6 tips for planning a debt-free wedding
‘Til debt do we part?
Recently the topic of going into debt to pay for your wedding has taken social media by storm. Countless TikTok videos and Instagram posts have flooded our algorithms with brides sharing the cold reality of paying off wedding debt once the honeymoon is over, with many taking on additional jobs and delaying their dreams of traveling or buying a home.
We personally avoid debt whenever possible in not only our personal lives but also our business, and we often speak this same value to our wedding photography clients. We never want a potential bride or groom to feel a need to go into debt simply to pay for our wedding photography services, nor do we think that going into debt to pay for a wedding has to be the new norm.
So is it really possible to get married without going into debt? We say yes—and we’re here to share a few helpful tips to saying “I do” without the debt.
6 TIPS FOR PLANNING A DEBT-FREE WEDDING
1. Don’t assume Mom & Dad will foot the bill
One theme we’ve seen in these online conversations regarding going into debt to pay for your wedding is many couples holding an unmet expectation that their parents would cover some or all of their wedding costs—and being surprised when Mom & Dad either can’t or won’t foot the bill. While the concept of having the bride’s parents pay for the wedding and the groom’s parents pay for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon is a long-standing tradition, in the 21st century this is no longer always practical or even possible. With more and more financially independent couples tying the knot, less parents are willing or able to shoulder the cost of a wedding when their children are already paying their own way through life—and many brides online have been sharing their shock or disappointment at this discovery.
It’s still very common for parents to help pay for some or all of their children’s wedding costs, but in this day and age, it’s more a gesture of kindness rather than necessity. If your parents haven’t already communicated their plans regarding the cost of your wedding, then it’s not fair to assume they have the intention or the means to do so. The kindest approach is not to go in asking for money but rather to have an open and honest conversation, asking their expectations on this topic so you can plan your next steps accordingly. If your family is willing and able to financially contribute to your wedding, great! If not, then at least you’ve given them a chance to share where they are (instead of demanding handouts) and can figure out how to make your wedding a reality on your own dime.
A surefire way to rack up wedding debt is to assume that Mom & Dad will pay the bills and start swiping your card only to discover that they’re in a financially difficult situation. Start with a humble, open discussion and be at peace with whatever choice they make.
2. Set a maximum budget—and stick to it
The question of “how much does a wedding cost?” is akin to asking “How much does a car cost?”. The answer to both: it depends on what you buy.
The best way to avoid going into debt to pay for your wedding is to set a maximum budget before commencing wedding planning—and to stick to it. You can get just as married for the cost of a courthouse wedding as you can with a multi-million dollar wedding. It’s so easy to start swiping your card under the excuse that you deserve the wedding of your dreams or that this is the most important day of your life and budget shouldn’t matter. Yet this behavior is a one-way ticket to wedding debt that will follow you around for months or even years after your special day—and even the most financially secure of newlyweds still have some level of conflict over money in the early days of marriage.
However, if you start the wedding planning process with a maximum budget that you are able and willing to spend (including any financial contributions from family, if applicable), you can easily find ways to have a beautiful wedding no matter the cost. Whether you’re planning a small, intimate or micro wedding or just looking for ways to save money on your wedding venue, determine how much you are comfortable spending on your wedding day and trust that you CAN have a memorable day at any budget.
3. Keep a record of wedding expenses as you go
There are some seasons in life where the expenses never seem to end. For us, this month it’s been unexpected vet bills, oh look our dog chewed through her bed AGAIN, and needing to paint our house exterior in accordance with HOA guidelines. Fun.
Wedding planning season is just one of those times. The list of vendors, attire, decor, florals, and everything else standard to a modern wedding always seems longer than what you initially anticipated. And not to mention things you didn’t expect, either: trust us, you’ll be surprised how quickly hidden fees, unexpected expenses, and last-minute items derail even the best-intentioned wedding budget.
You can prevent going over your wedding budget and into debt by tracking your wedding-related expenses with every purchase. Instead of waiting until the honeymoon’s over to “see the damage” that your wedding accrued, you can assess in real time if your wedding budget is on track and make last-minute decisions to keep costs down if needed. Prioritize large purchases such as securing a wedding venue and caterer first and save smaller expenses for later when you are more free to pivot to less-expensive alternatives.
