You don’t have to go broke or become a yearlong bridezilla to sanctify that commitment with the one you love. With the national average of a wedding in the $30,000 range, the financial stress alone can mean a rocky beginning.
Couples are saying yes to budget-friendly, easy-to-plan, pop-up weddings that first became popular during the pandemic, and it’s inspired a new approach to the business of wedding planning.
Cakewalk, a Brooklyn-based elopement planning company, can help you seal the deal for as little as $3,000 and with only a few days’ notice.
“All you need is 36 hours to turn it around in New York City,” said founder Lia Seremetis.
She was inspired to help others after being completely overwhelmed. “My own wedding planning process lasted twice as long as the marriage itself,” she said. “I’d seen many friends who went into the process to have something contained and intimate, only to end up with a huge wedding that broke the bank.”
Cakewalk has nearly tripled their bookings since launching in 2023, a clear indicator that couples need and want alternatives. And no location is out of reach. If you can dream it, you can have it. “The coolest, most fun place where we’ve had a wedding so far was at the Broadway show, ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ for a Broadway obsessed couple,” said Seremetis. “They got married before the show started and all the ushers and audience cheered.”
Another take on the instant wedding experience is to opt for an all-inclusive package which includes all the bells and whistles but without all the fuss. In 2016, industry veteran Michele Velazquez founded Pop the Knot, an award-winning company that offers couples a bit more than a courthouse.
“What I’ve learned is there is a whole niche of brides that need quick and easy pop-up weddings for different reasons” she said. “Our packages include a unique venue, photographer, an officiant, bouquet and a boutonniere, with additional enhancements as needed.”
Pop the Knot has expanded to 14 cities with packages that hit every budget, starting from $1,615.
If you go it alone, consider hiring a freelance photographer through Shoott, an online platform that connects clients with snappers in over 60 cities. Rates start at $495 for the first hour, $300 for each additional hour. After the booking, you’ll receive a digital gallery where you select and pay for only what you love.
Backyard weddings became in vogue during COVID, but to up the ante, consider renting an iconic Airstream. The shiny metallic geo-dome mobile structure can be used for a bridal prep station, photo booth central or a makeshift bar.
You can usually find them at online vendors like Outdoorsy or Airbnb, from $150 per night, while Riveting Stories, a family-operated Airstream rental company located in Bucks County, Penn., has a vintage fleet from the 1940s through the ‘70s.
And if you want to get married for no cost, albeit with hundreds of strangers, consider The Wedding: New York’s Biggest Day at Lincoln Center. It first launched in 2022 for couples who had to postpone or cancel their wedding due to the pandemic.
“Attendees show up in their wedding finest, with a gorgeous array of wedding dresses, saris and more, making for a beautiful tapestry of colorful, multicultural outfits with a personal touch, all celebrating love,” said Rosie Marinelli, senior communications manager for Lincoln Center.
This year’s date has not yet been determined, but expect special guests, live musical performances and faith leaders who all come together to consecrate and celebrate love.
