Let’s be honest: planning a wedding in New York City can be expensive. But there are definitely ways to have an NYC budget wedding. Just because a wedding doesn’t cost a ton of money to plan doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing. There are plenty of ways to save money while wedding planning in New York.

Getting Married in New York on a Budget

NYC Weddings are quite popular, especially among New Yorkers who want to get married in their hometown. It’s also very common for people to get married here if they come from another state or country since it offers many opportunities for beautiful pictures and has a rich cultural history that can be seen in its art museums, historical landmarks and other attractions. With that said, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to spend a lot of money on your wedding (if you don’t want to).

How to Save Money Planning a Wedding in NYC

When we got married, we saved money while wedding planning by making small, non-traditional adjustments. We had an intimate wedding with a small guest list and made it a day to remember. Our small winter brunch wedding didn’t surpass the $10k mark because we knew what we wanted to prioritize in our wedding budget.

Let’s go through some of our ways to plan an affordable wedding in NYC.

Keep it Small – Cut Down on the Guest List for an NYC Budget Wedding

Cutting down the guest list can help you save money on your wedding planning. It can be easy to think of a hundred or more friends and family to invite. However, keeping things intimate can save you a lot of money and make your celebration even more special. Having an intimate occasion can also allow you to spend more time with those you love on your special day.

Look into Affordable Wedding Venue Ideas in New York City

There are plenty of affordable wedding venues in NYC. Look into raw spaces that are fit for a smaller occasion. Having a raw space wedding venue in New York allows you to start from a completely blank canvas. You can let your creativity flourish for your small wedding.

Consider Throwing an Off-Peak Season Wedding

Consider having your wedding during an off-peak season. One of the biggest budget wedding tips for New York City is to throw a wedding in an off-season. Winter weddings can make for some of the most beautiful wedding palettes and creative ideas. Ask your event space if there is a price difference for an off-peak wedding.

Look at Other Days of the Week

Does your wedding need to be on a Saturday? Take a look at other options for days of the week. Friday weddings can be a ton of fun–– you get to celebrate (or rest) all through the weekend after. Let your cocktail hour extend throughout the entire weekend!

Ever Thought About a Brunch Wedding?

Consider having a brunch wedding instead of an afternoon affair. Instead of wedding cake, have pastries and tea desserts. Give your toasts with mimosas instead of cocktails. Your wedding photography in New York City will be absolutely stunning in the morning light.

Plus, if you have a brunch wedding, you can rest after your big day is over and celebrate with a smaller group in the evening. Some people choose to do this if they have guests traveling in for their brunch wedding in NYC.

Figure Out What Your Budget Priorities Are

One of the best ways to save money on your wedding is to have a budget in place. Many couples find that when they plan their budget, it becomes much easier to select a location and venue for their celebrations, determine what type of food or flowers they want, and even select dresses for bridesmaids. The more you know about what your overall budget is, the easier it will be to make cost-saving decisions along the way.

Priorities Matter

When it comes to budgeting, you don’t have to cut corners everywhere. Figure out what your main budget priorities are. When it came to our wedding, our largest priority was our wedding photography. We prioritized it because although our wedding was small, we wanted to cherish every moment and relive them over and over. 

Consider Elopement as an Option

Skip the wedding invitations and consider an elopement. If you don’t end up wanting to have an NYC small wedding, you can also elope. Head out with an elopement photographer and an officiant and capture a small and sweet ceremony. You can then meet up with your loved ones for a celebration afterwards.

Eloping in New York City can also be a great option if you want to save up for a wedding, but get married quickly. Have a celebration with your wedding guests down the line, and elope now. Couples elope for a number of reasons, but one major reason is that some couples want to save up a larger budget for their wedding.

Look Outside the City

A major one of our budget wedding tips for NYC weddings is to look outside of the city. Try Upstate NY wedding venues, Long Island, and even New Jersey. There are a number of gorgeous venues just a short commute away from Manhattan. Open your options to other areas for potentially lower prices. 

Try Sample Sale Wedding Dresses

Look for wedding dress sample sales to see what deals you can find. There is also the option to rent your wedding dress if you don’t want to make the purchase. Save money by trying on sample sale wedding dresses to find your fit.

 

Try Your Hand at DIY

Another great way to save money on your wedding is to DIY as many aspects of the event as possible. For example, you could make your own invitations, choose a less expensive location for the reception, or even bake your own cake! If you have some creative skills and are willing to put in a little extra work, you can save yourself a lot of money on your wedding.

Don’t Skimp on the Good Stuff

When it comes to saving money on wedding planning in New York, don’t settle for less when it comes to your lifelong memories. If you’re looking for an affordable NYC wedding photographer who can deliver quality and value, we’ve got the right team. As two of the top NYC wedding photographers, we want to make sure your celebration is captured exactly how you want to remember it.

Look for In-Season Florals

When it comes to choosing your wedding flowers, keep in mind the season. In-season flowers are affordable and they don’t require much work to look good. You can even go with artificial flowers if you want to save more money. Out-of-season flowers will be more expensive and may require more work to make them look good. Here are some tips for choosing wedding flowers based on the season:

In Spring

Choose tulips, daffodils, orchids, lilies, and daisies as your main flower choices. For a bouquet or centerpiece, mix and match these flowers in a neutral color such as purple or green. If you want to go with a pastel color, try hydrangeas and fruit blossoms.

In Summer

Roses are still ideal for weddings in summertime. The garden rose is perfect for outdoor wedding because of its scent and strong petals. For outdoor ceremonies, choose white roses because they look best during bright sunlight or against the sea or sky backdrop. You can also use lilies for centerpieces if the ceremony is held indoors. Tropical flowers like hibiscus are also great choices for summer weddings because they give off an impression of luxury.

In Fall

Flowers that come alive in fall include snapdragons, marigolds, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, daisies, and calendula. Of course, you can also choose roses for your wedding in fall.

In Winter

The best flowers in winter are poinsettias, carnations, lilies of the valley, orchids, tulips, calla lilies, amaryllis, daffodils, ranunculus, narcissus, nasturtiums, carnations, violets, irises .

If you are having an indoor ceremony in wintertime then go with white flowers because they look great even when placed under candlelight. If your reception is held outside then consider lush green plants like cyclamen which survive well in cold weather. Also consider fresh fruits like oranges and lemons as part of your centerpieces.

No matter what season you choose, always keep the venue in mind when selecting flowers. If you are getting married at a rustic barn, for example, go with natural looking flowers like wildflowers or branches instead of using something like an elaborate floral arrangement.

Your Wedding, Your Rules – Plan a Beautiful NYC Budget Wedding

At the end of the day, your wedding means your rules. Don’t let anyone else tell you what a wedding should or shouldn’t look like. Make sure that your wedding has everything that you want for it. There are a lot of ways to save money on a New York wedding, but you must make sure that you do it in a way that makes you happy.

When you’re planning an NYC wedding on a budget, you have a ton of room for creativity. If you’re looking for an affordable New York City wedding photographer, let us know! As a couple who planned an intimate wedding, we want to hear what you’re thinking. Reach out and let us know about your New York budget wedding.