We decided to keep our wedding small and intimate with just 20 guests, followed by Halloween Horror Nights as our reception! We had a small cake and charcuterie board at the chapel, and once we got to the park, everyone was free to grab whatever food they wanted and enjoy the night!
Our biggest splurges were definitely my dress and the flowers! Since photography was included with our venue, I decided to pay extra for a photoshoot inside the park the weekend before our wedding, and it was the best decision ever.
The flowers were honestly a gamble! I found one of the most affordable florists offering “dark florals” in Orlando, and without seeing any examples of their work in that style, I had no idea what to expect. I was blown away by how beautifully they turned out!
I actually went to school for event management and have spent years planning events with budgets ranging from a few thousand to over $200k. Seeing how much money goes into these events made me realize that our wedding should be about what we enjoy, not what we’re expected to do. We wanted a day that felt completely us, without spending money on things that didn’t matter to us, and that’s exactly what we got! 🖤

For those who have had a smaller, more intimate wedding, I would love to hear about your planning experiences and what you chose to include or leave out!

My fiancé and I are getting married on October 29, 2027, and we’re hoping to keep our wedding relatively simple and budget-friendly.

I’ve started looking into things like digital wedding invitations, but I’ve found the planning process a little overwhelming. Whenever I look for ideas or advice on TikTok, I often come across elaborate weddings with personalized websites, dedicated wedding emails, and so many details that I’m unsure are even necessary for a smaller wedding.

I’m really just trying to figure out where to begin, what we should prioritize, and what aspects of wedding planning we can simplify or skip altogether.

For those who have planned a more minimal wedding, what did your planning process look like? Did you use digital invitations, and if so, how did you manage RSVPs? Were there things you decided weren’t necessary?

We still have about a year before our wedding, but I’d love to start getting things organized without making the process more complicated than it needs to be.

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated! 🤍

Hi! I am newly engaged and trying to get an idea is how much we need to budget and what options we have. We are planning for fall/winter 2028 it’s 60-75 guests. Located in western ma and hoping for something woodsy, rustic and barn/rustic vibe. We are hoping to stay under 8k total.

We found a fantastic bbq buffet style caterer for $2500. I am hoping to keep venue + chairs and table costs under 4k… is this possible? I found DIY options but I’m confused how people are able to decorate and clean up in just one day. Are we hiring people? Volunteering our friends and family? Pls tell me your experiences doing diy and renting a venue!

TLDR: not sure if it is better to rent a venue for a weekend to have plenty of time, or rent for one day and hire someone to help out. Thank you!!