When you start planning your wedding, it’s tempting to dive right into the most creative aspect—the details! But, before you begin exploring color palettes, styles, flowers, and more, press pause and decide on the budget, you (and everyone contributing financially toward your wedding day) are comfortable spending. At Honeyfund, we don’t want family, friends, social media, or any other outside opinions to pressure you into feeling like you have to follow so-called wedding planning norms or budget averages. We want to encourage you to plan a wedding that’s true to your unique vision, and your authentic budget! We’re showing you that it’s possible to plan a wedding for up to $500, $1,000, and $5,000. Today, we’re breaking down six ways you can celebrate with a $10,000 wedding budget—still far less than the national average. Meaning you’ll still have money in your pocket to take that dream honeymoon! 

How to host a wedding at a venue for $10,000

You only get one shot at planning your big day, so it’s important that you prioritize what means the most to you. If you can’t imagine cutting down your guest list, opt for a fun wedding full of tradition and cut back on other areas like the decor. Maybe details like the flowers, decor and your attire are priorities when it comes to planning your big day. Then try hosting a micro wedding with fewer guests so you can dedicate more of your budget to those things! Get creative and explore other ways to stretch your $10,000 wedding budget like DIY projects, floral rental, or searching for secondhand wedding decor on Facebook Marketplace. Signing up for a Honeyfund can be another great way to raise funds for your wedding by allowing your friends and family to contribute to the things that mean the most!

Example Venue Wedding Budget: $9,705 for 25 guests

• Invitations: $250
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $30 when the ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend ordained via Universal Life Church
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $1,500 for a bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpieces
• Attire: $1,500
• Food & Alcohol: $3,125 including tax and gratuity, at $125/person
• Dessert: $200
• Music: $1,500 – Hire a DJ!

How to host a destination wedding for $10,000

If you’ve shared your Honeyfund with to your wedding guests, they probably can guess how much you love to travel! What better way to celebrate your love than with a wedding in a dreamy destination away from home. We imagine your guests feel the same way! So, plan a destination wedding with a big emphasis placed on adventure and time together with those closest to you.

Example Asheville Destination Wedding Budget: $9,530 for 6 guests

• Home Rental: $500/night for 4 nights – $2,000
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $30 when the ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend ordained via Universal Life Church
• Photographer: $1,500 – Consider specifically searching for an elopement photographer! Elopement photographers in Asheville, specifically, like to capture the moment you get married. Then they like to explore with you while continuing to capture additional photos.
• Flowers: $250 for a bouquet and boutonniere
• Attire: $2,500 – Splurge on the dress of your dreams. But don’t be afraid to get it dirty, especially if you decide to say “We do” with mountain views!
• Cake and Champagne: $100 – Purchase a cake from a local bakery and toast with champagne post-vows!
• Food & Drinks – $1,250 – Plan to budget at least $250/day to enjoy meals at your rental home and out around town.
• Excursions – $1,800 – Find adventure! Hiking the trails is free along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but you can also kayak, tour breweries, bike around town, visit the Biltmore Estate, and even take a hot air balloon ride. We imagine your crew experiencing at least one experience each day for three days.

How to host a wedding at a winery or brewery for $10,000

If hosting a traditional wedding at a venue doesn’t quite sound like you, but you still want to make sure your wedding day is 100% memorable, create an experience instead! Consider hosting your closest family and friends at a winery or brewery. Enjoy a customized tasting together, and then stay for dinner and dancing. Your day will still feel entirely celebratory, plus you will all be enjoying a unique experience together.

Example Winery or Brewery Tasting Wedding Budget: $8,000 for 10 guests

• Invitations: $100
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $150
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $1,500 for a bouquet, boutonniere, lush altar arrangements, and centerpieces
• Attire: $2,000 – Enjoy your day in your dream dress!
• Food & Alcohol: $2,500 including tax and gratuity, at $250/person for 10 people
• Dessert: $150
• Music: $0 – Plan to cue up a Spotify playlist so you can enjoy background music and your first and parent dances.

