Agreeing on and sticking to a budget can arguably be the most challenging part of getting married. Some couples save up for years to have a big wedding while sacrificing other aspects of their life. What if we told you that you that your wedding day doesn’t need to break the bank or leave you in debt, but can still be beautiful and have all aspects of a traditional wedding? Micro weddings or pop up weddings and elopements are the perfect solution for couples that want something more intimate for their wedding day, and have other plans for their savings (like traveling or buying a house!). Here is a wedding budget breakdown for you to be on top of all your expenses!

Alternatively, you can always go the all inclusive route and tie the knot with a company that takes care of all the details for you. Check out The Pop-Up Chapel Co. to learn more about how to have a stress free, simple and beautiful wedding day, all for LESS than $4k.

Learn with The Pop-Up Chapel Team on how to budget for your micro wedding!

The Essentials

Even though a micro wedding doesn’t require as much planning as a traditional wedding, there are still the must haves. Let’s break it down!

Musicians - If you want a DJ or a band, music is what brings the party to life! The best way to save with musicians is to see how many musicians you require for the style of music you want played. Sometimes you don’t need a full 6 piece band - maybe a vocal and instrumental duo would work! Another tip is to ask their A/V needs and see what the venue provides, this way you can have an idea on how much A/V will cost you without double spending.

Officiant - Hire someone who feels like a good fit. This will be the person who will be in your wedding photos, will help you with your documents and will be in charge of leading you through a beautiful ceremony. You want someone you feel comfortable with and who is able to personalize your ceremony to reflect your relationship!

Photographer - Style and comfortability are a MUST. Having a good chemistry with your photographer will help your wedding photos come out more natural and authentic. When looking for a photographer, be transparent about your budget and how many photos you would like to have on your gallery (giving a range help e.g. 75-100 images). It’s important to set clear expectations as to what parts of the day you want your photographer to document. Research is everything so make sure to find someone that fits your photography style so your wedding images can be timeless!

Venue - Find a venue that fits your style. Rustic or modern? Banquet size or intimate? Whatever it is, make sure it’s what you want. Another tip is to discuss with the venue what rentals they have in-house, this way you can save money on rentals and added delivery fees.

Flowers - Look for florals that fit your style and compliment your decor (this is good opportunity to go minimalistic in certain areas!). Invest in some big pieces for the ceremony backdrop and any larger photo op moments you might have, but the rest of the space you could take advantage of smaller arrangements (i.e. single stem bud vases for the reception space). For your personal florals, smaller dainty bouquets are in! Go with something that won’t cover your beautiful wedding garments.

Food - Providing food doesn’t have to be over the top. Consider food trucks or skipping a plated dessert and doing a sweets bar! Check with your venue to see if you can provide your own late night snack. Believe it or not, but after a couple hours on the dance floor, your guests will be over the moon if you show up with some platters of McDonalds. As long as your guests aren’t hungry during your special day, that’s what matters!

At The Pop-Up Chapel, all of your wedding essentials are covered! Learn HERE about the basic Chapel package!

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Photo by Frances Rose West (Left) and Wade Muir (Right)

The Nice To Haves

These are not necessary for a successful micro wedding day, but they can definitely be nice to have!

Open Bar - Everyone loves an open bar! This is definitely a good thing to splurge on if you have some extra money aside. For open bar, make sure you also provide food to your guests. Providing a wine, a beer, a cider and a non-alcoholic beverage is a good option and your guests get to enjoy a bit of everything!

Videography - Videography is a way to eternalize your wedding day. It can get a bit pricey, so if you move forward with videography make sure to get someone you trust and love the style. Just like when you choose your photographer, have an honest conversation with your potential videographers and provide your budget and negotiate things like length of the final video and number of hours actually onsite for better rates.

Cake - A big 4 layer cake can get incredibly expensive. Cutting the cake is a cute tradition, but you don’t need to break the bank for it. A good option is to buy a small 6 inch cake for just you and your partner to enjoy after the party. You can still cut in front of your guests, but it can be a good after wedding day snack (or even better, save some and eat it on your 1 year anniversary)!

Learn how to incorporate the Nice to Haves on our Ultimate Guide to an Unforgettable Elopement!

Photo by Corynn Fowler (Left) and Alicia Thurston (Right)

Have Some Extra Money? Let’s Splurge!

Charcuterie - Adding charcuterie to your micro wedding experience is a refined and delicate way to provide snacks to your guests. Everyone loves a mix of meat cuts, fruits and cheese! If you want to run the extra mile, talk to your charcuterie vendor and try to pair with the alcohol you are providing. This will make your wedding experience extra fancy!

Extra Florals - Adding florals can definitely bring your wedding decor to the next level. Florals can add a freshness and lightness to the venue and bring accent colours to pop the ceremony area and your table centrepieces. You can also buy personal florals for the special people in your life (bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, etc) to make them feel extra special on your day!

Live Streaming - If you are pursuing the micro wedding option, there’s not always space for everyone. Live Streaming is a great way to include everyone in your special day without having to pay for a bigger venue or more alcohol and food.

The Pop-Up Chapel offers all these amazing add-ons for you to splurge on your Chapel! Check out how to customize your Chapel experience HERE!