Why Low-Budget, Minimal Weddings Are Seriously Underrated

Not all weddings need to be grand ballrooms, 100-plus guest lists, free bars, three-course meals and enough flowers to restock Kew Gardens. In fact, some of the most heartfelt, joyful and unforgettable celebrations happen when couples strip things back and focus on what actually matters.

Maybe you keep your guest list tiny, just your nearest and dearest instead of your entire extended family and that colleague you barely remember from your old job. Maybe you get married at a non-wedding venue: a cosy pub, your favourite restaurant, a gallery or even your own back garden. Maybe you choose a celebrant-led ceremony so you could ditch the templates and personalise every single moment to reflect who you are as a couple.

Perhaps you rent your plants and flowers rather than buying them or you pick a venue beautiful enough on its own that it barely needs a single extra decoration. Maybe you opt for a buffet or shared dishes instead of a formal plated meal. And (you damn rebel) you might make a Spotify playlist instead of hiring a DJ.

Here’s the thing: a low-budget or minimal wedding does not mean a low-quality or “less than” wedding. In fact, these weddings are some of my absolute favourites. Here’s why:

Marie Francesca Photography

1. Less Stuff, More Connection

When you remove the pressure to have all the “wedding things” simply because you’re supposed to, the whole day shifts. Suddenly the focus isn’t on centrepieces or charger plates or whether the napkins perfectly match the bridesmaids’ dresses. The focus becomes connection - how the ceremony feels, what the vows mean, the laughter at the dinner table, the people you’ve chosen to have in the room with you.

There’s something beautifully grounding about a wedding where the energy isn’t diluted by distraction. It feels real, intentional and genuinely romantic.

2. Less Waste, More Thoughtfulness

Minimal weddings naturally create less waste. When you’re not buying mountains of décor, single-use items or 40 vases no one actually needs, you’re being kinder to the planet and your budget. Renting plants, borrowing décor, thrifting pieces, using what’s already there, it all adds up to a celebration that feels mindful rather than excessive.

And honestly? There’s something really lovely about knowing your wedding didn’t leave a trail of unnecessary “stuff” behind it. Sustainability is sexy. There, I said it.

Marie Francesca Photography

3. A Guest List That Actually Means Something

When you keep your wedding small, you’re forced to think intentionally about who you really want by your side. No obligation invites. No guilt invites. No “well they invited us to theirs in 2016” invites.

What you end up with is a room full of people who genuinely matter, those who have shaped your lives, supported your relationship and will still be around years down the line. The conversations are deeper, the atmosphere is warmer and the day becomes infinitely more meaningful.

And, Selfishly… Minimal Weddings Are More Fun for Me

I’ll be honest: I love getting creative. Minimal and DIY weddings give me the freedom to think outside the box - to find quirky solutions, inventive styling ideas and unique ways to bring your vision to life.

Instead of the classic “just grab something off Amazon,” we get to explore unusual options, rethink traditions, and build something truly personal.

Minimal doesn’t mean boring. Low-budget doesn’t mean low-impact. When you focus on what matters most, your wedding becomes richer, more heartfelt, and more reflective of who you are as a couple.

And those, in my opinion, are the best weddings of all.