How to host a pop-up wedding for $10,000

As we’ve mentioned before, pop-up weddings tend to be a surprise for your wedding guests—they typically think they’re attending a birthday or engagement party, not a wedding. And that’s part of the fun! In addition to reciting your vows in front of a limited number of guests (think: no more than 25 people), keep the excitement going by adding a dance floor. Just because your wedding is a surprise, that doesn’t mean you can’t create a registry! A Honeyfund allows you to ask for what you really want, and your guests will love contributing.

Example Pop-up Wedding at a B&B Budget: $9,650 for 25 guests

• Invitations: $200 – To keep your cover, make sure to send an invitation to your engagement or birthday party!
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $150
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $1,500 for a bouquet, boutonniere, altar arrangements, and centerpieces
• Attire: $2,000 – Splurge on your dream dress and source a custom (budget-friendly!) suit for the groom from SuitShop
• Food & Alcohol: $2,500 including tax and gratuity, at $100/person
• Dessert: $200
• Music: $1,500 – Plan to hire a DJ!

How to host a wedding at a private home for $10,000

Did you know you can rent an Airbnb or other private home for your wedding? It’s a wonderful way to create the feeling of celebrating at a private home without the hefty price tag or a family member who would like to loan you their residence for the day. One idea is to plan a staycation and choose a rental home close to where you reside. Another idea is to plan to travel to a destination and ask up to 25 family and friends to join you (they’ll stay nearby!). Use your Honeyfund to register for travel costs, hotel stays, and activities so you can extend your trip and stay for your honeymoon!

Example Airbnb Wedding Budget: $9,250-$9,950 for 25 guests

• Home Rental: $400-$750/night for 2 nights (depending on how many guests are staying the weekend)
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $150
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $1,000 for a bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpieces
• Attire: $1,500
• Chair, Table, and Linen Rentals: $300
• Food + Alcohol: $2,500 at $100/person
• Dessert: $150
• Music: $1,250 – Hire a DJ!

Researching weddings on a variety of budgets? Read our other “Weddings For Any Budget” articles.

Learn more about how Honeyfund can make your dream wedding and honeymoon happen.

About the author:

Carly Totten is a wedding planner and sometimes florist for couples and a copywriter for creatives, primarily serving the wedding industry. She is based outside of Philadelphia, but she often travels, especially to Charleston, South Carolina. Her work has been featured online with Brides, Every Last Detail, The Huffington Post, The Spruce, and more and in print with Philadelphia Weddings Magazine and Modern Luxury Weddings Philadelphia.

The post Weddings for Every Budget: How to Plan a Wedding Under $10,000 appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

One of our favorite things about weddings is how creative a couple gets to be. Some choose to get married in front of all their people — some like to keep their gathering small, or even skip the traditional wedding altogether and just elope. Either way, your wedding day should be exactly what YOU want it to be, in that moment and for years to come. We believe that’s only possible when you calculate your budget based on your authentic situation (use our 1-Page Wedding Plan). Here’s the next installment of our “Weddings for Every Budget” series with a few to inspire you to plan a wedding for less than $5,000!

How to elope (with a mini-moon!) for $5,000

Since the start of Covid-19, elopements have grown in popularity. We love them for a few reasons. First, eloping is a wonderful opportunity to get married at a destination you have loved for years. Second, because the guest list for an elopement is relatively small, this type of event allows you to be completely intentional with your time and budget. Third, eloping in a beautiful spot makes for one of the easiest transitions into a mini-moon – simply stay put!

Example Elopement Turned Mini-moon Budget ($5,000)

• Hotel or Home Rental: $250/night for 4 nights – $1,000
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $150 for a Vegas-style officiant.
• Photographer: $1,500 – Consider asking your photographer to capture your wedding and an additional session while you’re exploring your destination on your mini-moon.
• Flowers: $150 for a bouquet and boutonniere
• Attire: $1,250 – splurge on the dress of your dreams!
• Cake and Champagne: $100 – Purchase a cake from a local bakery and toast with champagne post-vows!
• Food & Drinks – $500 – Plan to budget at least $100/day to enjoy meals out around town.
• Excursions – $0– Add sightseeing tours, a couples massage, and honeymoon dinners out to your Honeyfund so your friends and family can contribute!

