Planning a $500 Wedding in Utah
Lots of couples are trying to cut costs for their wedding in Utah. About half of the couples in Utah are part of the dominate religion, formally called “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”. As part of what is socially accepted in Utah, many couples are getting married at a young age and have a very small budget for their upcoming wedding. If you fit in this category, then this blog post will lay out how exactly YOU can have your Utah Wedding under $500.
1. Utah Wedding Venue: Having your wedding luncheon and reception at a local church meetinghouse is one way to significantly cut costs. Often you can have your celebration at a church meetinghouse for free. The current Utah Wedding Venue costs between $2,000 and $10,000. So, this is a great area to cut costs as a Latter-Day Saint Bride.
Click this link to find inspiration for decorating a cultural hall, and ideas on how to decorate. https://www.ldsliving.com/10-elegant-cultural-hall-wedding-receptions-photos/s/78580
As well as having the celebration in the cultural hall, many Utah Couples will have their celebrations on the church lawn if available. Obviously, this option is only viable in the spring and summer months but can be a way to have a “classier” Utah Church Building Reception.
2. Utah Wedding Decorations: You can shop for affordable decorations at a thrift store or online on Facebook Marketplace or KSL Classifieds. Many people will be reselling items such as vases, candles, and tablecloths. Consider DIY projects such as paper flowers, photo backdrops, or centerpieces made from recycled items.
Click this link to find more inspiration for affordable DIY decorations. https://thirdhour.org/blog/life/life-hacks/how-to-transform-cultural-hall-for-wedding-reception/
3. Utah Wedding Dress: Many brides spend thousands of dollars on a wedding dress. You can easily check out your local thrift stores or online marketplaces to find a dress that another bride is selling. You could also rent your dress from a bridal rental or looking for sample/discounted dresses at local bridal shops.
This company rents dresses for as little at $300 and a $60 cleaning fee. https://www.bridalbrilliancerentals.com/faqs-1
4. Utah Wedding Food: Instead of serving a full meal, consider doing appetizers or a drink bar. You can also ask friends or family to contribute their help to serve the drinks or appetizers. Many Utah Couples will do a potluck-style reception, making the focus on celebrating the couple and not about wowing the guests.
Here is a great resource to learn how to do a DIY soda bar. https://ourbestbites.com/how-to-italian-soda-bar/
5. Utah Wedding Photography: Many profession photographers are not able to cut costs when it comes to a couple that wants to pay little to nothing for their services. Though it isn’t a great idea, many couples will ask a friend or family member to take photos for them.
An alternative idea would be to seek out a photographer that is just starting their business and asking them if they would do a trade. They could shoot your wedding to gain experience, and you would pay them a minimal fee instead of their full prices. You can seek out these kinds of situations, but many couples have ended up having a nightmare experience. Getting a gallery that is unedited, unculled, or just poorly taken.
The best option beyond going for a beginner photographer is to reach out to a skilled photographer in your local area that has options for 2-hour sessions. It would be better to ensure you get a small amount of high-quality images VS getting no high-quality images.
That’s something I am currently offering couples that are planning a budget wedding in Utah. I know how impossible it can feel when you have a very small budget for something and you basically need a miracle to still make things work
Voila! Let me introduce you to your miracle.
Hi, my name is Madelyn Hosch.
I have been taking weddings unofficially since 2017, and officially since 2020. I have photographed many temple weddings and many weddings inside of a church building. I know how to use lighting to my advantage to make a church wedding look classy and memorable. If you are reading this article between [April 11th, 2023 – May 20th, 2023] then you are eligible to take advantage of my “Mini Wedding Package”
Prices are as follows.
1. $150 for an “end of reception” hour long session. This includes a first dance, a cake cutting, and a sendoff.
2. $250 for an “outside the temple” hour long session. This includes coming out of the temple pictures, and up to 15 group combinations.
3. Add a 30 minute “mini mini bridal session” for $100 on either of these mini packages.
*Please note that the mini mini bridal session must be at the same location as the original place you are adding onto. Meaning that if you choose to do it at the end of the reception, this will be outside the church with flash photography, or inside the chapel in the most aesthetic place we can find.
I am excited that you found me through this blog post! Happy wedding planning, and I look forward to hearing form you!
Much love,
Madelyn Hosch
