Help! Weddings Are Expensive. How Do I Have a Beautiful Wedding Without It Costing a Fortune, in Christchurch?
- Feb 24
- 4 min read
If you’ve started researching venues, catering, styling and photographers, you’ve probably had a moment of “Wait… what?” And the truth is Weddings can add up quickly. And it’s not because couples are being extravagant — it’s because every decision carries a price tag.
The key to having a beautiful wedding without it costing a fortune, isn’t cutting everything back. It’s understanding where your money is going — and making deliberate choices, ideally right from the start.
As planners and stylists creating weddings across Christchurch and Canterbury, we see a wide range of budgets. And we can confidently say this: a beautiful wedding is not determined by how much you spend.
It’s shaped by how wisely you allocate it.
Ceremony Styled with our Premium Artificial Flower Pillars @PembertonGarden
Your Guest List Is Your Biggest Budget Lever
If there is one change that has the greatest impact on your overall budget, it’s your guest count.
Your numbers affect:
Catering totals
Beverage spend
Venue size and hire
Staffing
Furniture hire
Table styling
Cake size
Let’s use a simple example.
Catering at $43 per person:
100 guests = $4,300
60 guests = $2,580
That’s a saving of $1,720 immediately — and that’s before reduced beverage, hire and styling costs are factored in.
Dropping from 100 to 60–70 guests doesn’t just reduce catering. It can shift your entire venue bracket and allow for a more considered experience.
Have the hard conversation: Who do we genuinely want in the room? Are we inviting out of obligation?
Smaller guest lists often feel more connected, more relaxed — and significantly more manageable financially.
Wedding Ceremony & Reception. Allandale Hall, Governors Bay
Venue Choice Changes Everything
There is a wide spectrum of venues available.
Full-Service Wedding Venues
Established venues typically provide:
In-house or preferred caterers
Beverage packages
Basic Furniture
Venue coordination
You’ll generally pay more for venue hire and beverages at a licenced premises — but the trade-off is convenience, experienced management and staffing with professional systems. And for many couples, that simplicity and peace of mind, is worth the investment.
Alternative Venue Options
Surf clubs, community centres and rural halls can start from around $800 in some cases.
At many of these venues the hire cost includes basic tables and chairs, and access the day before, perfect for setting up.
We also create many weddings at private homes. All these alternative venue options do require more planning and supplier coordination — but they can free up significant budget to use elsewhere.
Neither option is better. It comes down to your priorities.
Consider Artificial Florals
Fresh florals are beautiful — and we adore working with fresh florals - but they are labour-intensive and time-sensitive, which contributes to cost. To save on costs and reduce their spend, for couples whom fresh flowers aren't a huge priority and they're choosing to be budget savy - we’re seeing more and more couples choosing our premium artificial florals for hire, which still give you a beautiful wedding.
The advantages:
Significant savings.
- A fresh floral arch arrangement starts from $650.
- A premium artificial arrangement starts from $120
Bouquets become keepsakes.
- A fresh bouquet, starts from $280
- A premium artificial bouquet, starts from $180
And for those DIY couples, using premium artificial florals means:
No wilting concerns
Setup the day before
No installation fees
For couples balancing aesthetic and budget, this is one of the smartest swaps available. We have a range of ceremony arrangements, table styling garlands and centrepieces for hire, and can custom make to your colour palette.
From left to right: Arch Garland, Table Centrepieces and Bridal Bouquet (all our premium artificial range)
Decide What Deserves Your Investment
Not every element needs to be premium.
Perhaps:
You book an all inclusive venue - and save by choosing a shorter 2–3 hour photography package.
You invest in full-day photography - and save by simplify styling.
You prioritise food and beverages - and save by selecting artificial florals
You spend on the entertainment - and save by keeping décor minimal.
Clarity about what's important for both of you removes the pressure to upgrade everything, and will stop you from getting pulled in a hundred directions and ending up with decision overwhelm.
A Lower Budget Example
We recently quoted a wedding for a couple with a budget of $10,000.
It was tight — but achievable, with:
The Event Boutique, Online planning assistance, $1600
A community-centre venue, $2200
A two-hour photography package at $995
Food Truck catering at $23 pp
Styling with premium artificial florals
When you remove expectations of what a wedding “should” look like, and have an open mind to alternative options, your possibilities will expand.
Smart Budgeting Isn’t About Cutting — It’s About Designing Differently
You can also consider:
Hosting a daytime celebration instead of an evening event
Planning an intimate ceremony and celebration, then a casual BYO party later
Hiring professionals where expertise matters most — and DIYing selectively
Reducing guest numbers to 60–70
Or hosting a micro wedding with only your closest circle
When your decisions are deliberate rather than reactive, your budget stretches further.
Interested in a small beautiful wedding, with all inclusive packages….take a look at The Secret Garden
Weddings don’t become expensive because couples want too much.
They become expensive when every option feels necessary.
The moment you step back, simplify, and choose intentionally — the pressure shifts.
And that’s when planning starts to feel empowering again.
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