If your style is more playful and modern than fussy and traditional, then a city hall ceremony followed by a restaurant reception might be the wedding for you. Holding your ceremony at city hall not only imbues a certain low-key mood to your wedding, but it is also a way to stay within your budget - there are no ceremony decorations to buy, no programs to print out, and no attendant flowers to pay for. Asking guests to celebrate with you at a favorite restaurant also has its advantages: many restaurants won't charge you a site fee; you won't have to rent tables, chairs and linens; and it's a great place to return to for anniversaries! For this budget wedding board, I imagined a quirky, playful couple with minimalist sensibilities...
Mood: playfully minimalist
Palette: blackboard, concrete, chalk
{click image to enlarge}
Top row from left: photo by
5ive15ifteen, chalkboard from
Martha Stewart Weddings, jacket and tie from
NordstromRow 2: invitation by
Mr. Boddington's Studio from
Minted, chalkboard candle via
EmilyStyle, city hall ceremony via
{frolic!}Row 3: shoes photo by
Michelle Armas, dress by
Thread, restaurant photo from
Modern Restaurant Seating, white sparkling jasmine
Golden Star TeaRow 4: chocolate lemon tart from
Cannelle et Vanille,
save-the-date by
Justin Pocta, cymbidium nosegays from
Martha Stewart WeddingsThe Paper: Get clever with your save-the-dates and take a photo of yourselves - no professional necessary. You can turn them into cards on
Shutterfly for as little as 45-cents apiece. If you've always dreamed of letterpress invitations, but feel constrained by a budget, design your own with a
unique font and have
Mercurio Brothers print them up for as little as $1.50 each when you order 150.
The Fashion: Some designers are now offering what they call "bridal alternatives," which can be great budget-friendly options - this dress by
Thread is only $375. With some tulle or
netting for as little as $2 a yard, you can save by
making your own veil. Vintage ribbon, clip on earrings, or silk flowers are all great ways to dress-up and personalize plain shoes without overspending. For the groom, this
jacket and
tie are a bit of a splurge, but if they fit his personality and are something he will wear again, then they're worth the extra expense.
The Decor: Cover candle holders with chalkboard paint, and write table numbers on them. Not only is it a clever way to let guests know where to sit, but candles are a great way to warm up a modern space without breaking the bank. You could also
paint flower pots (filled with live paperwhites or orchids) and write guests' names on them.
The Flowers: If you'd prefer floral centerpieces to candles, consider a single potted orchid on each table. You can find them for
under $20, and give them as gifts after the wedding. Or, in winter, grow your own paperwhites from bulbs for even less. For the bride's bouquet, a nosegay of cymbidium orchids is a way to carry a bit of luxury down the aisle for less than a large bouquet would cost.
The Food: Many restaurants will set a minimum that you have to spend on food, so instead of adding another vendor by ordering a traditional wedding cake, serve one of the restaurant's desserts to your guests instead. If you're not a fan of champagne, or not a fan of the cost, but you still want to have a celebratory toast, sparkling
Golden Star Tea is a delicious non-alcoholic option (and it's way more grown-up than sparkling cider), and will only set you back about $12 a bottle.
Other Details: Instead of a traditional guestbook, continue the chalkboard motif by setting up a
photo station with a chalkboard backdrop. Ask guests to write notes and take photos standing with their notes - if you set up a Polaroid, they can put those right into a book for you.
Labels: black, Budget Friendly Ideas, Inspiration Boards, pink, white, yellow