Typically, couples spend 37% of their wedding budget on the venue, which is a big chunk of one’s funds. Given that the median price of a wedding is $10,000 according to SoFi’s most recent survey, and the average is $33,000, according to the wedding site The Knot, that can mean thousands of dollars invested in the location where you say your vows.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the price of your wedding venue. There are free and affordable options, from a backyard to city hall to a beach. Read on to explore your options, plus learn tips to finance your wedding.
Key Points
• Wedding venues typically account for 37% of a wedding budget, so finding an affordable venue can have a big impact on keeping costs down.
• Hosting a wedding at home can be cost-effective and customizable, but may require planning for upgrades, parking, and local ordinances.
• City hall weddings offer an affordable and chic option, with fees typically under $100 depending on location.
• Park and beach weddings provide scenic backdrops but require permits and considerations for accessibility, shelter, and restrooms.
• Budget-friendly venues still require financial planning; personal loans or family contributions may help cover remaining costs.
Host a Wedding at Home or in a Backyard
This could be at your own home, or that of a parent, friend, or other loved one, which will likely be one of the most affordable wedding venues around. Benefits of this choice (besides the lack of rental fees) include the flexibility to have your ceremony on just about any day of the year, plus you have a ready-made shelter if the weather isn’t ideal. By avoiding a wedding venue rental, you can stretch your savings or your wedding loan further on other expenses, such as flowers and entertainment.
Just decide how much of the event will be held outdoors, what rooms of the house should be made available to wedding guests, and how to ensure enough seating.
A couple of other perks to an at-home wedding:
• Want a pet-friendly ceremony? It doesn’t get any better than a home wedding for having your beloved dog be your ring bearer.
• Any home upgrades made for the ceremony can be enjoyed for a long time afterward. If your powder room could use a glow-up, you might want to concentrate your efforts there for a beautiful bathroom refresh.
Or this could be a perfect time to do some outdoor landscaping that will beautify your special day and your home for years to come. As a bonus, a project like this could add value to your home.
Check to be sure your officiant of choice is able to perform the ceremony, plan the parking logistics, find out how to comply with any noise ordinances, and so forth.
Say “I Do” at City Hall: A Cheap and Chic Wedding Venue
A city hall wedding can be a very chic choice. You aren’t restricted to the city hall or courthouse by where you currently live. You could choose one that has special significance to your relationship, perhaps the city where you first fell in love.
Or, you can get married in the city hall where you’ll enjoy your honeymoon or your family vacation. As another strategy, you can choose the city hall based on its beauty or retro architectural details. For instance, the city hall in San Francisco has a stunning white column and gold-capped roof.
The fee for a city hall wedding varies by state and municipality. Generally, it ranges from $20 to $50 or somewhat more, not including your marriage license. Call the location to learn the exact cost.
There are usually designated days and times for city hall weddings, so find out what they are in the location of your choice and how that would work in conjunction with your post-wedding celebration. Also, ask if there’s a limit to the number of wedding guests you can have, and whether you’ll be able to have bridesmaids and groomsmen, given the logistics.
Many couples like to have a special meal after, either solo or with a few friends and family members; it’s your call how to mark the big day.
Recommended: Wedding Cost Calculator With Examples
Get Married at a Park: Affordable and Scenic Wedding Venue Idea
Perhaps there are beautiful parks in your town or city full of unique flowers, landscaping, and vistas — or maybe there is one with special meaning to you, say, where the two of you went biking on a first date.
If that’s the case, you could contact the relevant parks department and find out any details about fees and permits (for instance, if you want to marry at Yosemite National Park, you’ll need a special use permit, which currently costs $150).
Some considerations:
• How accessible is the location for guests? If it’s a small park in the center of town, it’s likely to be fairly accessible. If it’s deep in the heart of a national park system, you may need to decide how to make it practical for guests to find and attend.
• Other concerns for a park wedding include shelter in case of rain, having enough public restrooms (are they readily available or do you need to rent portable options?), and how comfortable you are getting married in an open space.
• You might also need to find out what the park’s policy is on receptions. Can you set up tables and have food brought in? Or serve cake and bubbly? Dream it up, brainstorm details, and get confirmation from park officials.
Recommended: Personal Loan Calculator
Plan a Budget-Friendly Beach Wedding
You might consider a beach wedding, with its possibilities for one-of-a-kind sunsets, soft breezes, and tropical drinks. As practical considerations, do you plan to have a ceremony along the ocean on a public beach or will you locate a private beach? The permits you’ll need will likely be quite different if you plan to have just your ceremony there versus if you also plan to have a beachside reception complete with food, drink, and music.
You’ll also need to create a Plan B or otherwise have shelter available if the weather doesn’t cooperate. And, where you plan to have the ceremony, geographically speaking, may help to dictate what time of year your wedding should be scheduled. For instance, for a July wedding at your favorite beach, think about how far in advance to plan summer travel.
Then figure out the final details. Do you plan to have alcohol at your reception? That often isn’t permitted on beaches, but there are some that do allow guests to imbibe. Do you want to rope off a section of the beach? Build a bonfire? Again, you might want to ask what the rules and regulations are for the beach you have in mind and be flexible about modifying plans to help make it all come together.
