Weddings are stupid expensive most of the time. Which is great, I guess, if you’re the sort of person who can afford to spend a ton of money on one event and not feel the impact of that spending on the other parts of your life.

But for the rest of us – modern weddings seem to be an endless tug of war between trying to create a large and memorable celebration and not absolutely emptying our bank accounts.

So what is one to do if they just don’t have the funds to stretch at all? Here are some insights and stories from those who pulled off their big day on the cheap.

20. Just elope

Sometimes it’s really more for them than it is for you.

Source: Whisper

19. A “church” wedding

You just pulled off a religious formality, what are you gonna do now?!

Source: Whisper

18. The test run

I get the sentiment but if you’re not sure you’ll “love each other enough,” maybe this is a bad idea?

Source: Whisper

17. Tiny, cheap

Nothing beats a good old fashioned field party, just ask anybody who grew up in a painfully small town.

Source: Whisper

16. Dried up

I’m not sure about this from the guest perspective.
Attending a wedding can be a lot of trouble, most guests kinda expect they’ll be able to have a drink and party a little.

Source: Whisper

15. No wedding, please

We don’t need that kinda proof around here, thank you.

Source: Whisper

14. What a deal

Now that’s a pretty steep discount.

Source: Whisper

13. Can’t afford it

Will we regret these things? We really can’t know.

Source: Whisper

12. Small, casual, inexpensive

Judge not lest ye be judged.

Source: Whisper

11. Just happy to be getting married

That’s what it’s really about anyway, right?

Source: Whisper

10. Veiled insults

Turns out spending enormous sums on a piece of lace you’ll use for five minutes isn’t super necessary.

Source: Whisper

9. Zero debt

That’s what I’m talking about. You’re starting your life together – why throw extra debt into that?

Source: Whisper

8. Blow a crap ton

What do you MEAN having a place to live is more important??

Source: Whisper

7. Priceless

At the end of the day, it’s just a shiny rock.

Source: Whisper

6. If you’re dedicated

Almost wild that spending thousands of dollars on a party is still considered “nothing.”

Source: Whisper

5. All the wrong reasons

Gotta keep things in perspective.

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4. Courtroom weddings

That’s all it takes to get legal, the rest is pageantry.

Source: Whisper

3. $20

Wait, what shoes cost $20? Like…not even the cheapest sneakers cost that! Were you wearing flip flops?

Source: Whisper

2. As cheap as we can

Gotta love it when a dream is achievable.

Source: Whisper

1. Never figured

Maybe it won’t be so bad?

Source: Whisper

Love is love is love. The day you start throwing money in that equation, you might be in trouble.

How do you feel about wedding spending?

Give us your thoughts in the comments.