You want to have your dream wedding.  An experience your guests will never forget.  And you want it to be picture perfect.  You can’t wait to share those wedding photos on Instagram.  But you also live in the real world and you have a budget.  How do you pull off the beautiful wedding of your dreams and not break the bank?   Read on for our favorite tips!

Photo-Molly Peach; Planning-Velour Premier Events; Rentals-Southern Events; Florist-Cottonwood Florals; Catering-Chef Penelope

Use more greenery and less flowers.  Flowers can add up fast but greenery (which also typically has a longer life span) is usually less expensive.  And lucky you, greenery is super in style right now.

Photo-Molly Peach; Planning-Velour Premier Events; Rentals-Southern Events; Florist-Cottonwood Florals; Catering-Chef Penelope

Use your bridesmaids’ bouquets as centerpieces.  After your ceremony and photos, have your girls place their bouquets in vases on guest tables to double as centerpieces.  The bridesmaids in this photo used their single proteas as centerpieces and the look was perfection.

Photo-Matt Andrews; Planning-Top Tier Events; Cake-Pastry Art Bake Shoppe; Florist-Vintage Florals; Draping-Southern Sky

Purchase an elaborately decorated small cake for your cake cutting moment but have sheet cakes in the back for guests.  We particularly love this trick because it is just so clever.  You get your decorated cake for photos and to save for your one year anniversary and guests will never know that their slice of cake was not featured on the cake table.  A prime example of having your cake and eating it too!

Photo-Christopher Ramos; Florist-Fresh by Carry Ann; Planning-Erin Lennon

Get married during an off-peak month or on a day of the week other than Saturday.  This may sound surprising but couples get married on days of the week other than Saturday.  Sundays and Fridays are very popular and some couples even decide to get married on a day during the week, especially if that day is just before or after a holiday.  Getting married in a month that is not considered peak season can also be less expensive (think really hot months or cold months).

Photo-Nyk and Cali; Planning-Firefly Events; Florist-Enchanted Florist; Rentals-Southern Events; Draping-Nashville Audio Visual

Use your own playlist instead of having a DJ or band.  We definitely recommend having a DJ or band but if it’s just not in the budget, consider playing your own playlist.  At Sycamore Farms, we have an audio/visual package that allows you to plug a playlist on your laptop, phone, or Ipad into our house sound system.  You can let this play during your reception and guests can dance the night away to your favorite songs.

Photo-Matt Andrews; Planning-Top Tier Events; Florist-Vintage Florals; Rentals-Southern Events

Splurge on décor for just your head table.  Lots of couples include a head table for their wedding party or a sweetheart table for just the couple in their reception layout.  Since this table is usually up at the front of the room or in the middle of the room, this is a great table to showcase with upgraded flowers, linens, and tableware.  Consider renting chargers, gold flatware, a linen with a pattern or finer flower arrangements for just this special table.

Bride and Groom Chairs Photo: Matt Andrews; Flowers by Memory of Elegance; Planning by Simply Yours Weddings