It’s simple to throw the wedding of your dreams when you don’t have to worry about pesky little details like “the budget” — that’s why we love looking to celebrity weddings for inspiration. And, surprisingly, some of the most-talked-about ideas from recent A-list weddings can easily be recreated on a real-person budget. Celebrity wedding planner Andrea Freeman, who recently planned the wedding of Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder, shares some of her favorite ideas:

Royal Cakes

Everyone is talking about the Royal Swedish Wedding right now. One of the things that the royals always do is a grand cake cutting, and Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellgvist did not disappoint cutting their extraordinary confection with a saber. If a royal cake is too pricey, ask your baker to add a couple of “faux” layers. This will give you the majestic visual appeal of a grand cake without the price tag. After you and and your groom cut the cake, your caterer can slice up the layer cake you were hiding in the back. Your guests will never know!

Photo Credit: John Labbe

Musical Entertainment

Live music is the height of luxury, and celebrities often have full bands including well known singers, like John Legend and Diana Ross for their weddings. The musical entertainment generally complements the wedding ceremony and extends through the cocktail hour into the reception. If hiring an act like this isn’t in your budget, consider hiring a solo harpist or piano player for your ceremony and cocktail hour, and then switch to a DJ for the reception.

Photo Credit: Brawns Photography

Boho-Chic Style

From Vanessa Ray’s recent wedding to Landon Beard in California to Poppy Delevigne’s Moroccan wedding, boho seems to be the new trend in celebrity weddings. If this is a look and feel that you want to achieve, you can provide your florist with an eclectic mix of bottles and small containers to fill with wild flowers. This will create that boho look without running up your costs.

Photo Credit: Brandy Angel Photography

Luxe Honeymoon

Let’s be honest, after all that planning and hard work, sometimes the honeymoon is the reward for all those hours spent selecting colors, fabrics, music, food, and more! Celebs know this all too well and often reward themselves with two-week vacations at some of the world’s most exclusive locals. If an extended holiday isn’t something you want to splurge on, consider a week or just a long weekend away. Telum, Los Cabos, Portofino, and St. Lucia all have major star appeal.

Photo courtesy of One Only Palmilla

Guest Favors

Celebrities often spare no expense when it comes to leaving their wedding guests with a lasting memory of their celebration. The key to favors is to make sure that they’re personal and reflect you as a couple, not that they’re extravagant. If you’re into nature, give individual seed packs with planting instructions printed on a small tag. Foodie couples might want to package grandma’s homemade cookies with the recipe included. 

Photo courtesy of Flavor Pursuit BakeShop

—Andrea Freeman

Andrea Freeman is an imaginative and resourceful wedding planner, eager to custom-design the dream wedding for each of her appreciative clients. She matches each client to their wedding planning needs, tastes, and personality for the perfect, seamless and memorable event. After a stint as a much-in-demand event planner in Los Angeles, Andrea has relocated to the East Coast, serving the entire New York Metropolitan area and beyond.

Website | Twitter: @afreemanevents | Instagram: @afreemanevents