Ways to Create a Magical Wedding Ceremony Without Breaking the Bank

You've seen stunning wedding ceremonies on television, and you've likely been to some in real life too. Now the time has come for you to walk down the aisle, and you want the space filled with the same magic. However, your budget is on the smaller side. Fortunately, creating a dream wedding ceremony is still possible.

Consider Your Officiant

One way to lower the cost of a ceremony is to get married in a house of worship. Booking a wedding in a religious venue typically means that you'll pay one price for both the officiant and the space. Having your ceremony at another venue means you'll need to put down money for the space and pay for an outside officiant. Another possibility, if you're not getting married at a house of worship, is to ask a special relative or friend to officiate the ceremony.

Reuse the Decorations

Surprisingly, the decorations for a ceremony can take up a sizable portion of the budget. Many couples want each row of seats to have flowers, ribbons, and other elements of decor. You can still dress up the ceremony space as you wish, but consider how you can reuse the decorations so they both don’t go to waste and you could get away with buying less of them. Ask a friend or bridal party member to bring the decorations from the ceremony space over to the reception venue. Another idea is to get married at the ballroom venue you choose, for example, Russo's On The Bay, so that the decorations are already there and set up. You would only be required to move around some of the furniture to transform the venue from a ceremony space to a celebration space.

Skip Flowers

If you talk to anyone who has had a wedding recently, you'll likely learn that flowers often come with a high price tag. You can have a stunning wedding ceremony without any purchased flowers at all, though. The bridesmaids could carry bouquets of ribbons and crystals down the aisle, or you might have the girls walk with a battery-operated candle to create a romantic atmosphere. If you want a bouquet to dedicate to deceased loved ones during the ceremony, you could pick the flowers independently from your own garden.

Opt for a Photo and Video Combination Package

Hiring two separate companies for photography and videography is likely to add extra money to your bill. While one individual isn't going to be able to take pictures and the video at the same time, you can book with the same company. Ask what discounts or packages are available by booking both photos and videos. Some couples decide to skip the video altogether, but having these precious moments on film is important.

Even when the budget is small, you don't have to give up on your dreams of a magical wedding ceremony. Get creative instead. You can find deals that allow you to get what you want at a lower price, reuse decorations for multiple steps in the wedding process so as to get the most use you can out of them, and perhaps consider eliminating the more unnecessary details that won’t matter in the long run. There are avenues you can take, and it’s important to consider everyone so as to get the wedding you want.