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INTRODUCTION
Planning my wedding in just four months was one of my life's most exciting yet stressful experiences, during a stable economy. Now, imagine planning a wedding during a recession. You're excited about your big day, but also wondering: What if I do if I lose my job during the recession ? Should we be spending this much on our wedding? Is it wrong to host a lavish celebration while people around us are struggling?
These feelings are real, and you're not alone. When a recession happens, or people fear a recession is about to happen, people feel stressed, anxious, or worried about it. But, what is a recession? A recession is a significant decline in economic activity, usually marked by job losses, higher costs, and uncertainty. It can shake your confidence, especially when planning one of your life's most meaningful days.
But here’s the truth: people can (and do) build wealth during recessions by making smart, value-based decisions. When you learn to be intentional with your money, cut unnecessary costs, and focus on what matters most, you set yourself up for a beautiful wedding and a strong financial future.
Planning a wedding and building wealth during a recession can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't mean you must give up on your dreams. It's the perfect opportunity to make financially savvy decisions that support your future. In this post, I’ll walk you through practical and creative ways to cut wedding costs, build financial confidence, and step into your marriage with wealth-building momentum.
1. CREATE (AND STICK TO) A REALISTIC BUDGET
Before you book a venue or try on dresses, take time to assess your financial situation in preparation for your wedding during a recession. Determine how much you can afford without going into debt for your wedding. According to The Knot, the average wedding cost for 2025 is $33,000. Before you start planning for a $33,000 wedding, start by looking at your current savings, expected contributions from family, and what you can realistically set aside each month.
Once you have a number, build a detailed wedding budget that includes everything—from venue and catering to tips and taxes. You can check out resources on Budget Savvy Bride, a wedding organizer, or this helpful wedding planning book to help you get organized for your wedding.
Create a separate wedding budget and personal budget so you have your life and wedding finances in order. Wedding budgeting apps on The Knot or Zola can help you track expenses and avoid overspending for your wedding while Simplifi and YNAB can help you for your personal budget.
2. BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR WEDDING PLANS
Want to save money on your wedding during a recession? Flexibility is your secret weapon for saving money. You can save a lot of money by moving the timing of your wedding. The more open you are, the more you can stretch your budget to save money on your wedding.
Choose an Off-Season Date and Time
Get married in the off-season (typically late fall through early spring) to get discounts on venues and vendors. Morning or weekday weddings are also more affordable and often have less booking competition.
Trim the Guest List
The guest number is a huge driver for your wedding costs: size of venue, amount of food, number of wedding favors, etc. Every guest adds more chairs, meals, and favors to the cost. Focus on inviting your closest friends and family. A smaller guest list means more meaningful interactions and a more manageable budget.
Defer Your Wedding Reception Party
If you are worried about a recession now and afraid your wedding fund will turn into an emergency fund, then be flexible about when to have your wedding celebration. Maybe you are worried about canceling your wedding and the disappointment you'll feel. However, it happens. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 65% of weddings were postponed and people canceled within 2 months of their wedding. but you can hold a ceremony to get legally married and then go out for dinner with close family and friends. Later, when you are ready, you can have a wedding reception party if you’d like.
3. FIND WAYS TO CUT COSTS DURING A RECESSION FOR YOUR WEDDING
Cutting costs for your wedding doesn’t mean sacrificing style or meaning. It means being intentional and resourceful. Here are several ways to do that:
Money-Saving Venues
Choosing the environment for your wedding has a huge impact on you overall feeling for your wedding. However, your venue can be a huge cost for your wedding budget. Instead of renting a traditional venue, consider more affordable options:
- Backyard Weddings: Host the ceremony at a family member’s home. Add charm with string lights, rented chairs, and a DIY altar.
- Community Centers or Parks: These often offer large spaces at a fraction of the cost of private venues. You can even get some tax deductions for certain venues that are considered charitable contributions. Learn more in this blog post about tax deductions for your wedding.
- Airbnb: Rent a home with a beautiful yard or scenic view for an intimate and personal event.
DIY Decorations and Stationery
Pinterest and YouTube are full of DIY wedding ideas. You can make your own signage, centerpieces, and invitations with free or low-cost tools like Canva. Craft stores offer affordable supplies, and buying bulk with friends or other brides can save even more.
Seasonal and Local Flowers
Fresh flowers can be one of the biggest wedding expenses, especially if you're getting married out of season. Choose flowers that are in season and grown locally—they’re fresher and more affordable. Visit farmers’ markets or consider alternatives like dried flowers, potted plants, or greenery.
