Mama's Lullablog

Sample Chapel Hill intimate wedding plan for $10K budget

Sample Chapel Hill intimate wedding plan for $10K budget

If I was planning an intimate wedding in Chapel Hill, NC on a $10,000 budget, here are the vendors I would book.

Venue: Opus

This is a cute venue with beautiful outdoor spaces perfect for an intimate wedding! Now, before you scoff at a weekday wedding, hear me out: people will show up no matter what. You’re trying to save money, and if you can save $1,000 by hosting your wedding on a Thursday instead of a Saturday, then do it!

  • Cost: $1,500 Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Capacity: Ideal for up to 65 guests
  • Accommodations: Ceremony, Reception, Getting-ready Suite, Parking, Tables, Chairs
    • Linens available upon request for an additional charge (likely minimal)
  • Note: Ceremony and reception spaces are outdoors, so I’d choose a wedding date in early spring or late fall to avoid the sweltering summer humidity!

Catering: The Root Cellar

Approximate cost for the sample menu as described below is $2,200 (service fee included).

Appetizers
  • Mini biscuits (72) – $160 – Pimento cheese with bacon, pit-cooked ham with honey mustard, fried chicken with sweet pickles and sriracha mayo
  • Skewers (72) – $150 – Seasonal veggies and mozzarella with pesto dipping sauce
  • Fruit and cheese platters (serves 46-60) – $210 – bite-sized cheeses with sliced fruit and assorted crackers
Dinner

The Root Cellar offers a variety of meat and vegetarian options. Below is an example of how you might split your entrees between chicken, beef, and vegetarian.

  • Mixed greens salad (serves 62-70) – $182 – Spring mix, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions; dressing on the side
  • Grilled chicken breast (30) – $210
  • Beef brisket (30) – $300
  • Grilled portobello mushrooms (15) – $75 – Stuffed with mashed potatoes, spinach and parmesan; vegan option available
  • Roasted potatoes (serves 65) – $195 – Choice of sweet potatoes or Yukon Gold
  • Roasted green beans and cherry tomatoes (serves 65) – $195
  • Fresh-baked yeast rolls (72) – $96
Dessert
  • Cupcakes (72) – $180 – Vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, or Tar Heel Blue Velvet with chocolate, vanilla buttercream or cream cheese frosting
Extras
  • Chaffers to keep food warm – $10
  • Delivery service fee – 12%

Dinnerware, drinkware, and linens: Tablecloths Factory

The dinnerware, drinkware, and linens below cost $186 before tax and shipping, so estimate a bit more to cover those expenses.

If you’re like me, you might stick up your nose to disposable silverware and cups and plates. But I promise you, they look fine, they serve their purpose, and nobody cares.

Bar: POUR

POUR’s Beer & Wine package starts at $1,062 (+ gratuity) and includes:

  • 2 bartenders (it’s tough to tell whether or not POUR charges an additional fee for staff, which is why I noted the price starts at just over $1,000)
  • Choice of 2 domestic Beers
  • Choice of 2 import/Craft Beers
  • Choice of 2 red wines
  • Choice of 2 white wines
  • Soda, water, and garnishes if applicable
  • Alcohol permitting & set-up/tear-down

Photography: Jessica Leigh Mason

  • Cost: Starting at $2,000
  • Details:
    • Jessica and her husband Levi shoot all weddings as a duo, regardless of the package you purchase
    • Digital images are delivered within 4-6 weeks of your wedding

Flowers: Ling’s Moment

There are multiple color palettes available! This sample features Garden Blush, which I think would be really pretty for an outdoor spring wedding.

Approximate Cost: $611

Hair and Make-up: WINK

I’d recommend requesting that your bridesmaids pay for their own hair and make-up if they choose to use the service. Definitely give them the option to do their hair and make-up themselves!

