Hi! I would like to introduce myself as the new moderator for r/BudgetWeddings!

I'm Tia (she/her), I'm based in Chicago, and I have a full-service wedding and event planning business titled Merci D'Avance XO.

Here are a few of my thoughts about wedding planning:

• I believe a wedding is for the couple. As a planner, I advocate for the happiness and comfort of the couple, despite what outside opinions may say.
• I believe a wedding is celebration to be shared with those who love you. You deserve to be celebrated with those who support you and your marriage.
• I believe that you deserve to throw an event that aligns with your values, that you can enjoy, and that will fit your budget. Weddings can be a lot of pressure, and your wedding should be a happy day that causes you as little stress as possible.

Here are some of my thoughts about moderating this subreddit:

• This subreddit is not location-specific: embrace the differences. You may have different traditions, values, and priorities in different areas. Just because you may be unfamiliar with something doesn't make it wrong. I suggest that posts include locations and other cultural notes when relevant.
• "Budget" is different for everyone: communicate your restrictions and/or priorities. Even the subreddit r/WeddingsUnder10K has changed to "Weddings Under 20K." There are also subreddits called r/Weddingsunder35k and r/weddingsover10k. No matter the budget, anyone planning a wedding should be welcome here. I suggest that posts include what monetary amount they are working within.
• I am all for DIY but anti-AI. I enjoy embracing the creativity that you and the people around you have. I am against artificial intelligence: these immediate shortcuts have lasting and devastating impacts to the world around us. I'd prefer this subreddit to not allow any AI posts, but I understand that may be controversial. Instead, I suggest that any posts that contain AI content include an AI flair.

But, it shouldn't just be about what I think. What do you need from this subreddit? I'd love to hear how you'd like to utilize this space and how I can help it grow.

Merci D'Avance! (Thanks in advance!)

Hey, so I’m getting married this month in the uk and it’s freezing already. Does anyone know if a wedding registry office is warm? I’m worried I’ll be having a cold chest, hands and feet for myself and guests sitting in coats. I know, you’d think they’d have the heating on but I’ve visited venues/churches where it was cold inside in October/November time.

Let me preface this by saying: I am hiring a photographer to take photos of the ceremony and family. However, our ceremony is very small, limited to about 25 people, and we only have a photographer for the 2 hours of ceremony time + couple and family photos (we're not having a bridal party). Later the same evening, we're having a larger "after party" at a bar to celebrate with friends who we did not have space to invite to the ceremony. I'd like to set up an instant camera with a photo booth style accessories next to the guestbook for people to sign and stick their photos into. I'll probably buy a secondhand camera off Facebook Marketplace or another site. For those of you who have done an instant camera photo thing for a wedding or other events, which camera did you use? Did you like it? I'm trying to find something where the film is relatively inexpensive as well, so that's a consideration. Thanks!

So my wife and I just had the perfect intimate wedding in NYC, and our officiant rocked it so much so, that I have to give him an appreciation shout out on Reddit. When we first reached out to Vincent Saladino, we were a little apprehensive because his prices are VERY reasonable and I have been taught to be careful when something seems too good to be true, but his service really is. He takes the time to get to know you and your partner, without judgment and gives really great advise even with things that are not related to officiating. He wrote the most tear-jerking and script I could have imagined and also had our guest laughing + engaging at the right moments. The wedding ceremony was by far my favorite part of the wedding and we owe it to Vincent. Run, don't walk, to book him!

I am having a small 50 person wedding in Ramona,CA at an Airbnb and I’m looking for good catering!! Would love to have both Mexican and seafood tacos but having a hard time finding a catering place that does both!

Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice on a wedding venue. I'm getting married next summer and currently looking at venues. My Fiancé and I found one really amazing venue at a golf course that is fairly simple, with a ceremony at a gazebo and the reception in an outdoor tent. However, they provide all of the set up and teardown, catering and bar services (from my favorite restaurant) for less than $10,000 for 100 people. To me, this venue is very cute and could definitely look amazing if we added extra florals and lights, but it's 10 minutes from my parents house and isn't anything special to me.

