I know— you’re wondering if there’s even such a thing as an affordable NYC wedding?!?! As a seasoned New York Micro-Wedding and Elopement Photographer, I’m here to tell you there IS such a thing!
There are two facts you need to know about weddings first:
1) The average cost of a wedding in the United States in 2022 was $30,000. So when I say “affordable” I mean keeping costs between $1,000-$15,000. Especially if you’re considering an elopement or micro-wedding!
2) According to The Knot, New York City is in the top ten most expensive cities to get married in. It ranked number 2 just behind New Jersey with the average couple spending $46,000. That number covers both reception and wedding costs.
So, how do I think you can have an affordable wedding?
The affordable weddings I’ve photographed in New York City have kept their guest lists small and their values often reflect that of an intimate ceremony in a free location with some sort of party or gathering with their closest friends and family afterward.
Here are two examples of real magical weddings I’ve photographed that didn’t break the bank (I’ve changed the names of the couples to protect my couples’ privacy):
1. Kat and Jason reserved a spot in Central Park at Bethesda Fountain for $25 in October during peak Autumn leaves! They invited only their closest family. They didn’t have a wedding party and they only had a wedding bouquet for Kat and a few boutineers for the gentlemen. She wore a beautiful non-traditional wedding dress and he wore a blue suit! My husband, Brett, married them and I ran around Central Park with them after their ceremony to take portraits before they headed over to their reception at their favorite little brunch spot on the Upper West Side. They reserved a private room at The Consulate for brunch after their ceremony and celebrated their love story and sacred union laughing and dining with their friends and family. They spent most of the money they saved on their honeymoon. The biggest expenses for their wedding were the photos, the food, and the money their family paid to travel to NYC (who can complain about having to travel to NYC for a wedding?!).
For them, the best use of their time and money was keeping things simple so they could spend more traveling.
2. Kacey and Steven had planned to get married in Prospect Park at a free veranda, but when Steven’s allergies started flairing up, they opted to move the ceremony to their building rooftop. They didn’t really tell anyone what they were doing so the space was free and they got married in a quiet ceremony with Downtown Brooklyn showing off behind them. It was a stunning backdrop and it made me wonder why more couples don’t get married on their rooftops.They only had a few florals/decor, plus their wedding attire. Their closeset family and friends stood and watched their short ceremony. Once they were done, we took a few extra portraits then headed over to one of their favorite restaurants in Manhattan for a dinner and speech making celebration with even more friends and family. After they ate, they headed over to their favorite karoke bar and sang the night away.
For them, the best use of their time and money was spent hanging out with friends and having fun doing an activity they loved.
Ya see?!
You CAN have a fun affordable wedding in New York City. There are plenty of smaller venues you can book for shorter periods of time for your ceremony. Or, if you ask me, the best way to have a ceremony is to have it somewhere for free! Spend your money on a fun venue, dinner, party, or reception instead of a ceremony location. Better yet, spend your money on whatever you think would be FUN and best reflect who you are as couple.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to planning a wedding in NYC, we have a free checklist you can use to get you started!
What do you think it means to have an affordable wedding?