I am always so thrilled to feature weddings of brides who have been readers of this site, so I was very excited when Kayla emailed me with her wedding! It means so much to me that readers find valuable resources and ideas here, and even more so that they want to ‘pay it forward' by sharing their weddings with us! As you probably know, our wedding features and budget breakdowns is what makes BSB unique in the blog world. I am always so appreciative of brides for sharing this information as it really can help so many others who are planning their weddings! I know you will just love this southern wedding on a budget! Kayla and Troy planned their wedding on a $9k budget, and it turned out beautifully! This is a great example of thinking outside the box for your wedding venue– by finding a free venue they were able to allocate more of their money to things that were important to them- like photography! Tiffiney Photography captured the day beautifully – especially all the lovely details! Lots of inspiration to be found in this wedding, because everything looks amazing! Hope you enjoy this week's featured wedding! xo – Jessica

Kayla and Troy

April 27, 2013

Westminster, South Carolina

What was your budget?

In total, we spent about $9,000. Here is a rough breakdown of our $9k wedding:

Photography, prints, albums, framing, pre-wedding portraits- 3,500

Food (some catered, some homemade)- 2,700

Rentals- 1,500

Bridal Attire- 700

Bar (local beer, wine, and a signature drink)- 650

Flowers- 400

Misc. decorations and lights- 150

Plates, cups, utensils- 120

Stationary- 80

Tablecloths/runners- 40

Grooms Attire- free

Venue- free

DJ- free

Total: $9000 wedding budget

Further info on the free items: The venue was actually a burial ground called Ramsey Creek Preserve (don't freak out, keep reading!) Our close friends own an eco-friendly burial service on 40 acres of their land in the foothills. They recently saved a historic school house church from being destroyed and had it moved to their property. The moment I saw it, I knew I would be married there! When we showed interest about having our wedding there, they offered it to us at no charge. The DJ was also a close friend, Troy designed a website for him in exchange for his DJ services. And the tuxes were free because we did so much business there. The joys of living in a small town where everyone knows everyone!

How many guests did you have?

100

What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?

Everyone thought we were crazy to plan a wedding at a burial ground. However, It was important for us to be married in a place that fit our personalities, and somewhere we could visit the rest of our lives. We included many personal touches to give the wedding sentiment. I wore my great-grandmother's wedding jewelry that day and wrapped my bouquet in lace from my mother's wedding dress. Our flower girl's dress has been in the family for 25 years, worn in many family weddings. The processional was the same song playing at the concert when my husband proposed – a good friend of ours sang it as I walked down the aisle.

What was the biggest thing you did to save money?

Thrift stores and DIY projects! Our mismatched wine glasses, vintage frames, lace table clothes and fabrics, milk glass, and dessert plates were all thrift store finds. We made the fabric banners, stationary, centerpieces and signs. One of my patients from work even contributed by making the lace doilies! My mother in law did all the flowers herself. We cooked the appetizers and baked the desserts and my grandmother made the wedding cake!

What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?

Don't be afraid to step outside of tradition. Even though I received criticism about my decisions for the wedding, I never let it stop me. Everyone thought our venue would be morbid, but I see it as a place to celebrate life! And that's exactly what we did at our wedding, celebrate! My husband and I are so happy with the way it turned out, and everyone had a wonderful time!

What was your biggest splurge?

Photography, it was important to have someone we could trust. I've always loved our photographer's work and was thrilled to see what images she would capture! I love looking through the pictures and feeling as if I am back at our wedding once again! That truly is priceless!

What was your favorite detail?

I've always loved vintage jewelry. So, I gave each of my bridesmaids a vintage cameo necklace, even my flower girl had a tiny cameo to match mine. Such a classic fashion statement. I also loved the dessert table, that was a huge hit! Not only was it a beautiful spread, but delicious as well! The women in our family are famous for our baking skills. The supply of fresh, home-made cakes was endless!

What is the most memorable moment of your day?

The first look, I will never forget that moment. I was so anxious to see Troy that day; my emotions flooded when he turned around. We were able to have time together alone, it was very peaceful and relaxed. It was just perfect, I'm so glad we decided to do a first look!