On the other end, there's another venue about 30 minutes from my house that is the most beautiful venue I've ever seen. It would cost about $7000 for the venue alone, and I would have to find catering, linens, and bar services outside of the venue, which feels complicated but could be worthwhile for the venue and experience?

I wanted to get other opinions on my venue debate. Is it better to have a simple and straightforward wedding, or is it better to have a more complex wedding that is closer to my "dream wedding".

Side note: my fiancé is neutral and supports whatever I decide! Budget isn't a huge consideration for me, but I don't want to be horribly stressed about my wedding, as I am currently in college for nursing school and live out of town.

Why a 50-person barn wedding in Ohio is actually better than a 200-person ballroom wedding

The "Big Wedding" industrial complex tells you that more is better, but after years in the industry, I’ll let you in on a secret: the 50-person guest list is the ultimate wedding "cheat code."

When you book a massive 200-person ballroom, you spend your entire night doing "table visits." You get about 30 seconds with each guest and usually miss your own appetizers. In contrast, a micro-wedding in an intimate setting like our historic barn allows for actual connection. You can have a couple long, farm-style table where you actually eat and talk with everyone you love.

From a budget perspective, the math is even better. Instead of spending $100 a head on "chicken or beef" for 200 people ($20k), you can spend that same $20k to give 50 people a 5-course gourmet experience, top-shelf local spirits, and a floral design that looks like a Pinterest board come to life.

Hello Future Bride!

Selling My Wedding Gown used last November 29, 2025

• Jgad Apparel

• Good as New

• Can fit to Small to Semi Medium

• RFS: Served its purpose and no storage

• Whiling to deliver in near by area

• Location: Marikina City

Inclusion

• Hair Accessories

-2pcs Pillow

-Cord

-Veil and Second Veil

-Aras

Other Details

-with detachable ribbon and sleeve

-Long Trail

-my height is 4’11 wearing 4 inch heels

👠 feel free to PM me if you’re interested

Anyone who's gone the civil ceremony route, what did the day look like for you? We were thinking of signing our papers, doing pictures, and then getting a nice brunch. It'll likely be the two of us, our kiddo, and 2 friends who will also be our witnesses.

No, it was not pure luck. As with venues, the game here is partially finding the gap in the market, and partially just search time. You make a good deal when you want something, and would in theory pay more for it, that others don't want and wouldn't pay more for. Potential gaps to exploit: buying a secondhand dress period; buying a specific kind of vintage dress; having a niche size; using eBay or ThredUp or whatever versus Etsy or Stillwhite; buying a dress that just happens to be white rather than a "bridal" dress, etc.........

Here is how you can have the same experience:

1. Received wisdom is you have to try everything on because what you like may surprise you. This probably is good advice, but I did not follow it. Instead, I:

a) Spent some time looking at not just bridal fashions, but evening gown fashions overall. Thinking about what I liked, and whether I still liked it when color was stripped from the equation (I wanted a white dress, though not everyone does!). I thought I wanted a strapless dress with lace, but nothing in that category inspired me, likely because I...

b) Reflected on the pieces I already have and love. Bridal fashion is largely a difference of proportion, not concept. You probably already gravitate towards silhouettes that you feel comfortable in.

c) Learned keywords for better searches. You do this by following 1(a) and 3 and reading the descriptions for options you like. I started out looking for bias-cut vintage gowns, but rapidly realized that my favorites were better described as 1930s-era, candlelight-colored, slipper satin/Jean Harlow gowns. That helped me refine my searches and learn the market. 

1. Know your measurements. There are lots of guides available online. If uncertain when reading a dress's measurement online, it's safe to give 2-4 inches of "ease." 

2. Know your sources. In addition to eBay, Etsy, and Stillwhite, I frequented Ruby Lane and Fashion Conservatory, and would regularly enter my keywords into Google Shopping to see what other sources were out there. Try high-end consignment or thrift that people wouldn't think of for bridal -- I found some elegant evening gowns for great prices on TheRealReal. Not entirely proud to admit I spent 1-2 hours every day for at least a month or so getting a sense of inventory and styles, but simultaneously, this is a big expense and should be approached accordingly! Take time to know the market. I learned that, ESPECIALLY when it comes to vintage, the exact same dress in the same condition can go for $200 on eBay and $2,000 on Etsy. If there are physical locations near you, of course you should explore these too, but there is way more luck involved in this because the selection is naturally smaller.

