If you’re looking for some budget friendly ways to make your wedding all the more personal, there are some gorgeous ways you can go about it! Photos are one of the easiest ways to make your day extra special and if you have a load printed out at home, it’s a case of just rooting them out and putting them to good use. Other lovely budget-friendly ways to make your day personal and special include involving family and friends, writing a heartfelt message to your soon to be hubby or wife as a gorgeous gift idea and getting creative with your table names! Check out some beautiful wedding ideas that will cost you next to nothing below…
1. Write a Thank You Note to Your Girls and Family Members
Photo by Michelle Prunty Photography
We love the idea of surprising your maids (or family members) with a little note about how much they mean to you – pop a cute thank you message on their dress hanger so they get a lovely surprise on the wedding morning!
2. Write Your Partner a Heartfelt Letter as a Wedding Morning Gift
Photo by The White Tree Photography via Boho Weddings
Same goes for your other half – if you’re after a precious gift idea that they’ll cherish forever, share your thoughts via a heartfelt letter so they know exactly how much they mean to you.
3. Write Your Own Vows
Photo by Kate Neal via Brooklyn Bride
If you’re having a humanist, spiritual or civil wedding, you may be able to write your own vows. It can be lovely to make them really personal and special to you both and express the things you hold dear. Check out some tips for writing your own vows here!
4. Involve Family and Friends
Photo from Ruth & John’s real wedding by Emma Russell Photography
One way to make your ceremony as personal as can be is by getting family and friends involved. Make sure the mums get a special entrance if they’re not already walking you up the aisle, ask siblings and close friends to get involved in Prayers of the Faithful and readings and if any of your mates or relations are gifted singers or musicians, be sure to utilize their talents!
5. Use Photos from Your Relationship
Photo from Julie & Scott’s real wedding by The Fennells
Root out old photos and use them throughout your wedding! Pop a photo of your parents or grandparents on their Big Day by your wedding cake or some photos of you and your partner over the years around the venue. Keep costs down by stealing pics from your own photo albums and using frames you have at home, or pop them on a piece of string with mini pegs and create a ‘love story’ area at your venue!
6. Name Your Tables
Photo from Julie & Scott’s real wedding by The Fennells
One of the easiest ways to bring some personality to your reception is with your table names. Get creative and use relationship milestones or baby pics as your table names – guests will love finding out random fun facts plus it’s seriously budget-friendly!
7. Donate to a Charity Close to Your Heart
Photo by Schillings Photography
If you’re looking for a wonderful favour idea, it can be lovely to donate to a charity. There are lots of charities that have special packs they can send out with tent table displays so guests are aware of your lovely gesture. It’s a beautiful way to honour someone special that has been affected by an illness or highlight a charity that is close to your heart such as Make-a-Wish Ireland or Self Help Africa.
8. Create a Wedding Hashtag
Photo from Kathleen & Gary’s real wedding by The Fennells
We love personalised hashtags for lots of reasons – it’s a fun way to get guests involved and give your celebrations its own name plus it means you get a peek at everyone’s snaps!
9. Showcase Your Talents
Photo from Kelly & Jake’s real wedding by Art Wedding Photography
If you’re a singer or you’re a dancer, why not make it a surprise element of your day! Make your ceremony extra meaningful and special by singing some of the songs yourself if you’re a musician or join the band for a few songs later on that night once the reception kicks off, make the wedding cake if you’re a baker or if you’re a talented dancer, why not surprise everyone with a fun performance at some stage during the reception.
10. Write a Personal Note to Guests
Photo by Rob + Kristen Photography via Southern Savvy Events
If you’re having a smaller wedding or have some time and want to tell personalise your day and let guests know you’re thinking of them, it can be nice to pen a note just for them. Jot down some sentiments and leave it by their place card as a sweet little welcome gesture – make it extra special by mentioning something they do or a shared memory such as ‘So glad you can join us Dave, looking forward to a dance off later!’.
11. Create an Awesome Slideshow
Photo via Bride Box
A slideshow is another great way to display some relationship milestones and is really cost effective! Chat to your venue and see if this is something they have available and then it’s just a case of rooting through old pics and putting together a lovely montage of photos from when you were kids to trips you took together!
