The Worst Ways to Cut Your Wedding Budget (And What to Do Instead)

Weddings are expensive — shocker. But while saving some cash is a chef’s kiss idea, some budget-cutting moves can leave you with regret, disaster, or a wedding that feels more like a sad office party. So, before you start slashing costs left and right, let’s talk about the absolute worst ways to cut corners — and what to do instead.

01 | The "I Can DIY It" Delusion

Pinterest has you believing you’re one hot glue gun away from being a craft goddess. Reality? You’re knee-deep in paper flowers at 2 AM questioning your life choices. Unless you love crafting and truly have time to spare, pick one or two DIY projects that you know you can handle and outsource the rest. Your sanity and your partner will thank you.

02 | Cheap Photography = Priceless Regret

You can thrift your wedding decor but do not thrift your photographer. Those blurry, badly-lit wedding, awkwardly posed, poorly edited photos will haunt you forever. Your future self does not want to explain why Grandma’s head got cropped out of the family portraits. Pay for someone who actually knows how to work a camera.

03 | The Guest List Chop Job

Yes, cutting guests saves money but don’t go full-on ghost mode. Randomly axing people without explanation = major drama. Instead, be strategic: second cousins you’ve never met? Cut. That coworker you only say “hey” to in the breakroom? Bye. Your childhood friend you haven’t spoken to in a decade? Adios.

04 | "Friendors" (AKA, Friends Who Are NOT Vendors)

Your bestie thinks she can do makeup, your cousin swears he can DJ and Uncle Bob probably won’t ruin your cake. But unless they’re legit pros, you’re rolling the dice. If you wouldn’t trust them to handle a high-stakes event, don’t trust them with your wedding. Pay for actual professionals — it’s worth it.

05 | Cutting Costs With Sad Food & Drinks

Nobody’s expecting filet mignon but you will hear about it if your guests are forced to survive on stale crackers and watered-down drinks. If you’re on a budget, go for a creative option like food trucks, brunch receptions or a taco bar. Just don’t leave your guests hangry — it’s a bad look.

06 | The "I Got This" Wedding Planning Lie

You think you can handle everything solo. Cute. But when you’re being bombarded with vendor calls, seating chart nightmares (looking at you Aunt Karen), and last-minute chaos, you’ll wish you had a planner in your corner (or at least a day-of coordinator). Get help, or embrace those major stress wrinkles, because it looks like you’ll be working at your wedding instead of enjoying yourself.

08 | No Backup Plan

Outdoor weddings are dreamy — until Mother Nature decides otherwise. If your “backup plan” is just hoping it doesn’t rain, you’re playing yourself. Always, ALWAYS have a Plan B. Preferably one that doesn’t involve frantically shoving guests into a too-small tent.

Final Verdict: Be Cheap, But Not That Cheap

Saving money? Genius. Cutting so many corners your wedding looks like a budget horror story? Not so much. Be smart, get creative, and make budget-friendly choices that don’t suck the fun out of your big day. Because no one wants to remember your wedding as “that one time we ate dry chicken and danced under fluorescent office lights.”