Approximate cost: $726

  • Bride hair and make-up trial: $250
  • Bride wedding day hair and make-up: $425 + $20 optional lash application
  • Travel fee: Per stylist, at a rate of $0.60/mile beyond a 10-mile radius of their Raleigh, NC studio (Opus is 25.6 miles away, so this would be roughly $31)

Ways to save money:

  1. Style your own hair, and do your own make-up!
  2. Ask a bridesmaid or relative to style your hair and help you do your make-up. I have friends who are super talented in this arena. You probably do, too!
Photo of Tiffany on her wedding day, seated on a tufted couch holding her wedding bouquet
The WINK team did mine and my wedding party’s hair and make-up, and I was so happy with their service!

Stationery: The Knot

Sticking with the “Garden Blush” theme…the approximate cost for save-the-dates, invitations, thank-yous, and stamps (don’t forget the stamps!) mentioned below is $204.

  • Save the Dates: Natural Monogram Postcards – 50 count ($54.50)
  • Invitations: Natural Monogram – 50 count ($109.50)
    • Remember, you won’t need 1 invitation per 1 guest, as some of your guests live in the same household.
  • Thank-you cards: Peonies White/Blush by Greenroom at Target – 50 count ($9.99)
    • No need to splurge on thank-yous — pick something up at Target or Michael’s that matches your theme.
  • Stamps: Forever, Love Flourishes ($29.99)

Attire: Bernard’s Formalwear & Vow’d

Tuxedo Rental ($200)

Bernard’s is a locally-owned suit and tux shop. We rented Madison’s tuxedo, six groomsmen’s tuxedos, and my dad’s tuxedo from them for our wedding. Each rental included:

  • Coat & pants
  • Vest
  • Shirt
  • Tie
  • Shoes
  • Cufflinks

Expect to pay a $200 deposit on the day you or your partner rents your tuxedo or suit. For our wedding, each groomsman’s tuxedo rental was $220 dollars. (Suits may be less expensive, but I’m not sure.)

Wedding Dress, Shoes, and Accessories ($500)

Vow’d is located in Raleigh, and in addition to stocking dresses to order, they also carry some dresses that are available off-the-rack, meaning you can take them home the same day (woohoo!). Prices vary quite a bit, but you’re sure to find something in your range, like:

Music: Playlist

Because the space is small and secluded, and your reception will be intimate, I’d purchase 2-4 Bluetooth speakers and curate your own playlist! We used one similar to the one linked below, and it worked great 🙂

Other

This plan leaves you with about $600 to play with and use on whatever matters most to you! Maybe you want to spend a little more on your bridal look, or bump your bar package up to include liquor in addition to beer and wine. Perhaps you want to hire a DJ instead of curating a playlist.

Things you may want to consider:

  • Table & other decor
    • Votives, candles, greenery, table numbers, and vases are some common table decorations that are easy to DIY!
    • Welcome signs and seating charts are also frequently used to help usher guests into ceremony or reception. These, too, and easily be DIYed!
  • Favors
    • For example, Madison and I gave each of our guests our favorite cookie from the place we went on our first date.
  • Gifts for your wedding party and family members
    • Not necessary, but a nice gesture!
  • Bachelor / Bachelorette parties
  • Rehearsal dinner (sometimes one partner’s family will offer to cover this cost, which is why I didn’t include it within the budget)

And there you have it! A Chapel Hill, North Carolina wedding plan on a $10,000 budget!

Was this post helpful? I’d love your feedback! Please consider leaving a comment and sharing your own wedding plans 🙂

Happy planning!

Leave a comment

Hello,

I’m Tiffany

In 2025, I became a mama for the first time to my little boy, L. As I began to navigate parenthood and postpartum, I realized there was A LOT to learn, and the Internet isn’t always a friendly place to seek support or encouragement. I decided to write about what I learn at each stage of motherhood, both to help me process and, hopefully, to help other mamas feel seen and encouraged.

Search posts or browse by category

Recent posts

Is this your new site? Log in to activate admin features and dismiss this message
Log In