When it comes to weddings, talking about budget can be deflating, right? After all, with inspiration from Pinterest and celebrity weddings, it’s easy to dream. Yet adhering to a budget can make grand ideas seem out of reach. Well, take a peek at this event, and you will see that having a wedding on a budget is totally doable!

Luke and Michelle met at a local coffee shop where Michelle was employed. “One day, I came into work and there was a cute guy sitting at one of the tables. I finally thought of a way I could say ‘hello’ and the story could not have ended better,” she reminisces.

This couple planned their wedding on a budget and prioritized what was important.

Michelle offers, “Photography was on the top of my list…when thinking of the wedding day, photos were important to me because it captured the teary smiles during the precious moments and the expressions that I may not have been able to see, but now get to cherish. Photos last a lifetime, I love that I am able to look back and remember every sweet moment of the best day ever.” What sage advice to invest in something that lasts well beyond the wedding day!

Planning a wedding was a little challenging for Michelle due to the fact that Luke was deployed, so she relied on family and her wedding planner to help with decision making. Some may think it’s counterintuitive to hire someone to help plan and manage the wedding if you have a strict budget, but often they can save you money and headaches in the long run.

“Our wedding planner helped me tremendously because she is a professional who was emotionally disconnected from the wedding and was able to provide reason and stability during the ‘freak out’ moments of planning a wedding on a budget, ” advises Michelle. “She was able to keep me on track in regards to timeline and budget while offering creative solutions to problems that arose.”

Despite the need to keep track of finances, Luke and Michelle had an absolutely lovely day, and it showed.

“Planning a wedding on a budget can call for sacrifice at times because it requires letting go of some items that ‘typical’ weddings have. However, our wedding day genuinely reflected who we are and the relationship that we have because we were so selective – less was really more,” says Michelle. Working within a budget gave Michelle and Luke a stunning, memorable day that was a perfect celebration of their love.

FAVORITE WEDDING DAY MOMENT

Our favorite moment of the wedding day was by far the first look. When he turned around, the expression was priceless and that moment with him will be one I cherish forever. The stress of the wedding melted away when we saw each other and realized that we made it and were beginning our lives together.

ADVICE ABOUT WEDDING PLANNING

Build in times throughout the planning process and the wedding day to savor the moment…make sure that you steal all of the happy tears, memories, hugs, and laughs along the way.

ADVICE ABOUT MARRIAGE

Do not be concerned with the little things because everything will come together. You are getting married because you want to be together, nothing else matters.

Beautiful Wedding on a Budget Vendors:

• Photography – Adam Barnes Photography
• Planning, Design and Rentals – Max & Dexter Event Design
• Ceremony – Oak Ridge Estate
• Reception – Old Metropolitan Hall
• Wedding Gown – Vera Wang at David’s Bridal
• Bridesmaids’ Dresses – BHLDN
• Florals – Bloom by Doyle’s
• Makeup and Hair – Bethany Bell
• Cake – MacKenzie Snavely
• Caterer – The Great Room
• Invitations – hand painted by the bride and her mom, printed by Service Printing

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