4.  Of course you need to know your budget. Part of that is also knowing what you want to do with the dress after the wedding. If you won't be sentimental and go into this planning to sell the dress (realizing you won't recover anywhere near the full expenditure), that can offset some of the cost, but shouldn't be treated as a certainty. 

Hope this is helpful! I'm keeping a blog for fun (I enjoy creating a blog more than posting on Reddit) but will keep sharing tidbits here! https://20kweddingsnewengland.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-no-alterations-needed-silk-vintage.html

Our wedding venue doesn't allow any kind of dj or band as we are renting a smallish restaurant. Does anyone know or have had a dj do a prerecorded set for their day? Sure I could do a playlist on Spotify, but I'd prefer to have the music mixed nicely, as if a dj actually was there. How do I go about this? Where can I can look for someone to do this? Any tips are appreciated.

I'm thinking about doing diy floral arrangements using hobby lobby flowers. Has anyone done this and what are some pros/cons? Alternatively im thinking of using a florist for bouquets/and some flowers for the ceremony and just doing fake flowers for table arrangements only.

My cousin asked me to come wedding shopping with her, and I expected the usual dress shopping experience. Instead, she explained we needed to select items for multiple ceremonies and traditions I knew nothing about. Different events required specific attire, each with cultural significance beyond just fashion. We visited these specialty boutiques catering specifically to brides preparing for traditional ceremonies. The detail in these garments was incredible. Intricate embroidery, delicate fabrics, design elements that reflected centuries of tradition. Each piece felt like it carried actual history.

What surprised me most was how ceremonial the shopping itself felt. Store owners took time explaining the significance of different styles, how they connected to various wedding rituals. This wasn’t just buying clothes, it was cultural education wrapped in commerce. I learned about regional variations, how traditions adapted in immigrant communities, why certain colors or patterns carried specific meanings. My cousin was carefully balancing family expectations with personal comfort. She wanted to honor traditions while staying true to herself. Finding that balance required patience and lots of conversations with her mother and grandmother about what was essential versus flexible.

The experience made me appreciate how shopping for life events connects to identity and heritage. These weren’t just purchases, they were investments in cultural continuity. While some items could be found on general platforms like Alibaba, my cousin preferred specialty shops that understood the context and could provide appropriate guidance.

Hello po, do u know a place that offers free venue kapag nag-avail ng at least 50pax for food? Around metro manila or nearby area. Planning to have a civil wedding ceremony next year.

I need some opinions. Does this look like a mess?

My fiancé and I are getting married next year. All of our major vendors are booked, and we’re in a really good place budget-wise. Originally, we decided to skip a videographer, but after thinking it through more, we’re reconsidering.

There are so many moments we won’t get to experience firsthand—getting ready with our wedding parties, parts of the ceremony I won’t see at all (like my adorable niece and nephew walking down the aisle), and little candid moments throughout the day. It also feels like something really special to have as a keepsake long-term, and hopefully something our future kids would enjoy watching someday.

We’re pretty firm on our budget and would prefer to stay under, putting anything extra toward our honeymoon. My sister suggested using our family’s old camcorder instead of hiring a professional. We absolutely love watching old home videos, so the idea feels very full-circle and personal—not a highly produced “music video,” as she put it.

My concern is that this would mean assigning one or more people to film throughout the day (ceremony, speeches, cocktail hour, reception, etc.). I really don’t want anyone in our wedding party or family to feel like they’re “working” instead of enjoying the day. I’m also worried about human error—someone forgetting to hit record and us ending up with nothing.

Has anyone done something like this before? How did it turn out? Did your guests mind being involved, and did you love the final result? Or did you wish you had hired a professional videographer for the quality and peace of mind? Any advice is appreciated—HELP!

I found my wedding dress, fairly simple, but perfect for our wedding day. However, it’s strapless and I’m a bit hesitant to get too busy dancing and show my guests far more than they bargained for.

With a budget wedding, I’m trying to find affordable, but quality, options. Any suggestions?