Five Ways Plan a Wedding Under $500

So you’ve worked through your budget on the 1-Page Wedding Plan and figured out you’ve got $500 to spend on your big day. We can make that work! Keep reading as we share five ways to help you plan a wedding under $500—with a wedding party, in front of wedding guests, or just your partner!

How to elope for under $500

Whether you have always dreamed of it, or you’re just starting to reimagine your wedding day with fewer guests, eloping is one of the most affordable ways to get married.

A classic spot to elope is City Hall, but there are plenty of others, too. Think about eloping somewhere close to home like a house of worship, the backyard of your childhood home, or even a local park to eliminate travel costs. If you’re looking to travel a little bit further, some vendors offer elopement packages that include an overnight stay at the resort or lodge where you say “I do!”

To keep your budget in check, try to DIY as much as you can for your elopement. Purchase flowers from a grocery store or pick up a bouquet at a farmer’s market, and tie with ribbon from a craft store. Consider borrowing a dress from a friend or family member, finding one gently used online, or wear something you already own and love. In addition to saving money, another benefit of wearing a dress you already own is that now it even more happy memories tied to it!

For food and beverage, stick to just drinks or desserts for the people present to keep costs low. You can always visit a restaurant after your nuptials to celebrate!

Remember that when it comes to eloping, nearly any location you think of can serve as a spot for you to officially become married, and there are plenty of ways to have a memorable day that fits your budget. Once you choose a location, make sure to obtain a permit if you need one and don’t forget a marriage license!

Local Elopement

Estimated  cost: $330-$450

• Location: In your home or at a public park or public beach (some places may require a small permit if  the number of attendees exceeds a certain amount)
• Officiant: $84 for City Hall, or $30 if you ask a friend or family member and reimburse them for becoming ordained through Universal Life Church. Make sure to check your city or state’s guidelines, too
• Marriage License: $20-$100 depending on your county and state
• Photographer: free when you ask a close friend or family member!
• Travel: $10 in gas to get to location
• Bouquet: $50— DIY with flowers from the grocery store or local market
• Wedding dress: borrow from a friend or find one gently used at a consignment store or Facebook marketplace. Amazon even has some formal dresses that will do the trick for under $50!
• Drinks & Cake: $50—grab some cupcakes from a local bakery and a bottle of champagne to toast to your new marriage while enjoying something sweet.

Destination Elopement

Estimated  cost: $400-500

• Location: $200-400 for a resort or lodge with an elopement package
• Officiant: included in the price of the elopement package
• Marriage License: $20-$100 depending on your county and state
• Photographer: free when you ask a close friend or family member!
• Travel: $50-100 in gas to get to location
• Bouquet: $50— DIY with flowers from the grocery store or local market
• Wedding dress: borrow from a friend or find one gently used at a consignment store or Facebook marketplace. Amazon even has some formal dresses that will do the trick for under $50!
• Drinks & Cake: often included in the elopement package

How to get married at at National Park for under $500

If you love the outdoors, a National Park could be the perfect backdrop for you and your partner to exchange vows! While the park you have in mind may not be able to section off the most popular landmark for you, there will still be plenty of stunning, secluded places in the park for you to choose from. The first step in making your National Park wedding happen is to obtain a Special Use Permit from the park ahead of time. Unlike a local park, National parks will charge a small fee for you to have your wedding there, but the scenery will be well worth it! Here are a few of the most popular National Parks for weddings:

• Mount Rainier National Park

• Glacier National Park

• Redwood National Park

• Yosemite National Park

• Joshua Tree National Park

• Shenandoah National Park

• Zion National Park

• Rocky Mountain National Park

• Olympic National Park

• Grand Teton National Park

National Park Wedding:

Estimated cost: $500

• Location: $60 to $200 depending on the park
• Entrance fee: Around $50 for 2 cars
• Officiant: $30 as long as a family member or friend becomes ordained through Universal Life Church and acts as the officiant
• Marriage License: $20-$100 depending on your county and state
• Bouquet: free—obtain permission from the park to pick a few wildflowers for your bouquet or pick some ahead of time!
• Food & drink: $200—there are usually restrictions about brining outside food into a National Park, so consider going to a local brewery afterwards to celebrate with a round of drinks with your guests!
• Attire: Rent or borrow a dress or tux, or choose one of these wedding dresses for less than $100!

How to throw a backyard wedding for under $500:

Traditionally, one of the biggest wedding expenses is the venue. Getting married in your backyard (or even a friend’s yard) is a great way to cut this cost and save some money! Since it’s residential property, there won’t be any permits needed or a limit on the amount of guests you can invite for your big day. That being said, it’s still ideal to keep your guests count relatively low so you won’t go overboard on the food and beverage costs.

Backyard wedding

Estimated cost: $450

• Officiant: $30 as long as a family member or friend becomes ordained through Universal Life Church and acts as the officiant.
• Marriage License: $20-$100 depending on your county and state
• Bouquet: $50— DIY with flowers from the grocery store or local market.
• Wedding cake: $50 from a local bakery
• Table and chair rental for 30 people: $150
• Wedding dress: borrow from a friend or find one gently used at a consignment store or Facebook marketplace. Amazon even has some formal dresses that will do the trick for under $50!
• Food and drink: $100 consider asking your guests to bring a dish to pass—when you keep the guest count under 30 this isn’t something to far-fetched to ask!

How to get married in Vegas for under $500:

One of the most classic places to get married if you’re on a budget? Vegas, baby. Vegas weddings are a well-oiled machine, which there’s not much to think about or plan! In Vegas you can get decide on a venue the day you decide to get married, but if you’re planning ahead you’ll want to book your venue or chapel. In most cases, the chapel will have complete wedding packages for you to choose from that fit your budget. These usually include the the cost of catering, flowers, music, photography during your big day. Don’t forget: every couple getting legal married in a Vegas ceremony must get a marriage license issued from the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. To save some time, you can begin the application process online!

Vegas wedding or elopement

Estimated cost: $400-$500

• Wedding chapel: $399 for up to 10 guests
• Marriage License: $100
• Photographer: included in the chapel’s wedding package
• Officiant: included in the chapel’s wedding package
• Bouquet: included in the chapel’s wedding package
• Wedding attire: tux and dress rental included in the chapel’s wedding package!