4. Ask wedding vendors for payment plans
We typically suggest that couples looking to save money on their wedding ask wedding vendors for discounts for paying up front in full, but if this isn’t a possibility for you, it might be better to utilize a payment plan instead of waiting for the full invoice after the wedding. While every wedding vendor has their own payment policy—and many may already ask for monthly payments towards the full amount—it’s worth asking if you can set the payment terms to an arrangement that’s best for you.
While paying off large wedding expenses in smaller increments may increase your total cost (giving up that sweet discount for paying in cash up front—hey, every dollar counts!), it’s certainly better than putting off the majority of the payment until just before or after the wedding. This allows you to save up monthly for each installment instead of risking a large debt on your credit card bill after the wedding—along with those steep interest rates. You never know what life may throw at you between now and your wedding date, and if you need to take on additional work to pay for wedding costs, it might be better to do it now than while you’re trying to start a new life together in newlywed bliss. Again, every wedding vendor will have a different policy, but it never hurts to ask for flexible payment terms, whatever those look like for you.
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5. Get creative with your wedding venue
I remember allllll too well how daunting the search for an affordable wedding venue was when we were planning our own small wedding several years ago. With an overabundance of options, it was tempting to just take whatever list of “top wedding venues in Orlando” at face value and pick any one of them blindfolded.
However, planning a wedding without going into debt requires a bit of out-of-the-box thinking. There certainly are many wedding venues under $2,000 if you look closely enough and do a bit of digging. Public beaches or parks are another great option (just make sure you obtain proper permitting) that won’t make the top online lists, and never forget that a courthouse wedding or an elopement can be just as beautiful and exciting as an elaborate wedding!
Consider holding a micro wedding in a historic home that offers the beauty of a luxury wedding venue at a fraction of the cost. Not only will a smaller affair save cost on catering, rentals, and other wedding expenses, but a luxurious setting that needs little additional adornment can help you save big on wedding decor.
You may be surprised to learn that you can save money on your wedding venue simply by asking about weekday or morning availability. Often high-end wedding venues will reduce their rates for their less-desirable times and days of the week, meaning hundreds or thousands of dollars of savings passed directly to you. With a little creativity and flexibility, the wedding venue of your dreams might just be a reality.
6. Consider a micro wedding
You knew we were going to end with this one, didn’t you? It’s true: we’re passionate about micro weddings, intimate weddings, elopements, or any other form of small wedding. Micro weddings are IN for 2025, and it’s not hard to see why when the online zeitgeist is all about the rising cost of modern weddings (and the debt that comes with them).
Not only does a micro wedding save costs by reducing your guest count, but as mentioned just above, it opens up the possibility of unique—and more affordable—wedding venues. From courthouse weddings to home backyard weddings to intimate weddings at luxury wedding venues, the sky really can be the limit for micro weddings in ways that aren’t accessible to large weddings.
Plus, many wedding vendors in addition to wedding venues offer discounted rates exclusive to intimate weddings. We at Author Made curate our wedding photography and videography packages specifically for the needs of small micro weddings because we believe you deserve a beautiful wedding without the debt. While most wedding photographers offer 6 hours of coverage as their most affordable package, we start ours at just 2 hours of coverage—making quality wedding photography a reality for most couples. It’s worth asking if your other wedding vendors offer discounted rates for smaller gatherings as well.
With the average cost of a wedding rising nearly as steeply as the cost of living, it’s easy to feel that going into debt to pay for your wedding is inevitable. However, we truly believe that a beautiful wedding is possible at any budget—it just might take some creative thinking. With these tips, we hope you’re able to make the wedding of your dreams a reality without saying “I do” to debt!
Just because you’re having a small wedding doesn’t mean you have to compromise on wedding photography, either. As micro wedding photographers, we offer packages specially curated for the needs (and budgets) of small weddings, starting at just 2hrs of affordably-priced coverage. If you’re planning a micro wedding in 2025, we’d love to talk with you—view our wedding photography packages or schedule a free consultation call below!