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Spring: tulips, daffodils, lilacs
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Summer: sunflowers, daisies, zinnias
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Fall: mums, marigolds, dahlias
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Winter: eucalyptus, pine, berries
Try Dry or Silk Flowers
Dried flowers and silk florals are stunning, long-lasting alternatives that can help you stay within budget while still creating a romantic atmosphere. Dried arrangements for your wedding—like pampas grass, eucalyptus, lavender, or baby's breath—add beautiful texture and earthy charm, especially for fall or boho weddings. Silk flowers for your wedding have come a long way in terms of quality and realism, and they’re perfect for bouquets, boutonnieres, and arch decor that you want to prep ahead of time.
Amazon has great options for dried flowers or silk flowers for your wedding. Mixing fresh, dried and silk flowers can give your arrangements depth and elegance without the cost or perishability of fresh blooms. Plus, you can repurpose them as home decor or even resell them to another bride after your big day.
Use Candles Instead of Flowers
Candles are a beautiful, budget-friendly alternative to florals. Mix pillar candles with votives on reception tables for a cozy, elegant vibe. Thrift stores and online marketplaces often have gently used items for cheap. You can get great options on Amazon and use rebate sites like Rakuten to earn cash back on qualifying online purchases (double cash back when you shop on holidays like Black Friday or Memorial Day sales).
Catering on a Budget
Food and drinks are big-ticket items for your wedding, so finding ways to cut costs on food for your wedding is helpful during a recession. Here are a few creative ways to cut costs:
- Buffet-Style: Cheaper than plated meals and easier to customize.
- Brunch Reception: Serve breakfast favorites like waffles, pastries, and fruit for a morning wedding.
- Potluck: Invite loved ones to contribute their favorite dishes instead of bringing gifts.
- Bring Your Own Beverages: Buy bulk wine, beer, and soft drinks from warehouse stores.
Opt for a Smaller Cake
Display a small, beautifully decorated cake for photos, then serve sheet cake from a local bakery or grocery store to guests. It’s a smart way to save hundreds of dollars.
Email Invitations and Save-the-Dates
Skip the paper and postage and use electronic resources. For example, The Knot lets you create a free wedding website and send out save-the-dates, making sharing information about your wedding easy for your guests. The Knot was a lifesaver for me while planning my wedding in 4 months, and it was very easy to use with lots of great resources to plan your wedding (check out my The Knot review here). Use email invitations through sites like Evite to save money on paper and postage. They’re stylish, customizable, and eco-friendly.
4. SHOP WEDDING ESSENTIALS DURING MAJOR SALES IN A RECESSION
Planning and listing what you need can help you shop intentionally and stay within your budget. One trick is to plan your wedding shopping during holiday sales, especially during a recession when money is tight. For additional savings, many brides also use cashback apps or browser extensions like Rakuten or Honey. I love using Rakuten to save money while shopping online and rack up huge savings during Black Friday sales for my wedding, using Rakuten (check out my Rakuten review here for more helpful tips). Timing your purchases can lead to significant savings. Watch for deals during:
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Great for snagging discounts on attire (I got my beautiful veil for a steel on Black Friday), décor, tech (like photo booths or speakers), and even services.
- Memorial Day and Labor Day: Ideal for finding sales on party supplies, outdoor décor, and even travel for honeymoon planning.
- Amazon Prime Day: Look for deals on candles, string lights, DIY supplies, and beauty items.
5. BUILD WEALTH BEYOND THE WEDDING EVEN IN A RECESSION
Even though planning a wedding during a recession can feel scary, you can actually improve your finances during a recession. Use this season to develop strong financial habits with your partner. Talk openly about money goals, budgeting styles, and how you’ll manage money together. Build wealth by investing automatically in stocks, bonds, and funds that prosper during a recession. A financially healthy marriage is a robust foundation for building wealth. Every dollar you save on your wedding can help fund your future:
- Have a budget that works for you
- Boost your emergency fund
- Have a debt-pay-off plan and pay off credit cards in full each month
- Invest to build long-term wealth beyond the wedding
- Have money dates and talk with your partner about your finances regularly
CONCLUSION
You don’t need a fortune to have a beautiful, joyful wedding. By making intentional choices, you can honor your values, celebrate your love, and confidently step into marriage. Remember, the goal isn’t just to plan a wedding—it’s to build a life together. These smart saving tips will help you, the beautiful bride, to save big and build wealth beyond the wedding.
In Summary
5 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding During a Recession
- Create and stick to your budget
- Be flexible with your wedding plans
- Choose an off-season date or time
- Trim the guest list
- Defer your wedding
- Find ways to cut costs
- Use seasonal, local, dry, or silk flowers
- Use candles instead of flowers
- Cater on a budget with buffet style, brunch reception, or potluck
- Opt for smaller cake
- Email invites
- Shop during holiday sales
- Create habits for your finances to build wealth beyond the wedding
- Have a budget
- Build an emergency fund
- Have a debt payoff plan
- Invest regularly
- Have money dates and talk about money with your partner
Are you ready to cut cost to save money on your wedding during a recession?
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