Thrifty Weddings: Budget Wedding Ideas NZ to Cut Costs and Have Fun!
Are you planning a wedding and looking for budget wedding ideas in NZ? Congratulations on your engagement, and don’t worry, you’ve reached the right place! NZ is a stunning and picturesque country, and luckily for you, it also offers some great locations for a memorable wedding without having to spend a fortune.
Planning a wedding can be a daunting task, especially as it’s so easy to go over budget. But don’t panic, with a little bit of creativity and some tips from our VR Rotorua wedding team, you can have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.
From tips for cutting costs to creative cheap wedding backdrop ideas, we’ve got you covered. So, if you’re looking to have an amazing wedding on a budget, keep reading!
Cheap Wedding Backdrop Ideas
One of the best cheap wedding backdrop ideas is to use nature as your backdrop. Whether you’re getting married in the snowy mountains or in a private garden, you can use the natural beauty of New Zealand to create a stunning backdrop for your wedding. A wedding by the lake is simply stunning – with the glimmering waters, beautiful blue skies, and the sun beaming down, it’s the perfect setting. Check out our stunning wedding location at VR Rotorua Lake Resort.
If you’re looking for something a bit more creative, you can use a range of props and decorations to create a unique and gorgeous backdrop, including:
- Balloons
- Streamers
- Fairy lights
- Candles
Creative Cheap Wedding Decoration Ideas
Wedding decorations are often one of the most expensive elements at a wedding. But don’t worry, you can DIY your wedding decorations to keep the costs down. Making your own decorations is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding and save money at the same time.
We have a couple of unique yet cheap wedding decoration ideas to help you take care of the finer details. You can make your own paper flowers from tissue paper, create a DIY photo booth, or even reuse your bridesmaids’ bouquets for the reception tables. Skip the fancy linens and use cotton or polyester tablecloths with a decorative runner. If you have some glass jars and bottles lying around, you can make some lovely lanterns by adding some candles or LED lights and tie them with natural straw strings that you can find in The Warehouse or Bunnings.
Gather your family and friends to help you put together the decorations – remember your special day is going to be the most exciting day of your life, it doesn’t have to be the most stressful one.
Got some cheap wedding decoration ideas in mind? Share them with our wedding team to see if we can help too!
Wedding Food Ideas on A Budget
When it comes to finding wedding food ideas on a budget, the first thing that comes to mind is to serve a buffet – which is typically more affordable than the traditional sit-down service. You can buy in bulk and serve a variety of dishes with buffets.
While you want your guests to not feel hungry, it’s necessary to not overspend. There are plenty of wedding food ideas on a budget you can pull off without a caterer. BBQs and picnics are popular options for outdoor wedding receptions.
If you’re having your wedding in the afternoon, you might not need to prepare a full meal. Hiring a food truck or serving a light reception with finger food and homemade sushi are some great ways to add a unique twist to your wedding and serve up some delicious food at the same time. You can also have a taco bar, candy bar, or a self-serve ice cream bar to delight your guests.
Cheap Wedding Cake Ideas
No wedding is complete without a delicious cake. If you have a talented friend, mum or relative who’s a genius at baking, you can enlist their help. Most likely, they’ll be really flattered and accept your request with gusto.
Cupcakes, ice-cream cups, pies or donuts are perfect for those looking for simple cheap wedding cake ideas. Arrange them in tiers on a cupcake stand for a unique take on the trendy treat. Plus, they’re a fun way to set up a display that will really make a statement.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for cheap wedding cake ideas but don’t want to give up the cake you’ve always dreamed of, you can use a “dummy cake”. The dummy cake is a fake cake that’s made of Styrofoam and inedible but decorated to look like a real cake. There’s only a small slice of real cake hidden underneath the frostings. So, when you cut your slice of cake to keep the tradition, make sure you check where the real slice is! This will help you create the dramatic wedding cake you always wanted but at a fraction of the cost. Afterwards, you can serve your guests the cake your talented friend baked or the one you bought from the supermarket.
Find Cheap Wedding Venues with Accommodation
NZ has some amazing yet cheap wedding venues with accommodation, and luckily for you, VR Rotorua Lake Resort has some great wedding packages that come with a complimentary night stay at our bridal suite. Plus, we have 42 rooms on-site to accommodate all your guests. So, get in touch with us to find the perfect package for your budget.
If you’re looking for cheap wedding venues with accommodation with an alpine backdrop, then our Hanmer Spring Retreat is not to be missed! Located in the heart of Hanmer Springs, our location offers stunning views of the Southern Alps and a range of wedding packages to suit any budget. Our wedding team will take care of all the details to ensure your wedding day runs smoothly and provide your guests with the best hospitality in NZ.
The Bottom Line
Having a wedding on a budget isn’t always as hard as it may seem, and you can have lots of fun while planning and finding some creative budget wedding ideas in NZ. Use our list for inspiration on how you can have the wedding of your dreams without spending too much money.
From tips to cutting costs to wedding food ideas on a budget, they are plenty of ways to create a unique and stunning wedding. Whether you’re planning a summer outdoor wedding or a winter wedding with a snowy mountain backdrop, get in touch with us to get your wedding venue sorted and lock in your wedding date.