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Budget-Friendly End of Summer Wedding Inspiration

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Bride and groom share a kiss on wedding day outdoors

With summer coming to an end, we just had to share this fabulous end-of-summer wedding! This adorable couple knows how to throw one heck of a party and on budget we might add!
You can hear more from Kelly about how she and Eli kept their wedding spending to a minimum below. You can also see more of their beautiful day photographed by Garrett Richardson and Clove and Kin by visiting the full gallery here.

Bride holds a lush wedding bouquet with succulents

Blush Bridal Boutique wedding dress @weddingchicks

Bride with bridesmaids in light blue dresses outdoors

summer bridesmaid dresses from BHLDN @weddingchicks

A Timeless Classic

Their end of summer wedding at Walnut Grove overflowed with joy and laughter, and the details really reveal what makes Kelly & Eli so absolutely timeless. Kelly’s gown’s sleek silhouette with touches of lace was so perfectly her — modern and stylish but with a timeless, classic flair! Eli’s suit had the same spirit, nodding to the past with subtle details like his pocket watch.

light grey and suspenders groomsmen look @weddingchicks

Bride and groom smile at their outdoor wedding party

Get Crafty & Save!

From the Bride: Making things where you can is super helpful and cuts down costs! Ex: By being creative with my dress (buying it then adding my own portion) it ended up being roughly $1,500 and our decor on the site itself was less than $1000 because I made most of it from scratch!

Rustic wood sign with Ruth 116 quote at outdoor wedding

Outdoor wedding ceremony with bride bridesmaids groom

Bride and groom kissing at outdoor wedding ceremony

Budgeting Advice

Every bride needs the Knot’s book of lists. (you can buy it here) It is GOLD. It tells you to take your total budgeted amount and gives you a list of everything you’ll need to remember accounting for–with a percentage of how much you can anticipate spending. This showed us that even though our budget was a little bit lower than the average Southern California wedding, it was possible to be creative and still get everything you want!

Handwritten drink menu sign for a wedding reception

Outdoor wedding reception with floral centerpieces

Orange dahlias in vase on vintage books wedding decor

Elegant outdoor wedding reception tablescape with book decor

Bride and groom kissing near classic red Mustang car

The Key To A Perfect Day

My advice to pass on would be what was given to me: You will always wish you did something differently. It’s the biggest event you’ve ever planned in your life, so of course some things will be missed! But if you know going in that it won’t be absolutely perfect and instead focus on who you are with, then surprisingly that day WILL end up being perfect.

Wedding buffet menu with handwritten chalkboard sign

Bridesmaid in light blue dress, groom in suspenders

Chalkboard menu: CVT Soft Serve ice cream, $3, toppings 50¢ each

Happy bride holding a celebratory ice cream cone

Get a closer look at this end or summer wedding by watching the fabulous film created by Sami Cromelin with Brian Terada below.

Vimeo Video

Beauty: Alyson Beukema
Dress & Apparel: BHLDN
Entertainment: Elegant Event Entertainment
Event Planning & Design: Darrin Roberts
Fashion: Creative Stitches
Favors & Gifts: Poetrie Weddings
Flowers: Emblem Flowers
Groom & His Men: Zara
Ice Cream: CVT Soft Serve
Photographers: Clove and Kin
Rentals: Command Performance Catering
Venues: Walnut Grove at Tierra Rejada Farms
Wedding Dresses: Blush Bridal Boutique
Wedding Films: Brian Terada
Wedding Films: Sami Cromelin

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