Even though a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of your love, that doesn’t mean you need to break the bank. Traditional money-saving wedding tips like trimming the guest list and choosing a venue closer to home are all on the table. Still, in this guide, we’re offering some less conventional strategies to help you save money on your wedding!
Table of Contents
Buy Second-Hand
According to Brides.com, the average cost for a new wedding dress in 2025 is between $1,800 and $2,400. Superstitions aside, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars by choosing a second-hand dress from a thrift store, estate sale, or online retailer instead.
If you’re willing to be particularly daring, you can even purchase your ring second-hand too. Many reliable jewelry outlets have sections for pre-owned rings, allowing you to give a pre-loved item a new life.
Whether it’s a vintage suit, a hand-me-down gown, or your grandmother’s ring, second-hand pieces have more personality than what you’ll find on the rack at a bridal shop. They tell a story before you’ve even walked down the aisle. With a little tailoring and polishing, second-hand pieces can be transformed into pieces made for you.
What’s more, you will be embracing sustainability and avoiding fast fashion waste.
“I remember working with brides who thrifted vintage gowns. They had us transform them into stunning one-of-a-kind pieces, which saved them hundreds and added a personal narrative to their look… What’s essential is that spending is focused on what the couple values—rather than mere traditions or expectations—restructuring customary practices is what helps.”
Ira Lysa, CEO, Imperial Alterations
Try a Potluck Reception
Catering is a major expense for any wedding, and every guest raises the bill. What if, instead, you had each guest bring something to the table—literally?
A potluck reception transforms the wedding meal into a shared experience, where each dish is lovingly made by the people most important to you. Not only does a potluck cut costs dramatically, but it offers a far cozier, more intimate atmosphere than any formal banquet will.
Just make sure to coordinate a sign-up sheet for all your guests a few weeks in advance to make sure you don’t end up with ten trays of deviled eggs!
Drop the DJ
In lieu of hiring a DJ, you can save money on your wedding by curating your own playlist and using a rented or your own sound system. This gives you full control of the mood and music you want your wedding to have. You choose the vibes and showcase your unique personality from the aisle to the last dance.
Alternatively, you can crowd-source the playlist from your guests! Have them offer up a favorite song with their RSVP or take requests as the event plays out. This is a fun way to make everyone feel more involved in the celebration and allows for some unique, memorable moments.
All you need is a speaker system, a phone or tablet with access to a streaming service like Spotify, and a volunteer to press play. Nowadays, many venues are offering a speaker and microphone combo of some sort in their standard packages, so you may not even need to rent equipment.
“Managing your own music playlist instead of hiring a DJ or live band can significantly cut down expenses. With streaming services and user-friendly playlist features, couples can tailor their music to fit the mood of each wedding segment. This personal touch can enhance the experience for both the couple and their guests, allowing for special song dedications and nostalgic tunes.”
Jean Chen, COO & CHRO, Mondressy
Digitize Everything
Instead of worrying about choosing the best stationery and getting everyone’s mailing address right, you can commission (or make your own) beautifully designed e-invites. It’s instant, it’s cheap, and it’s becoming an increasingly common practice. Less technologically-savvy guests might require some troubleshooting, but it’s much easier to keep track of and sure to save money.
You may also wish to skip the save-the-dates altogether. This increasingly common practice saves couples potentially hundreds of dollars and skips to the invite with details guests want to know anyway. Sites like Canva are great for designing your own invites, or sites like Evite make the process even simpler and keep all the RSVP details in one place.
Utilize Hourly Labor Services
Lastly, you can save yourself lots of time and money by hiring an hourly labor service like UniMovers to assist with both set-up and tear-down. This way, you don’t have to put your guests to work or worry about being price-gouged by venue staff.
UniMovers’ professional labor team offers flexible, customizable services to meet your specific event needs—all at an hourly rate with no hidden fees. Whether you’re looking for food runners and servers to hand out meals and refreshments, help setting out tables and arranging décor, or some extra sets of hands for last-minute labor tasks, UniMovers’ custom labor solutions provide reliable, budget-friendly support to keep your big day stress-free. With UniMovers, you can sit back and enjoy the celebration without worrying about the heavy lifting or any nasty surprises!
Conclusion
Weddings don’t have to be one-size-fits-all. By rethinking tradition and embracing creative alternatives, you can have a celebration that’s meaningful, beautiful, and budget-friendly. Whether you’re buying second-hand, looking for more communal solutions to dining and music, or taking advantage of hourly labor, your wedding is more about intention than the price tag!
Use these money-saving wedding tips on your big day to help you plan for the future.
Looking to move soon?
Check out UniMovers and save 30-50% on your move as compared with traditional moving!
FAQs
Local thrift stores and estate sales are the best places to start looking for second-hand items for your wedding. If you’d rather look online, try Facebook Marketplace, Stillwhite, eBay, and Poshmark. Just make sure the seller is trustworthy and be mindful of shipping time.
Many guests will be happy to cook for a potluck reception if given an appropriate amount of time to prepare beforehand. Of course, every family or friend group is different, and only you can really make the decision of whether people will lend a hand. If you’re concerned about asking, reach out to a trusted family member or friend and get their honest assessment of the group before reaching out to everyone else.
If you’re feeling very thrifty, you can try thrifting decorations as well as attire for your wedding! It’s also possible to coordinate with loved ones for other tasks, like photography or a venue. You may also consider having your wedding at a different time of day, like brunch time or afternoon snack time, which will limit the amount you have to spend on catering a full meal.
J. Dailey has an English degree with a focus in technical writing. When not busy blogging, find J. Dailey hiking, playing tabletop games, or spending time with cats.
