If you’re organizing a wedding for 2025, you’re likely asking yourself how much it will set you back — and how you’ll cover the expense.
In 2024, couples in the U.S. typically spent about $33,000 on their ceremony and reception, according to a survey fromThe Knot.
Of course, not everyone has tens of thousands to allocate to one day — particularly in today’s economy.
The good news is there are lots of practical ways to trim wedding expenses for 2025. You’ll need to be flexible, inventive and willing to compromise on a few items. With thoughtful planning, you can host a memorable celebration for far less than the national mean.
Here’s how to begin.
13 Practical Ways to Save Money on Your 2025 Wedding
There are easily a dozen-plus strategies to reduce wedding spending.
Getting resourceful with centerpieces and blooms is one approach. Another is skipping a full open bar and leaning on talented friends for photography, baking and other services.
Below are savvy, money-conscious tips to help you stick to your spending plan.
1. Establish Your Wedding Budget
The first step on your wedding checklist should be building a realistic budget for the big day.
Yourwedding budgetacts as your financial guide. Think of it as guardrails that keep you from overspending and help prevent beginning married life with avoidable debt.
Several sites and apps can help you assemble a budget, includingWedding Wire’sbudget trackerand The Knot’sbudget planner.
Your budget should track estimated costs and the actual amounts you pay. Note deposit dates and final payment deadlines.
Keep these major categories in mind:
- Reception venue
- Catering and beverages
- Invitations and postage
- Wedding dress
- Groom’s outfit
- Hair and makeup
- Flowers
- Photographer and/or videographer
- Transportation
- Wedding cake
- Band or DJ
- Favors
- Ceremony location
- Officiant
- Wedding rings
Unsure about typical costs for each line item? WeddingWire’sCost Guidelets you search by city or ZIP code to find average prices for everything from photographers to cakes.
2. Hunt for a High-Value Venue
Securing a venue is one of the earliest and priciest tasks on your wedding to-do list.
Couples paid an average of $12,200 for their reception venue in 2024, perThe Knot. With a typical $33,000 wedding budget, that venue cost would represent nearly 37% of your total spend.
Consider affordable venue options like:
- A friend’s or your own backyard
- Public landmarks
- A beach
- State parks
- Botanical gardens
- Universities or colleges
- Restaurants and breweries
- Farms and ranches
- Church halls or community centers
A backyard celebration might save on venue rental, but you’ll be responsible for things many venues supply — chairs, tables, linens, tents, flatware and an altar. You may need to rent portable restrooms and handle parking logistics, too.
Those amenities help explain why professional venues can seem pricey. The Knot’s survey found 73% of couples said their venue included rentals, 41% included catering and 37% included alcohol.
That means a friend’s yard could be the best value — but depending on guest count and the services you’ll need, booking a dedicated venue might ultimately be cheaper. Run the numbers for both scenarios to decide which fits your situation.
3. Consider an Intimate Micro-Wedding
Micro-weddings surged in popularity during 2021–2022 as couples pared down guest lists for pandemic safety.
An intimate micro-wedding — typically under 50 guests — remains a strong cost-saving option for 2025. Reducing your guest roster is the single most effective way to lower wedding expenditures. You’ll cut costs not only on space but also catering, drinks, table settings, décor and favors.
How much might a micro-wedding cost? For a small home or backyard gathering with light food, drinks and attire, estimate around $1,500.
But remember: each added detail raises the total. A small venue with catered food, alcohol and floral arrangements can still approach $10,000.
4. Buy a Pre-Owned Wedding Dress and Save
You’ll likely wear the gown once — so why splurge on a brand-new designer piece?
Shop pre-loved wedding dresses online. Local listings appear on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, and several sites focus solely on used bridal gowns.
Here are some options to explore:
- Stillwhite
- PreownedWeddingDresses.com
- Once Wed
- BravoBride
- Loved Twice Bridal
- Borrowing Magnolia
- Poshmark
- Tradesy
Many of these sites let you filter by size, silhouette, designer and price. You can often find a gorgeous dress for far less than a new boutique gown.
