{"id":16684,"date":"2017-02-03T13:30:45","date_gmt":"2017-02-03T19:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/?p=16684"},"modified":"2026-01-29T12:47:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T18:47:10","slug":"plan-a-wedding-for-under-1000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gigsalad.com\/blog\/plan-a-wedding-for-under-1000\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plan a Wedding on a Small Budget of $1,000"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated on January 29, 2026<\/p>
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Getting married is not cheap! But we’re guessing the most important thing isn’t how much you spend. It’s about who you’re spending your life with! If you can come up with $1,000, then we have some thrifty and creative wedding ideas on a budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Plan the guest list<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order to plan a wedding for under $1,000, you have to work on keeping the guest list small. Remember, as your guest list grows, so do your food and venue costs. Keep it intimate and invite people who really matter to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For our planning purposes below, we’ll keep the wedding guest list at 100 people. We’re also including higher-priced options in case you can save money in some areas and splurge in others!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddfe Running Total: $0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Choose the wedding venue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding an inexpensive venue is as easy as looking in your own backyard! Or your parents’ or friends’ backyards. Backyard weddings<\/a> are intimate, romantic, and, most of all, cheap. Think about how you could create a wedding space using the places you already love the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public spaces are another budget-friendly option. Consider local parks or beaches for a venue! You may have to pay a small rental or location fee, but they are usually very affordable and vary by city. Check with your local park board for permits needed and pricing. National parks are a bit more pricey, ranging from $50-$200 based on the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"bride<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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If you prefer a church ceremony, those fees vary by location and size of the church and usually start at $100. However, if it’s the church you or one of your family members attend, you may be able to get married for much less or even for free. College or university chapels are often great options because they’re pretty but not as expensive to rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venue Total: $0-$200<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddfe Running Total: $0-$200<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find an officiant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even if you’re having a simple wedding ceremony, it’s nice to have someone to guide the nuptials. Having a friend or family member get ordained online is the budget-friendly way to go (it’s free!), so start thinking about who would be a good fit. If you prefer a professional, you can book an officiant for between $200-$400, depending on your ceremony. Learn more about how much a wedding officiant costs<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officiant Total: $0-$200<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddfe Running Total: $0-$400<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Order the invitations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After you’ve got the venue and guest list set, it’s time to order the wedding invitations for your big day! Luckily, this can be a very minimal cost. Check out online ordering from Zazzle.com<\/a> to find photo invitations for as low as $0.35 a piece! That will certainly make your wedding budget happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a green bride, think about paperless invitations. You can plan your entire wedding, manage RSVPs, send online invitations, and more, all for free at WithJoy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invitations Total: $0-$100<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddfe Running Total: $0-$500<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Set up your seating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your planning process must include seating arrangements during the ceremony and reception. For outdoor ceremony and reception seating, get creative. An outdoor wedding with hay bales with donated throw blankets is budget-friendly and gives perfect rustic vibes<\/a>. Hay bales cost about $3 a piece and can seat 2-3 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also check with your church or social clubs to see about borrowing chairs for the day. If you must rent chairs, you can get simple plastic folding chairs for around $1.25 each, and 4-foot plastic folding tables for about $6 each. With the right table linens, no one will know they’re plastic. Of course, if you’re in a church, pews are included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seating Total: $125-$150<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\uddfe Running Total: $125-$650<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cook up the menu<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Food is generally one of the biggest wedding costs, especially when using a caterer<\/a>. If you truly want to plan a wedding on a small budget, you’ll most likely need to make the food yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc49 Helpful planning tips:<\/strong> 31 Essential Questions to Ask a Caterer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warehouse retailers such as Sam’s or Costco are great resources for buying good food in bulk. Another resource is FoodServiceDirect.com<\/a>, but allow a couple of weeks for shipping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frozen mini quiches, shrimp, or meatballs are perfect for an appetizer buffet. Mini petit fours, cake pops, or chocolate-covered strawberries are inexpensive but don’t look that way! When buying “mini” foods, remember to allow for 2-3 of each item per person. For this “bought in bulk” mini-app buffet, plan on spending about $3 per person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other low-cost food buffet ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n