Planning a dream wedding doesn’t have to break the bank! At La Joya Dulce, a breathtaking wedding venue in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, we believe every couple deserves a beautiful and memorable celebration and we love helping couples smartly navigate their budget. We have compiled some creative, budget-friendly ideas to help you save money while keeping your wedding stylish and unforgettable.

1. Choose a Versatile Venue

A venue like La Joya Dulce offers amazing mountain backdrops and flexible spaces, reducing the need for expensive décor. Whether you’re planning a rustic outdoor ceremony or a charming barn reception, the scenery here sets the stage beautifully without requiring elaborate embellishments. One of our favorite things about our venue is our extensive Share the Love inventory! We provide a plethora of options from linens to chargers, table numbers and signs that are free to use! So make sure to ask what all your venue includes when you tour.

Budget Tip: Use the venue’s natural beauty to your advantage. Decorate sparingly with seasonal flowers or DIY touches to complement the surroundings.

2. Embrace DIY Décor

Get creative with your decorations! DIY projects not only save money but also add a personal touch to your wedding. Consider making your own centerpieces, signage, ceremony arches, or even your own photobooth.

Ideas to Try:

• Antique vase centerpieces filled with fairy lights or wildflowers.

• Handwritten chalkboard signs for directions or menus.

• Reclaimed wood backdrops for photo booths. OR - as our couple above did? They turned their beloved campervan into a photobooth.

Pro Tip: La Joya Dulce’s event team has a well of creativity to help generate unique to you ideas. For our couple above? We supplied all of the “extras” for the van/photobooth from our extensive Share the Love Inventory.

3. Opt for Seasonal and Local Florals

Flowers can be a significant expense, but choosing blooms that are in season and sourced locally can cut costs. La Joya Dulce’s location in Colorado provides access to beautiful wildflowers and greenery that can elevate your wedding's aesthetic.

Budget Tip: Arrange flowers yourself or work with a florist who specializes in minimalist designs, such as bouquets with greenery and a few statement blooms. For our couple below? We went out into our aspens and pastures and cut small branches and grasses to decorate an additional area. We’ve also been known to supply the rose petals for the flower girls from our rose garden!

4. Simplify Your Menu

Catering costs can add up quickly, but there are ways to serve delicious food without overspending. Consider buffet-style dining or local food trucks, which can be more budget-friendly than plated meals. You can also feature local favorites like Colorado-style barbecue.

Idea to Save: Partner with a local food truck for a casual, yet memorable dining experience. Some of our local favorite food trucks are Mountain Tap Brewery, Skull Creek Greek and Q Live Crew.

5. Prioritize Photography Over Videography

Capturing your big day is essential, but if you’re trying to save money, focus on hiring a skilled photographer. Photos can tell your wedding story beautifully, and you can always ask friends to capture candid video moments. At La Joya Dulce, we offer at no extra charge, candid content. Our crew captures Behind the Scenes (BTS) and lots of videos and stills of your day - which we share with you. So for those Instagram worthy moments? We have you covered.

Pro Tip: Look for photographers who offer packages that include both engagement and wedding day photos for added value.

6. Rent Instead of Buying

From tableware to furniture, renting items is often more cost-effective than purchasing them. La Joya Dulce has connections with local rental companies that offer everything from rustic tables to elegant dinnerware, allowing you to create a stunning setup without the hefty price tag. Add that La Joya Dulce is the only venue in Steamboat to include all of the tables, two types of chairs, and floor length table cloths, and we have that line item mostly covered. We also offer a variety of napkins in our Share the Love inventory. In the below photo, the napkins, napkin rings, table runners and chargers are all from our Share the Love inventory.

7. Time Your Wedding Wisely

Choosing an off-peak wedding date can result in significant savings on vendor costs. Consider hosting your wedding during the week or in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, when Steamboat Springs is still stunning but less busy.

Pro Tip: In the mountains? The week between Christmas and New Years is the single busiest week of the year for the town and many vendors (think catering, transportation, entertainment). Hotels are as much as three times what they are in the shoulder seasons, so that New Year’s Eve wedding? Is not budget friendly.

8. Skip the Traditional Cake

Wedding cakes can be pricey, so why not try an alternative? Dessert tables with cupcakes, donuts, or even a selection of pies can be just as delightful (and more affordable). Some of our favorite local dessert experts are Inclusions Bakery (they have so many options and do GF) and Steamboat Baker (you have got to try their lavender vanilla cupcakes!). We have had couples use pies, donuts, and a plethora of bite sized options that delight their guests!

Budget-Friendly Add-On: A small cutting cake for photos paired with a variety of desserts for guests.

9. Use Digital Invitations

Save on stationery and postage by opting for digital wedding invitations. Platforms like Paperless Post or Canva allow you to design elegant e-vites that still feel special.

Pro tip: Use free services like Canva, and your engagement photos to design a custom invite. Then? Use the La Joya Dulce discount on Minted to send them!

10. Make It a Family Affair

Get friends and family involved in your big day! Whether it’s building favors for guests, helping with setup, or lending a hand with DIY projects, involving loved ones adds a personal and meaningful touch to your celebration. We absolutely love that here at La Joya dulce you can have three whole days for your wedding! So even if you have friends and family hard at work on your set up day, they can enjoy and just be present for your wedding day!

At La Joya Dulce, our passion is helping you create the wedding of your dreams, and one your guests will remember forever. Our team is here to offer tips, vendor recommendations, and support to ensure your day is as special as your love story.

Ready to start planning your dream wedding? Contact us today to schedule a tour or learn more about our cost effective packages.

 about la joya dulce

At la joya dulce, we are proud in being an independently owned and operated, local wedding venue. When you choose la joya dulce in Steamboat Springs, you're not just booking a venue—you're working directly with the owners, who are dedicated to making your day perfect. You are not just a transaction to us - you become a member of our ranch family. We’re committed to creating memories and intentional moments for you and your family. We believe in supporting our community, which is why we collaborate with other independently-owned venues and businesses.

We also believe in being the “real deal.” Our photos that are shared by our wonderful photographers are the real deal - there is no AI involved in their creation. Come take a look for yourself - the reality is often better than the photos!

We hope to use our platform to create awareness for the value of supporting locally owned wedding venues. You can help support amazing locally owned wedding venues across the country by writing a Google review, following their social media accounts and referring locally owned wedding venues whenever you have the opportunity. We sincerely appreciate your support and want to share a shout out to some of our wedding venue owner colleagues around the country. Please consider a locally owned venue, you can find locally owned wedding venues featured on this wedding venue map.

River House Montana, The Old Barns at Dry Run Farms, Events by Bliss Barn, Green Clover Farms and El Tango Reception Hall