A Luxe Wedding for Less?



PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT: 
A Luxe Wedding for Less? | One Charleston couple saved tens of thousands by thinking creatively

When it comes to a once-in-a-lifetime wedding, settling on the celebration sure does smart.

So don’t. To get the feel of a luxurious, six-figure Charleston fête for less than $20,000, Beth Markham and her husband, Sean, put their heads together to think outside the box. Here’s what the two did earlier this year to get their dream look for way less.

Limit Your Guest List
First, Beth and Sean invited 75 people. This ensured the budget could stretch far and allowed the couple to spend quality time with each guest.

Host a Weekday Wedding
Since there is less demand for wedding and reception locations on weekdays, holding the ceremony late on a Friday morning meant costs were considerably below what they would have been had the Markhams wed during prime time: Saturday. Also, thanks to their weekday date, the couple was easily able to hire an in-demand team of wedding professionals, many of whom were otherwise booked as much as two years in advance.

Pick a Two-in-One
By saying their vows and raising their glasses at the same location, Beth and Sean saved money because they didn’t have to book two venues (a church and an alternative reception space). Plus, keeping their guests in the same spot meant the Markhams didn’t have to arrange for guest transportation from one place to another. Last, because their wedding and reception location came with tables and chairs, there was no need to rent such supplies from a vendor.

Munch on Brunch
Beth and Sean opted for a post-ceremony brunch buffet rather than the traditional evening dinner reception—another money saver, as breakfast foods and buffets are typically less expensive than seated dinners and open bars. Their caterer worked with them to plan the event and set up stations for custom-made crêpes, omelets, and more so guests could create their own menu. As for beverages? Guests helped themselves to Bloody Marys, mimosas, and a create-your-own coffee bar with whipped cream, cinnamon, chocolate, and Bailey’s Irish cream.

Have a Sweet Finish
Beth and Sean chose a smaller cake that served 50, and supplemented it with trays of petite sweets, because they knew not everyone would opt for slices.

Rehearse Early
The ripple effect of a Friday wedding meant the rehearsal dinner was a less-than-average hassle to plan and less costly, too. Sean’s parents hosted a barbecue and oyster roast that Thursday, again taking advantage of a less busy weeknight to book a highly sought-after location on a few month’s notice.

Try an Inviting Idea
Beth designed and printed save-the-date cards and rehearsal cookout invitations herself with the help of a local stationery store, and she worked with the pros there on a more formal wedding invitation.

Dress for Less
Playing bargain-hunting bride, Beth lucked onto a designer who was getting out of the bridal gown market. By purchasing a sample dress directly off the rack, she got a custom creation at half its original price.

Give Cents-ible Gifts
When it came to welcome “baskets,” Beth hit the paper stores for plain white paper craft bags, then tagged each with a custom sticker bearing the wedding’s date. She and Sean filled the bags with their own self-written guide to Charleston, maps of the area (free from the Convention and Visitors Bureau), and goodies from Boone Hall Farms (discounted because she bought in bulk) before giving them to out-of-towners. For wedding favors, Beth worked with a local manufacturer to festoon a wedding design on mugs and filled those with saltwater taffy from the Market downtown—bought in bulk at a discount, of course.

Illustration by George Matherson Horn

The Wedding Row

April 29 2019
If you’ve ever walked down King Street on a Saturday evening, you know Charleston’s the “It City” for bachelorette parties. So when North Carolina native and bride-to-be Cristen decided to hold her...

April 26 2019
The latest Charleston Weddings magazine features the journey of Kaitlin and her hubby Allan, who defied the odds and overcame a traumatic brain injury to join his bride at the altar on their Big Day...

April 25 2019
When Morgan and her family attended Folly Gras 2015 (a Mardi Gras celebration held annually on Folly Beach), she had no inclination she’d meet her future husband. But when she caught up with her best...

April 24 2019
Few things get us through a hump day better than fantasizing about fantastic food and lip-smacking libations. So we thought it was a good time to reach out to Graham Ervin, director of sales at The...

April 23 2019
We profiled Hannah and Jonathan’s super lovely wedding in the spring issue of Charleston Weddings, but we weren’t able to include all they had to say, and we had a ton of bonus images to share with...

April 22 2019
Samantha Anderson Events teamed up with Lyndi and Jason Photography to turn a no-fun subject—your wedding budget—on its head. The trick? Samantha dressed three tables at three different price points...

April 19 2019
Blake, a wedding planner for Pure Luxe Bride, recently had the chance to plan her own Big Day. She and now-husband Charles met in an accounting class at College of Charleston, and a few years later...

April 18 2019
Here’s a rare wedding bird these days: A Charleston-raised couple prepping to say “I do” here in their own backyard. As Elizabeth and James keep on with the planning, here’s a little about the...