How to Plan a Dream Wedding A 10,000 Budget Breakdown for Your Big Day

How to Plan a Dream Wedding: A $10,000 Budget Breakdown for Your Big Day

Let’s be real for a second. The moment you get engaged, you’re hit with two simultaneous waves of emotion: pure, unadulterated joy and sheer, pants-wetting terror. The terror, of course, comes from one little word: budget. You’ve seen the movies. You’ve scrolled Instagram. It feels like a “dream wedding” is code for “second mortgage.”

Well, I’m here to tell you that’s a bunch of nonsense. My husband and I pulled off our absolutely stunning, “pinch-me-is-this-real?” wedding for right around ten grand. And no, we didn’t elope in a field with just two witnesses (though no shame if that’s your vibe!). We had 75 guests, a gorgeous venue, amazing food, and an open bar. The secret? Ruthless prioritization and a spreadsheet that became my second fiancé.

So, grab a coffee, and let’s chat about how you can absolutely have your cake and eat it too—without your wallet crying itself to sleep.

The Golden Rule: Your Top 3 Non-Negotiables

Before we talk numbers, we need to talk feelings. Sit down with your partner—like, right now—and each of you name the three things that matter most to you. Is it the photography? The food? The band? An epic party vibe? For me, it was photography, food, and atmosphere. My husband cared most about the music, the booze, and making sure everyone had a comfortable, fun time.

This conversation is your financial compass. Everything else? It’s negotiable. Someone’s aunt thinks you need fancy chair covers? Unless chair covers are in your top three, you can politely tell her to stuff it. This is your day, your rules, and most importantly, your budget.

The $10,000 Wedding Budget Breakdown: A Real-World Example

Okay, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Here’s exactly how we allocated our $10,000. Remember, this is a template. Your priorities will shift these numbers around, and that’s the whole point!

The Venue & Catering: $5,000 (50% of Budget)

This is almost always the biggest chunk of your budget, and for good reason. It sets the entire tone for your day. We knew we wanted a place that was naturally beautiful to minimize decoration costs. We also wanted a venue that allowed us to bring our own alcohol, which is a massive money-saver.

Our Strategy: We opted for a non-traditional venue—a beautiful, historic community hall in a park. It was a fraction of the cost of a dedicated wedding farm or ballroom. The rental fee was $1,200 for the entire weekend (setup and cleanup included, win!).
The Food: We spent $3,800 on a fantastic taco bar caterer. IMO, this was the best decision we made. It was a huge hit, incredibly delicious, and way more affordable and fun than a plated chicken dinner. We fed 75 people with multiple proteins, all the toppings, and it included staff to serve and clean up.
Pro Tip: Look for all-inclusive spaces that handle tables, chairs, and basic linens. Also, consider a Friday or Sunday wedding. Our Saturday rental was $1,200; the Friday before was $600. Food for thought! 🙂

The Photography: $2,000 (20% of Budget)

This was my hill to die on. The food gets eaten, the flowers die, but your photos are forever. I scoured local photographer portfolios for months. I didn’t need a fancy album or 12 hours of coverage. I just needed someone whose artistic style I adored for 6 hours to capture the key moments.

Our Strategy: We found an amazing rising talent who offered a “mini-wedding” package. We got her for engagement photos and 6 hours of wedding day coverage. It was perfect. We received a digital gallery with hundreds of gorgeous, edited photos and the printing rights.
Pro Tip: Book newer photographers with incredible portfolios. They often charge less to build their client base. This is not the area to have your Uncle Bob “just bring his nice camera.”

The Attire & Rings: $1,000 (10% of Budget)

Wait, really? Yes, really. Your dress does not have to cost as much as a used car.

The Dress: I bought my stunning, simple lace dress from a website called Azazie for $400. I was skeptical, but you can order samples to try on at home. It fit like a dream and required minimal alterations. My shoes were $50 block heels I could actually dance in.
The Suit: My husband bought a sharp, tailored suit from Indochino for a few hundred dollars during a sale. He’s worn it to half a dozen weddings since, so it was a fantastic investment.
The Rings: We kept it simple. My tungsten band was $30 on Amazon. His was around $200. They’re symbolic, not a financial statement.

The Alcohol & Bartender: $800 (8% of Budget)

This was a huge priority for us. We wanted a great party, and that required a great bar. Buying our own alcohol from a big-box store like Costco or Sam’s Club saved us thousands.

Our Breakdown: We spent about $600 on a mix of beer, wine, a signature cocktail (a bourbon peach smash, because yum), and non-alcoholic options. We hired a bartender for $200 through our caterer to handle service and liability.
Pro Tip: Skip the full top-shelf bar. Nobody will miss it. A well-chosen selection of beer, wine, and one signature cocktail is more than enough. And FYI, people drink less than you think—we had leftovers!

The Flowers & Decor: $500 (5% of Budget)

I have exactly zero regrets about not spending thousands on flowers that get thrown out at the end of the night.

Our Strategy: I spent $300 at a local farmer’s market the morning before the wedding. I bought buckets of gorgeous, in-season blooms and my bridesmaids and I made our bouquets and centerpieces. It was actually a super fun pre-wedding activity! The remaining $200 went for string lights, a few vintage rugs, and simple table runners.
Pro Tip: Go green and seasonal. Trader Joe’s and local markets are your best friends. Also, choose a venue that’s already beautiful so you don’t have to decorate it into oblivion.

The Music: $300 (3% of Budget)

We created a killer playlist on Spotify. Seriously. We invested in a high-quality portable speaker (a JBL PartyBox, which we now use for all our parties) and asked a tech-savvy friend to be the “DJ” for the night. He just had to press play on our pre-made lists for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.

We made sure to include all our must-play songs and a few crowd-pleasers. It was personal, it was us, and it cost the price of a Spotify Premium subscription for a month. Best $300 we didn’t spend.

The Officiant, Cake, & Extras: $400 (4% of Budget)

Officiant: We asked a close friend to get ordained online (super easy and cheap) and marry us. It was personal and meaningful, and we gifted her a nice bottle of wine as a thank you.
Cake: A family friend made a simple, beautiful two-tier cake for us as a gift. But even if you pay, a small cutting cake from a local baker supplemented with a sheet cake from Costco (which is delicious, btw) will save you a fortune.
Extras: This covered our marriage license, invitations (we used digital RSVPs but mailed simple, elegant paper invites), and thank-you cards.

Making It Your Own

See? It’s not magic; it’s just math and mindset. The traditional wedding industry will try to upsell you on everything because “it’s your special day.” But your special day is about committing to your person, surrounded by your favorite people. Everything else is just confetti.

So, what are your top three? Find them, fund them, and get creatively frugal with the rest. Your dream wedding isn’t about a price tag. It’s about the love, the laughter, and the fact that you get to marry your best friend. And that, IMO, is priceless. Now go forth and plan