How to host a backyard wedding for $5,000

Getting married at home is one of the easiest ways to keep your wedding budget in check! A backyard can become as lush as any garden-inspired venue space when you adorn it with flowers and homemade decorations. Host an intimate gathering with friends and family in a backyard where you can celebrate your ceremony and keep the fun going over lunch or dinner post-vows. Think about having games on hand too to introduce a little friendly competition. Consider having a friend DJ, and get creative with the food! Food truck rentals can be a memorable addition to your backyard wedding–choose your favorite type of food and scout out food trucks in your area that serve that!

Example Backyard Wedding Budget: $4,930 for 20 people

• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $30 when your ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend.
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $750 for a small bouquet, boutonniere and altar arrangement—consider buying additional flowers from your local farmer’s market or wholesale store to DIY table centerpieces and additional floral arrangements
• Attire: $1000 for wedding dress + suit rental
• Food & Alcohol: $1,000 for food truck rental for 40 people
• Cake: $150
• Backyard Games: $50 for a set
• Rentals chairs and table for 25: $200
• Music: $0 – Create a playlist on Spotify and ask a friend or family member to press play when you’re ready to share your first and parent dances.

How to host a wedding at a venue for $5,000

When we think of weddings, most often we envision them happening at a venue. If you’re not willing to sacrifice on the traditional ceremony and reception for your big day, get creative with your venue choice! Consider affordable local spaces like community centers, church fellowship halls or even a local park or brewery. Keep your guest list to a minimum to keep food and beverage costs low.

Example Restaurant Wedding Budget: $5,005 (for 15 people)

• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $30 when your ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend who is ordained through Universal Life Church.
• Photographer: $1,500
• Venue: $2,500 – food and non alcoholic drink included at $100/person
• Flowers: $500 for a bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpieces
• Attire: $1000 for wedding dress and tux rental
• Dessert: $125
• Music: $0 – Create a playlist on Spotify and ask a friend or family member to press play when you’re ready to share your first and parent dances.

How to host a flash wedding for $5,000

Shock your guests by inviting them to an intimate engagement, birthday, or “just because” party only to reveal they’re actually attending your wedding! Before you go ahead with this epic surprise, ensure that you have the necessary permits, choose the right venue, and invite only your closest friends and family members. Plan well in advance, keep a backup plan, and delegate responsibilities to a few trusted individuals who can keep the surprise under wraps. Above all, communicate with your partner and ensure that they are on board with the idea!

Example Outdoor Flash Wedding Budget: $4,180

• Invitations: $50 – To keep your cover, make sure to send an invitation to your engagement or birthday party! Rather than splurging for traditional invites, send online invitations through Paperless Post.
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $30 when your ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend who is ordained through Universal Life Church.
• Parking permit: $150
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $150 for a bouquet and boutonniere
• Attire: $750
• Food Truck for Dinner: $600
• Food Truck for Dessert (think: ice cream truck!): $600
• Drinks: $250 – Because you’ll be outside and likely in a public space, you may want to skip alcohol.
• Tables & Chairs: $0 – Ask guests to bring their own beach chairs and blankets to this “park party”
• Music: $0 – Create a playlist on Spotify and ask a friend or family member to press play when you’re ready to share your first and parent dances.

Example Restaurant Flash Wedding Budget: $4,805 (for 15 people)

• Invitations: $50 – To keep your cover, make sure to send an invitation to your engagement or birthday party! Rather than splurging for traditional invites, send online invitations through Paperless Post.
• Marriage License: $100
• Officiant: $30 when your ceremony is officiated by a family member or friend who is ordained through Universal Life Church.
• Photographer: $1,500
• Flowers: $750 for a bouquet, boutonniere, and centerpieces
• Attire: $750
• Food & Alcohol: $1,500, including tax and gratuity, at $100/person
• Dessert: $125
• Music: $0 – Create a playlist on Spotify and ask a friend or family member to press play when you’re ready to share your first and parent dances.

