Save $5k and Throw Your Dream Wedding on a Budget

What if we told you that it’s entirely possible to plan your dream wedding on a budget, save thousands of dollars and create heartwarming memories with your partner in the process. 

All it takes is a little DIY! We hear you — weddings are already an incredible undertaking so we’re not suggesting you make everything from scratch. But with a dash of creativity and a few simple switches, you can add a personal touch to your special day and an extra $5,000 to your honeymoon budget. 

And who better to give you the crafty scoop on the best ways to DIY your wedding than our passionate community of brides-to-be, teachers and makers? Read on to hear their expert tips and get the lowdown on the top wedding workshops so you don’t have to DIY it alone.

Personalise your own wedding rings and save up to $2,000

“A DIY wedding ring is guaranteed to be a one of a kind piece that no one else will have and it is actually much more affordable to make yourself rather than buying it,” says Caity Lane, founder of Happy Endings Co in Melbourne. 

“Your rings symbolise the joining of a couple and will forever be attached to the lovely memory of making them together,” says Caity. 

When couples step into Happy Endings Co’s wedding ring making workshop for the first time, Caity loves getting to know their unique style and helping them create their dream wedding rings. 

“Having the opportunity to make our own rings was so amazing. Instead of trying to convey what we wanted to someone else, we were able to create it from scratch ourselves and to have a special space and moment to do that together was part of the unique experience.” - Bride-to-be, Emma

Average cost of wedding rings = $2,535 vs Customise personalised wedding rings = $550

DIY your own wedding cake and save up to $400

Want to make your cake and eat it too? If your bridesmaids are up for the challenge, choosing to make your own wedding cake can be a fun and creative hens activity! If you share a love of baking, it could be the perfect place to pipe, stack and create delicious buttercream cakes. 

With thousands of classes available across Australia, you can add rice cake flowers for a unique twist with Elin Kim in Sydney. For any brides-to-be in Perth you can create your own tiered wedding cake with Bake With Carli. Not only does the two-tier design look stunning, it will taste delicious too!

Average cost of wedding cakes = $558 vs DIY your dream wedding cake = $149

DIY wedding invitations with calligraphy and save up to $650

When calligrapher Icy Icaro and her husband started planning their wedding, they decided to DIY their invitations, welcome signage, place cards and more. “Initially, our goal was to minimise our spending budget but I really enjoyed the creative process. I found joy in creating which made our wedding preparation almost stress free,” says Icy.  

DIY wedding crafts meant that Icy and her husband could bring their personality to their special day. Icy loved DIY so much that she started teaching calligraphy workshops to empower other brides-to-be do the same. 

In Icy’s online calligraphy classes, you can learn the basics of modern calligraphy and how to add a personal touch to your wedding invitations.

“Not only will you be saving money but you will be putting a part of yourself into the most special day of your life,” says Icy.

Average cost of wedding invitations = $760 vs Add your personal touch to your wedding invitations = $110

Top DIY tip from our budgeting bride-to-be

Here at ClassBento HQ, our much-loved Growth Partner, Ebony Garrick, is getting ready for her big day and has channelled her inner crafter to save some money. “I DIY’d a few welcome sign stands for my wedding signage so that I could have hanging installations on the day. It was something I really wanted and was too expensive to hire,” says Ebony. 

Ebony isn’t alone — over 400 million people are viewing #diywedding on TikTok — getting inspo on everything from wedding decor ideas to DIY wedding favours.

“The biggest thing for me was that DIY provided me with an opportunity to create certain elements that are unique and show off our personality as a couple,” says Ebony. 

Design elegant place cards or table numbers and save up to $150

When it comes to your wedding on a budget, place cards should be the next DIY on the list. Along with guiding guests to their designated mingling stations, personalised place cards can be a sweet memento matched to your wedding theme.

Jump on the cricut machine trend with Joyce May Designs in Brisbane to give your wedding place cards flair. Engrave gold metals and acrylic for a classic look or pick bright, bold colours to make a statement.

Average cost for place cards = $260 ($1.30 x 150 guests) vs Pick out fun designs for your place cards = $110

Arrange beautiful flower bouquets and save up to $1,500

Local Sydney florist Nikki Zeng wants to make flower arrangements easy for everyone to create. ”You don't need to be a professional florist to be able to create something beautiful,” says Nikki. 

At Nikki’s wedding flower bouquet workshop, you can learn how to do just that! Nikki loves seeing how surprised and proud people are when they walk out of her class and show their bouquets off to their friends and family. 

“You are learning new skills, giving yourself confidence and having those bonding moments with your best friends or your family. Those are the things that you just can't get from buying wedding flowers from a professional florist,” says Nikki.

Average cost of wedding flowers = $1,678 vs Create flower bouquets to match your wedding theme = $250

Make your wedding veil and save up to $70

Making a DIY veil is surprisingly easy to do and is a perfect way to bond with your Mum before the big day. Join couture bridal designer Souraya Favaloro in Sydney and customise your dream wedding veil. Pick out trimming and lace designs or include a hair comb with the veil — it’s all up to you. 

If your Mum still has her wedding veil, stick to tradition and wear something borrowed for luck (and some extra savings). Passed down from generation to generation, wearing your mum’s veil will add a sentimental touch to the wedding and you’ll look back on the big day with warm memories.

Average cost of wedding veils = $250 vs Make a stunning wedding veil to keep forever = $179

Treat your guests to wedding favours and save up to $470

While traditional bombonieres like sugared almonds are nice, adding a DIY touch to your wedding favours will make your day stand out and save you money. Show your loved ones how much you appreciate them with these handmade gifts and make DIY-ing a special date night activity between you and your partner leading up to your big day.

Wedding favour ideas for every kind of bride: 

• Make tealight candles with scents that take you and your partner back to your first date together

• Indulge everybody’s sweet tooth with handmade chocolate truffles

• Christmas-themed wedding? Surprise your guests with ceramic Christmas ornaments

• Wrap mini Kokedama for plant-loving guests to take home

• Make cute polymer clay pot planters as wedding mementos

Making DIY wedding favours becomes more meaningful when you put thought and effort into personalised gifts for the people you love the most. Plus, your friends and family will always have your handmade creations to remember your wedding day forever.

Average cost of wedding favours = $547 ($5 x 108 guests) vs Handmade chocolate truffles made according to Taste’s easy truffle recipe = $68 ($4.7 for 3 truffles x 108 guests)