💸 Save, Spend or Skip? Budget Decor Priorities That Actually Work

Planning a wedding on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on style—it just means getting strategic. And if there's one thing we've learned from real Southern African couples, it’s this: knowing what to save, what to spend, and what to skip entirely makes all the difference between a stressful splurge and a wedding that feels like you hired a celebrity planner.

We caught up with Thabiso & Ayanda, a Zambian–South African couple who hosted their stunning wedding in Livingstone, just a few kilometres from the Zambezi. With a decor budget of only $1,200, they mastered the art of wedding prioritisation—and their guests are still raving about it.

💬 “We sat down with three highlighters: one for Save, one for Spend, one for Skip. That’s how we made every decor decision.”

✅ Save On: Things That Look Luxe But Aren’t

1. Candles Over Florals:
Instead of R8,000 on florals, they went with taper and floating candles. The glow gave pure romance vibes—especially during their dusk reception.

2. DIY Stationery:
Ayanda used Canva and a free font pack to design their menus and signage. Printed locally in Lusaka for under $40. Stylish and stress-free.

3. Chair Decor:
Instead of fancy chair rentals, they tied linen bows to plastic chairs from the venue. “Once the candles were lit and music was playing, no one cared about the chairs,” Ayanda laughed.

💰 Spend On: Your 'Hero' Decor Moments

1. The Archway:
Their ceremony backdrop was everything. “It’s what people see first,” Thabiso said. They spent nearly $300 on a statement arch with neutral draping and dried pampas.

2. Table Linen & Napkins:
They invested in high-quality linen napkins and tablecloths in soft dusty pink. “It elevated everything—suddenly our plastic tables looked Pinterest-worthy.”

3. A Beautiful Sweetheart Table:
Their sweetheart table had candles, layered textures, and an affordable grazing board. Guests kept coming over for selfies—because it was that pretty.

🚫 Skip Entirely: No-Regret Cutbacks

1. Overloaded Centrepieces:
They did single-stem proteas in glass bottles. “No one missed the big bouquets,” Ayanda said.

2. Menu Cards for Every Guest:
They did one big sign with the menu on it. Boom. Saved $100 right there.

3. Chair Covers:
“I hated them. They always look dated,” said Ayanda. So they skipped them and let the chair’s simplicity shine through the linen bows and ambient lighting.

💡 Bonus Tips from the Couple:

Pick 2–3 “wow” zones and keep the rest minimal.

Borrow wherever you can—from cousins, churches, or even your workplace.

Lighting changes everything.

📌 Final Words from Ayanda:

“You don’t need a million rand to make magic. You just need a plan—and a partner who doesn’t mind spray-painting centrepieces with you at midnight!