Researching weddings on a variety of budgets? Read our other “Weddings For Any Budget” articles.

About the author:

Carly Totten is a wedding planner and sometimes florist for couples and a copywriter for creatives primarily serving the wedding industry. She is based outside of Philadelphia, but she travels often, especially to Charleston, South Carolina. Her work has been featured online with Brides, Every Last Detail, The Huffington Post, The Spruce, and more and in print with Philadelphia Weddings Magazine and Modern Luxury Weddings Philadelphia.

The post Weddings for Every Budget: How to Host a Wedding for $5,000 appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.

If you’re considering a wedding website you’re probably overwhelmed by all the options and asking yourself: Are wedding websites more trouble than they’re worth? 

Maybe. Here are a few questions that can help you decide if a wedding website is right for you, and what information to include.

• Are your guests Web savvy?
• Will there be information guests need beyond what’s in your invitations?
• Do you want to be able to provide updates to guests as your plans come together?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you might benefit from a wedding website. So how do you make sure it’s complete enough for your guests without going overboard with it?

Think of your wedding website like a wedding cake: You can serve a small but tasteful cake, a multi-tier cake or a full dessert bar with many options!

Below, we’re breaking down when to use each type of wedding website and what each one should include.

Photo: Hello Blue Photography

The Small Cake:

Exactly as this option suggests, this basic wedding website is minimal. It highlights the most basic details guests will want to reference.

• Your Names
• Your Photo
• Wedding Date & Location (Ceremony + Reception)
  • Date Including Start and End Times
  • Suggested Attire
  • Transportation Information
  • Lodging Information (incl. code and/or name if you have a room block)
• Registry Links
• How to RSVP

Great Options for the Small Cake:

Honeyfund: Every honeyfund page includes all the information listed above with one glowing benefit: It’s focused on your cash-based wedding registry. Since registry info is the #1 reason wedding guests look at a wedding website, you’ll be sure to maximize gifts by using Honeyfund for your Classic wedding website.

Photo: Belmar Bakery

The Multi-Tier Cake:

Sharing your love story and honeymoon plans is helpful and fun for guests as they’re perusing your wedding website.

So this version of the wedding website includes all of the basics above, with the additions of:

• About Your Story
• Honeymoon Plans

Great Options for the Multi-Tier Cake:

Honeyfund again! Every honeyfund page includes all the information listed above as well as a full honeymoon destination and description section. Since your Honeyfund page is designed to get wedding guests excited about your trip, you’ll be sure to maximize gifts by using Honeyfund for your wedding website.

Othe options: Joy and Minted each offer user-friendly wedding website options. Their interfaces are the easiest to use if and most flexible you have multiple registries you want to link to. (Many other wedding websites box you into just registry companies they work with.) With either service, you will have the ability to personalize your website. Plus, you will also be able to add personalized copy about your story as well as photos, a password to protect who can see your site, and more. 

Photo: Paul Barnett Photographer

The Full Dessert Bar:  

Just as its name suggests, this type of wedding website includes all of the bells and whistles. A site this detailed will most often be used for destination weddings — or any wedding where a large percentage of guests are traveling from out of town. A wedding website of this caliber truly leaves no stone unturned, including all of the above, plus:

• Complete Wedding Weekend Timeline 
• Things to Do 
• Photos of Your Relationship
• Wedding Party Names and Photos
• A Blurb About Each Wedding Party Member
• Ability to RSVP Online

Great Options for the Full Dessert Bar:

Squarespace and Wix are the most popular for couples that want it all and want to customize it. If you’re a designer or tech type, these are perfect for you. 

Regardless of the option that feels right for your big day, the key with any wedding website is to prep it early and make sure any cash-based registry links are up.  Include a small insert card when you send your wedding and shower invitations to your guests.  You’ll be surprised how soon guests want to celebrate you with gifts!

The post Wedding Websites: Dos, Don’ts and Must-Haves appeared first on Honeyfund Blog by Honeyfund.com, the free honeymoon registry.