Grace, industrial designer & andrew, visual designer

SUM-UP OF THE WEDDING VIBE: Dreamy, smoky, desert, sunrise vibes.

PLANNED BUDGET: $4,500
ACTUAL BUDGET: $6,500
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 25
Location: Black Rock Desert, Nevada

Where we allocated the most funds:

Photographer and planner.

Where we allocated the least funds:

Dress and attire (homemade or bought cheap), and the venue was free.

What was totally worth it:

Spending the money on a good photographer and planner. Both had been to Burning Man before and knew the climate and challenges of the environment. They were able to work within the confinements of space. Our planner, Jason, was our only vendor who set up the tent environment, made our tables, decorated, and planned our food.

Simple vegan breakfast reception with mimosas! A bunch of toast, avocado, and spreads on a table to pass down and share. It was also the only thing that would survive in the climate and cost next to nothing.

Smoke bombs! We had six, and they came out wonderful in photos.

What was totally not worth it:

We had tried to make a Twinkie tower for our wedding cake. (Also the only thing that would survive.) We ended up cutting up watermelon for a watermelon cake.

A few things that helped us along the way:

Talking to others who have had weddings at Burning Man—they provided great insights and advice. (Like finding someone with an Art Car to drive us, what time to get married that the weather is best, the time of day photos come out best, etc.). Borrowing things from our friends, and second-hand shopping for wedding decor.

My best practical advice for my planning self:

Good Drive is your friend! Organize your budget throughout the whole process. Stay close to the planner and photographers plans from early on to feel more invested in the wedding and makes the wedding feel longer!

Favorite thing about the wedding:

The intimacy of a close group of friends celebrating love together, as opposed to a very large conventional wedding. We were also together the whole week at Burning Man, so it felt more like a weeklong party and not just a few hours.

Other things we’d like to share:

Burning Man was completely a destination wedding, and there was extra cost required, not only from us, but from our friends to get there with their supplies. Our planner went a long, long way for us to help us plan for both the wedding and Burning Man.

Image CreditDawn Heumann

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