There are several things you need to consider when deciding what you want your wedding to look and feel like: your budget, your guest count, your venue, your priorities, and your vision. This is especially true if you’re working with a smaller or limited budget.

All budgets are valid, and you can have the most beautiful, intimate, wonderful wedding without spending a lot of money. But, if you’re looking at lavish celebrations on Pinterest and thinking you can recreate them exactly for just a few hundred quid with a glue gun at your disposal, you might be left disappointed. A DIY wedding can be just as magical as the Pinterest-perfect ones, but you’ll need to prioritise what matters most to you in order to achieve it.

Setting Your Priorities

Before deciding on your wedding style, take some time to consider what’s most important to you. Think about what you want the day to feel like as well as look like. What do you want to spend the day doing? What are your must-haves, and what do you not care too much about?

Maybe you really want elaborate centrepieces, fresh flowers, or fun activities for your guests to enjoy between the ceremony and dinner, but you aren’t too fussed about a big cake, fancy stationery, or high-end food. Perfect. Then take your budget, whatever size it is, and allocate it accordingly. It’s totally possible to style a wedding on a budget—say £200 for décor (especially if your venue is already pretty!)—but you might need to skip the fresh flowers and step away from the oh-so-tempting décor pieces at Homesense and get a bit more resourceful.

Décor on a Dime

One of the best ways to stretch your budget is by going for a thrifted or second-hand approach. Charity shops, car boot sales, and online marketplaces like Facebook, eBay, and Vinted are treasure troves for unique items like vintage candlesticks, mismatched glassware, and table settings. You can also make elements like bunting, table runners, and personalised signage yourself fairly easily.

Instead of buying loads of ‘stuff’, focus on a few key focal areas—the ceremony backdrop, the dinner tables, or a few photo-op spots, for example. You could easily create a backdrop for the ceremony for not a lot of money which you could then reuse as a photo booth wall. Use metallic streamers, fairy lights, or fabric hangings and maybe add some faux flowers in your chosen colour scheme or disco balls (there are loads on Amazon, Shein, places like that). Neon signs are still incredibly popular and can be picked up at The Range, Dunelm, etc. – you can even find pretty affordable custom ones all over Etsy. These big-impact details will fill the space and give your wedding a cohesive look without having to spend thousands.

Creative Venue Choices

Traditional wedding venues can be expensive, and if you’re working with a tight budget, you might face some sticker shock. However, non-traditional venues like village halls, council-owned buildings, pubs, or even a friend’s back garden can be great alternatives. Council-owned buildings, in particular, are often spacious and far cheaper than typical wedding venues, and pubs will often let you use the space for a minimum spend on food. Just remember, the venue’s existing style will dictate a lot about the look of your day and your photos. For example, a rustic barn might lean toward earthy tones and textures, while a sleek, modern venue might inspire minimalist décor. Consider venues that are already styled in a way you like or that have a lot of their own character. These spaces will require less decoration.

Guest Count vs. Décor

If your heart is set on a particular aesthetic, it might be worth considering a smaller guest count. This way, you can splurge on the décor and details that matter most, rather than spending your budget on providing dinner for 120 people.

But if celebrating with everyone you love is more important than how the day looks, a simple celebration can still be beautiful. Think pizza, cupcakes, and BYO drinks at a local park, church hall, or in your own garden.

You don’t have to do and have it all, you just need to make choices that feel right for you. No matter how much you spend on food, photography, your outfits, or the décor, what truly matters is you and your partner’s vision for your day. Your wedding should reflect you, your priorities, and what makes you happy.
Remember, the marriage is the real celebration—the party afterwards is just a bonus.

This article originally appeared in Issue 59 of Rock n Roll Bride magazine. You can purchase the latest copy here, or why not subscribe to never miss an issue?