Planning an intimate and affordable DIY wedding outside of Charlottesville, Virginia is entirely possible, especially for couples with imagination and limited budget. At the Indigo House, couples have fun creating a personal and relaxed backyard celebration at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Not sure about what you can afford?
We’ve got you! Many couples love our DIY Micro Wedding because it gives them time and flexibility to bring their vision to life, a DIY-ers’ dream come true. Those who hate to plan and be stressed out love our Inclusive Micro Wedding because most vendors are included in the price. Nontraditional couples obsessed with epic pictures and private moments enjoy our Adventure Elopement.
But all the options can feel overwhelming and services add up quickly.
That’s why we’re sharing a sample budget for a DIY wedding at the Indigo. Whether you have other plans for your money or multiple ceremonies to plan, we know staying on a budget really adds up in the long run… And we’re all about finding ways to save money without sacrificing experience.
Ready to start planning your intimate DIY backyard wedding? Keep reading for inspiration, sample pricing, and general tips for an affordable, DIY micro wedding near Charlottesville, Virginia.
Backyard Wedding Inspiration
Visuals matter. With our five-acre, wooded property, design your wedding in a myriad of ways. Gain inspiration from some of these events, even though they weren’t held here at the Indigo.
Estimates and Pricing
By getting married at the Indigo, you have a lot more freedom, which gives you much more wiggle room in terms of cost. Your overall costs can stay pretty low because we don’t require you to use any specific vendors or upsell services. We pass on our discounts for cake, cases of wine, and more, because we don’t want costs to be a hindrance to your vision. We help your ideas for an affordable DIY wedding close to Charlottesville, Virginia come to life.
That being said, we’re dropping some rough, back-of-the-napkin numbers below. Keep in mind that some of these items — such as catering and photography — are dependent on headcount or expertise. This is subject to change and by no means binding, but we hope it’ll help you get a baseline.
Working with the Indigo House can be described in one word: easy.
They were always available, always honest about what to expect, and always up for a suggestion or idea. We never felt pressured and knew the weekend would go exactly how we wanted it to because they were so open. The Indigo House had so much more than we ever asked for and it made our wedding so much more special.
| Vendor/Service | Notes | Sample Pricing |
| Photographer | Beloved photographer, Emie, offers timeless images at an awesome price point ($350/hr) for our Indigo couples who get married on a Sunday night. | $2,000-$6,000 |
| Officiant and marriage license | You can save money and create a more personal ceremony by having a loved one officiate and hiring Vanessa Waters to sign the paperwork! | $100-$300 |
| Rentals | Tables, chairs, linens for 50 people | $500-$900 |
| Tent | Rainy day backup plan | $800-$1,300 |
| Catering | Local BBQ is an awesome cost-saving option | $25-$100/person |
| Florals | Bouquet and boutonniere | Starting at $350 |
| Wedding Planner | $1,500-$3,000 | |
| Hair and Make Up | $150-$600 | |
| Decorations | Varies | |
| Dessert | $250 | |
| Alcohol | An alcohol license is not required. Most of our couples buy from Costco and have a self-serve bar. Try this drink calculator. | $300-$800 |
| Placesets | Plates, cutlery, napkins, etc | $100-$600 |
| Insurance | Event coverage | $200 |
Don’t feel like doing the math?
Our couples spend roughly…
- For an Adventure Elopement —$2,000-$5,000 (depending on the photographer)
- For a DIY Micro Wedding property buyout — $12,000-$25,000
- For the Inclusive Micro Wedding — $25,000-$35,000
These all include the venue and accommodations fee at the Indigo.
5 Ways to Cut Costs While Maximizing the Experience
We like to keep things simple. At the Indigo, we believe that everyone is happier when they’re outdoors. Nature provides the kind of backdrop that doesn’t need much decoration. Once you’re standing in the woods with the twinkle lights and the sun setting in the distance, we bet you’ll agree.
Make your dollar stretch farther by:
- Foregoing the traditional sit-down dinner. Organize an afterparty featuring local apple cider donuts and spiked cider or a pie bar showcasing seasonal fruits and ice cream from Black Bear Creamery. Your guests can play yard games like cornhole and ladder ball with your favorite playlist in the background.
- Getting married on a Friday or Sunday evening. Vendors are more willing to negotiate the price!
- Carrying a bouquet of wildflowers from the Nelson County farmers market, open May-October.
- Charging your guests to stay. If you select the property buyout, you can ask your guests to pay a nightly rate just as they would for local accommodations (that could be up to $1,200 “saved”).
- In lieu of renting a space for a welcome or rehearsal dinner, host it at the Indigo for no added venue fee.
Throw yourself an affordable DIY wedding outside of Charlottesville, Virginia by borrowing our backyard for your charming and enchanting weekend.
Photo credits: Xiaoqi Li Photography, Veronique Ione, Simple Love Collection, and Love and Lore.