Weddings have drastically changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be great!

Whether you’re planning a virtual wedding, a micro-wedding, or some hybrid of the two, we’ve revamped our budget-friendly reception ideas to address many of the concerns and conditions of our current “new normal”.

Extravagant weddings are turning into more intimate backyard weddings. Venues, caterers, and event vendors alike are putting safety measures into place, like social distancing protocols, strict sanitization methods, and of course facemasks.

That said, while the new normal may add extra stress to newly engaged couples — postponements, guest list maximums, and travel restrictions, to name a few — it also allows plenty of opportunity to save money. So while you may not be able to have a 200-person flash mob, your bank account will be happier on the other side.

Make the best of your micro-wedding or backyard reception. Check out our 10 tips for a wedding reception on a budget below and feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.

Every newly engaged couple is looking for creative wedding reception ideas that work within their budget.

What could be more fun than a wedding? You get to promise to spend the rest of your life with your best friend. All your friends and family are there to celebrate with you. The dress, flowers and decorations are all gorgeous because you spent top dollar on everything. The dance floor is hopping, and everyone is having the time of their lives.

But as the dust from the wedding settles after your honeymoon and as you’re beginning to settle into your new life together, you’re quickly going to realize one thing that isn’t quite as wonderful. Your bank account has taken a serious hit.

It doesn’t have to be like that.

There are plenty of amazing and creative wedding reception ideas to use when you are on a budget.

Sticking to a specific dollar figure doesn’t have to mean giving up on the things you want or settling for less. It just requires a little bit of prioritizing, extra planning and creative thinking to come up with unique ideas for your wedding on a budget.

To help you have the wedding of your dreams while still keeping things affordable, we’ve put together a list of 10 of our favorite budget tips for your wedding.

Let’s dig in…

1. Focus Your Budget on the Must-Haves and Spend on Those

Creating a budget is the critical starting point for planning your wedding. If you drop money on a band, cake, high-priced photographer and then try to pull your finances together halfway through, it’s going to be much harder than if you had begun with a budget. It’ll be even more challenging to keep your spending down if you don’t have a budget at all.

The best way to create a budget is to start planning before you even spend a penny. Sit down with your future spouse and decide how much you have to spend. Talk with both of your families and ask them what they’re willing to contribute. Get a solid understanding of your wedding reception budget.

Once you know this, decide what your priorities are. Think about what the absolute must-haves are. For example, maybe there’s a DJ you have dreamed of having at your wedding or a wedding photo booth you think would make the day fun.

From there, you’ll have to decide how you want to spread out your remaining money over the items leftover. To do this, it might be helpful to do a little window shopping and get an idea of how much things usually cost. You can use this to inform your decisions about how much you’re willing to spend on any one particular item.

2. Stretch Your Engagement Out Longer So You Can Find Cheaper Rates

Once you’ve gotten that gorgeous ring, it’s hard to resist the urge to dive right into making wedding plans and booking the nearest date. But there are actually a lot of benefits to waiting. By having an engagement that lasts a year or two, you’ll be doing your wedding budget a favor.

A lot of categories on your list, including the venue, the florist and the caterer might cost more if you’re trying to book them in a hurry. Most likely, their schedules are full and it’s difficult to squeeze another wedding reception in on short notice. They might even charge you extra.