Before purchasing used, check the return policy (if any) and clarify shipping responsibilities. Also budget for alterations after the dress arrives.
5. Have a Friend Officiate
Save on clergy or justice-of-the-peace fees by asking a friend to officiate. Becoming ordained is straightforward and quick, but confirm your officiant follows local legal requirements. This option works in most areas, though a few counties (some in Virginia, for example) may impose restrictions.
Some states even allowself-uniting marriages, which remove the need for an officiant entirely. In that case you and your partner exchange vows yourselves, and no one needs to get ordained.
6. Simplify Invitations or Go Digital
Let’s face it: most wedding invitations end up getting thrown away.
That’s money literally down the drain.
If you want to save, opt for minimalist paper invites or move everything online.
Sites likeJoy,Paperless PostandGreenvelopeoffer RSVP tools, plus-one tracking and photo sharing. You can even collect meal choices via surveys.
If you must mail invitations, keep them extremely simple. For example,Walmart.comlists cheap custom invites starting at $7.89 for eight — under $50 for 50 guests. You can also get 25 invites fromStaples.comfor about $32.99.
Skip save-the-dates and inner reply envelopes by directing guests to RSVP online.
Free wedding websites fromThe KnotandZolalet you include lodging info, directions, RSVP links and your registry.
Adding your wedding site to the invite or a note can save you $100 or more.
7. Tap Your Friends’ Skills
Don’t hesitate to lean on your network to save on vendor fees.
DJs, photographers, bakers, florists and stylists all charge. Ask friends and family if they’d be willing to contribute their services as a wedding gift.
8. Build a DIY Photo Booth
You can get informal, entertaining photos without renting an expensive booth. Set up a backdrop, provide props and let guests use their phones or cameras.
Encourage sharing with a wedding hashtag on social platforms. Afterward, gather the photos and create a keepsake photo book via a service like Shutterfly.
9. Buy Decorations From Other Brides
Search Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and Craigslist for décor and wedding items sold after a single use. Often you’ll find linens and decorations for less than rental prices.
Items you can score affordably include candles, centerpieces, arches, garlands, signage, lighting, chalkboards and table runners.
10. Pick an Alternative to a Traditional Cake
Instead of a large tiered cake — whichThe Knotreports averaged $540 in 2024 — opt for cupcakes, pies or a donut tower.
In some places, cookie tables are a regional tradition that can be budget-friendly. Or buy six dozen donuts for roughly $90.
These alternatives typically cost considerably less than a classic wedding cake.
11. Go With Buffet or Family-Style Dining
Instead of collecting meal choices from guests, choose a buffet or family-style service. Buffets can reduce per-plate costs by roughly 30%–40%. Family-style is not as inexpensive as buffet but still cheaper than individually plated entrées prepared per guest by the kitchen.
TIP:Always ask guests about allergies or dietary needs. It’s worth spending a bit more to accommodate someone with a serious allergy than risking their health.
12. Rethink an Open Bar
To trim costs, limit alcohol to beer and wine at the reception. Providing kegs can be economical.
You could also offer a hybrid: an open bar for the first couple of hours and a cash bar afterward. Drink tickets or tokens work well, too.
If you insist on a full open bar, keep liquor costs down by offering only house brands and discouraging shots.
13. Be Strategic When Tipping Vendors
Weddings include many small but important expenses — tipping being one of them. Knowing who to tip and how much matters when you’re watching costs.
You don’t need to tip every vendor. Many include gratuities or service charges in their fees. Check invoices so you don’t tip twice.
You might offer alternatives to cash tips, like a thank-you note, a small present, a glowing online review or a gift basket.
Still, tipping remains customary for roles that rely on gratuities: parking attendants, hair and makeup artists, reception staff and the band or DJ.
Alex Morgan is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a former senior writer for Savinly. Brynne Conroy contributed to this piece.
