Budget Guide
Destination Wedding on a Budget: The Complete Guide to Crete and France
What you can arrange yourself, how to save money in Crete and France, money gift etiquette and DIY ideas that actually work.
A budget-friendly destination wedding isn't about cutting corners — it's about knowing exactly where you can save, and where your money will really make a difference. Iselin, one of our planners, loves a good DIY project almost as much as she loves seeing a wedding day come together down to the smallest detail, and this guide is put together with exactly that combination in mind: practical experience on what you can arrange yourselves, concrete savings tips for Crete and France, money gift etiquette, and DIY ideas that actually work.
Do as much as you can yourself
Book flights and travel yourself, and compare direct routes with routes with layovers. Reserve good dates as soon as the wedding date is set, preferably 6–9 months in advance for the best prices.
Do the paperwork yourselves — the general requirements for getting married abroad are well-documented publicly. Also, create a simple wedding website yourselves for RSVPs and travel information, instead of ordering printed cards or a customized solution.
We are happy to help you find the right balance, if you are unsure about how much you should do yourselves and where you need an extra hand. With the Full Service package, we handle all of this for you.
02
How to make it cheaper in Crete
Choose the inland over the most famous coastal areas such as Chania and Elounda — often 20–30% cheaper without lower quality. Use local tavernas as catering partners instead of imported luxury catering, and book local musicians instead of international artists.
Choose low season or shoulder season (May, June, September, October) for 20–50% lower prices, and buy flowers from local nurseries rather than imported ones.
How to do it cheaper in France
Choose regions like Dordogne, Languedoc, or parts of Burgundy over Provence or the Côte d'Azur — same beauty, 20–40% lower total cost. Book on a weekday or Sunday instead of a Saturday.
Choose wine directly from a local vineyard rather than the venue's own wine cellar, and look for châteaux that allow external catering rather than those that require a fixed in-house supplier.
04
Request a monetary gift instead of traditional presents
Because the guests are already incurring significant costs for travel and accommodation, it is both common and well-accepted to wish for a monetary gift. Place this information on the wedding website, not on the formal invitation itself.
Consider linking the wish to something tangible—"our first dinner as newlyweds" or "snorkelling on our honeymoon"—it often feels more personal than a plain monetary amount.
DIY — you can make this yourselves
Iselin has created everything from invitations to table settings to her own projects, and knows the line between what actually saves money and looks well-crafted, and what ends up costing more time and money than it's worth.
Design your own invitations and signage with free online tools, and put together your own playlists instead of booking a DJ for the entire evening. Reuse flowers from the ceremony for the reception tables — one of Iselin's favorite tricks for getting the most out of the flower budget.
We often see that couples who combine a few, well-chosen DIY projects with professional help for the rest, end up with both the best result and the best experience along the way.
06 · Realistic example
A budget-friendly wedding for 50 guests
Crete
160,000–230,000 NOK
Example with one of our partner's venues in Chania (incl. furniture and DJ for 8 hours), some DIY decor.
France
180,000–240,000 NOK
Simpler château in Dordogne or Languedoc, weekday rather than Saturday.
The figures apply to the wedding production itself (venue, catering, drinks, flowers, music) — not flights, guest accommodation, or our planning service, which is a separate and much smaller amount. These examples are at the lower end because they combine several of the approaches in this guide.
"A budget-friendly wedding isn't about cutting corners — it's about knowing where your money actually makes an impact."
Do you want Iselin's best DIY and budget tips — or should we take care of everything?
With Essentials, you get access to our network of local suppliers and advice on how to arrange as much as possible yourself. With Full Service, we handle all the planning for you – we find an elegant solution regardless of your budget.
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