of fresh flowers as much as the next guy, but gone are the days of needing a flower to cover every service at your reception. Think of flowers & decor as “accentuates,” not the main attraction.
What this couple did for their flower decor blew my mind, and I would never have picked up on it unless they told me. The trick is to set aside some money and visit your local flower market (or even grocery store) the morning of your wedding. It may sound a bit strange and you may not get exactly what you want, but I guarantee you you’ll have a tsunami of options at a fraction of the cost. And, if you managed to find a great backyard for your wedding, odds are you won’t even need flowers!
Not to mention candles, candle holders and vases can be found at op shops/thrift stores for 5c a pop. No one would ever know you only spent $50 and were able to adorn every table with sweet-smelling candles and funky vases
// Price Tag: $250
// Savings: $4,000+
08. The one thing that can make you thousands of dollars in the process of planning your wedding.
Haha okay, I may lose you for a moment here, but give me a chance. Rings are a symbol of marriage and come in all shapes & sizes and being creative with your money doesn’t have to stop here!
You may have heard the price of gold is very high at the moment. Right now it’s jumping all over the place at around $1,500 per ounce! This couple spent an afternoon culling all of their gold jewellery and pawned it for something better.
Spend some time gathering your old pieces, take them to a reputable jewellery store and ask how much you could get for them. If you care to part with a handful of accessories you might just have enough money to get a shiny new ring on top, just like the couple did!
// Price Tag: $0
// Savings: $1,500+
THERE YOU HAVE IT!
It’s quite possible to blow your guests away with a festive & stylish wedding that’s super affordable. Hopefully, with these simple strategies, you can start imagining your wedding with all the glitz and glamour at a fraction of the price.
There are no prizes for the most money spent on a wedding.
NEXT STEPS
I’M GETTING MARRIED AND WANT TO SAVE $7,650 ON MY PHOTOGRAPHY
If you’re getting married on the East Coast of Australia, this is the most bang-for-buck offer from any wedding photographer you’ll ever find, ever.
I WANT TO KEEP READING YOUR FREE WEDDING PLANNING RESOURCES
This next guide goes an entire wedding day from start to finish, and how to get the most out of your timeline.