More Cheap Wedding Venue Ideas to Consider
The ideas above aren’t the only affordable locations to consider for your big day. Also keep the following in mind.
Local Community Centers
Depending on where you live, you may find community centers that cost just a few hundred dollars at most to use and provide the right setting for your wedding. You can also consider whether such organizations as the Lions Club, Kiwanis, or Junior League have spaces to rent. Some offer tables and chairs; others may have fully equipped kitchens.
Couples have found that with vases from a local discount store and flowers arranged by friends and family, this option can help them pull off a wedding on a budget.
College Campus Gardens
Many colleges have pretty areas where they can host weddings, whether or not you are a graduate. Research your area and see what’s available. There might also be some indoor spots with historic architectural details where you could say your vows.
Be sure you understand the guidelines, though. Some universities work with specific vendors (such as catering companies), which can wind up blowing your budget.
Airbnb or Vacation Rentals
A vacation rental can offer a spectacular wedding setting on a shoestring. You might find a charming farmhouse with a storybook garden and loads of bedrooms to house the wedding party. Or perhaps you want to rent a loft in a nearby city.
Whatever type of accommodation you are seeking, be clear up front with the owner about the purpose of your rental to make sure there are no restrictions. Some property owners don’t want gatherings in their spaces, while others are very much in the business of helping people find a place to celebrate.
Breweries or Small-Town Halls
Local businesses can often work with tight budgets to create a wonderful and memorable wedding. For example, a craft brewery may have a private area where you can say your vows and then celebrate with friends and family over an array of their beers and snacks. Some have outdoor spaces where a food truck can pull up to feed your friends and family. Don’t forget to search for nearby distilleries, too.
Many couples like the industrial vibe these spaces can have, or you might find a local lodge or other gathering space that has a quirky, cool ambience for your wedding day.
Local Family Farm
A local farm can be a fun, rustic setting for a wedding without breaking the bank. They offer beautiful countryside and often a barn where you can say your vows and dance the night away. Plenty of farmers are supplementing their business this way these days, so see what’s available. Some partner with caterers and cooks to create a farm-to-table meal as well, which could be within your budget.
Budgeting Tips for a Cheap Yet Memorable Wedding
Even when you choose a free or inexpensive wedding venue, you’ll still likely want to come up with some creative ways to save money for the food, music, drinks, flowers, photography, video, and so on. Some ideas:
• Tap your circle of loved ones. Do you have a friend who could handle the photography or videography? That can help you save a bundle. Or could family members fill vases with flowers from a farmers market to use as centerpieces vs. hiring a florist? Could a pal’s band play, or perhaps everyone could bring a dish for a pot luck feast?
• You can also explore different ways to help cover some of the wedding costs. For instance, a wedding loan might be an option to explore to help pay for your big day. Or perhaps your families might be able to help out financially with some of the venue-related expenses, such as catering.
• Prioritize your spending. During a discussion with your partner, you could both try to determine who will pay for what, and how much you’re willing to spend. It could help to discuss priorities so you’re in agreement about where to splurge and where you’re willing to compromise.
If, for example, you know that having beautiful flowers is important to both of you, that could rise to the must-have category. And maybe you want to spend more on photography and less on videography — or vice versa. What’s important is that you mutually create and agree upon a plan that’s unique to you and your special day.
Financing Your Wedding
When it comes to financing your wedding, a wedding loan could be a good option for your needs. These loans are unsecured personal loans used to cover wedding costs. Rates on personal loans tend to be lower than credit card rates, and they can offer more flexibility on the term of your loan and the amount you can borrow. Plus, you’ll get a fixed rate.
Recommended: How to Apply for a Personal Loan
The Takeaway
With research and budgeting, you can find an affordable wedding venue that makes your big day wonderful and memorable. Options can include an at-home wedding or renting an Airbnb space that you love. Or you could opt for a city hall wedding, or find a park, garden, farm, or beach to provide a beautiful natural setting for your ceremony and celebration.
Even when you find an affordable venue, however, you may need help financing your wedding. That’s where a wedding loan, which is a kind of personal loan, can come into play.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. See your rate in minutes.
FAQ
What are some cheap wedding venue ideas?
Cheap wedding venue ideas can include getting married at home, a friend’s house, a vacation rental, or city hall. Those who like to be outdoors or amid nature can consider a local farm, garden, park, or beach. Local craft breweries and community centers can be good candidates, too.
How can I find affordable wedding venues near me?
Searching online and inquiring about spaces you have seen can yield great, budget-friendly wedding venues. Asking friends and family about wedding they have attended can be worthwhile, too.
Is it cheaper to get married at city hall or a park?
Whether it’s cheaper to get married at city hall or a park will depend on the specific locations and fees you are considering. There are usually small fees involved at both kinds of locations, but consider the big picture, too. Will you want to go out to dinner with a number of friends and relatives after a city hall wedding? Would you rent chairs and hire a guitarist for a park ceremony?
Can I use a personal loan to pay for a wedding venue?
Yes, a personal loan can be used for almost any legal purpose, from paying off medical debt to financing a wedding. Some lenders offer wedding loans specially tailored to meet a couple’s needs for their big day.
What’s the average cost of a budget-friendly wedding?
A budget-friendly wedding can be defined as one that costs no more than $10,000. However, it is possible to pull off a big day for considerably less; say, for half that amount.
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