“Wedding planning…..” Never underestimate those two words, friends. They sound so simple, but trust me……it’s really not that simple. Possible though? Absolutely. Oh, just about anyone can plan a wedding to some extent, but not everyone, can plan a dream wedding………without going over budget.
Now, I’m going to give it to you straight: If you want any kind of a somewhat traditional wedding which may include wedding attire, flowers, decor, a photographer, a videographer, a reception with a DJ and food….we all know you’re not going to get by free. Truth be told…you’re likely not even going to get by cheap, despite what you may think in your early planning stages. Now, of course if you have a family member or an extremely close friend that will do ALL of the above….your case may be different than most. I don’t think that’s a likely scenario though.
However, here’s the thing: You can get by cheaper.
You don’t have to fall among the statistical averages. You don’t have to spend $30,000-$45,000 on your day, as apparently many are. You really don’t even need to spend $20,000….unless that’s your desire of course. If done right, you can spend well under $15,000….$10,000 or even $5,000.
It all depends on what your priorities are vs. what you can live without. Everyone is different. From the get-go, I had some very clear priorities. Along the way, I learned how to “X” what I found to be unnecessary, but I also added a few small things I maybe hadn’t thought about prior. I just knew I was determined to be reasonable……not ridiculous.
Can I give you some specifics of what I did in my next blog post? Sure can. In part 3, I can even suggest some reasonable area venues to you, but first things first: I knew my dream wedding would never happen twice, so I wanted to make it a day to remember. We all want a day to remember, right? Let’s get down to some basic pointers before we talk about my day or the area venues.
Budget Wedding Planning 101:
- First of all, as I just mentioned up there, you need to figure out your priorities and your budget. Ask yourself what matters to you most in the long run? What has your perfect day always looked like? Is dancing a must of yours? (It always was of mine). Do you want a lot of flowers, or are you happy with minimal? Do you want indoor, outdoor, or are you open to either setting? Is a environmentally flexible venue a priority? Do you HAVE to have a certain theme or venue, or could you be open to a venue or even a theme you maybe hadn’t even thought about before? Do you really need 400 people there, or would you be happier with 40 (which is of course also way, way more frugal)? Do you really need to rent outside linen, or can you be happy with the linen the venue is already offering you? Do you really want to spend all your money on prime rib for everyone, or would you be happier in the long run using that money on quality photos? If you’re more of a pulled pork kind of girl, don’t be afraid to go that route. Food doesn’t last….photos do. Just being honest guys.
Dancing with my groom at our reception. In the background, my dear friend Paul Jolley is singing his cover of Lonestar’s “Amazed.” This kind of setting was more important to me than a massive guest list. - Next, DO NOT be afraid to shop on Amazon, EBay and on various bargain websites for everything from brand new veils to any supply you can imagine. While I didn’t look too hard, you may even be able to find some centerpiece stuff at Dollar Tree from what I’ve heard. I was also thrilled when I discovered eFavormart and Oriental Trading. A lot of these websites even have additional savings by simply putting in a code. Also, ummm….if you don’t take advantage of Hobby Lobby’s 50% off sales, I’m not sure we can be friends. It seems that every other week, ALL of their wedding supplies are 50% off. They have pretty dang close to every wedding supply you could ever need. Also, even good ole’ GoodWill or Salvation Army often has “like brand new” items that were likely used ONCE, if ever. Are you really too good for that adorable $4 sign that would easily be $50 somewhere else? It’s silly to pay full price, folks. Also, is there anything you can borrow? Do you really need to buy and keep ALL of your centerpiece floating flower bowls, or can you just borrow the ones being offered to you? If you’re not looking for deals early on, the budget will quickly get out of control. Mark my words.
- Never secure a venue without a backup weather plan if you are looking towards an outdoor wedding. Thankfully, the weather cooperated on our big day for a beautiful outdoor ceremony, BUT I had a plan B and C in case it didn’t. Though I really really wanted the outdoor scene the whole time, I had the peace of mind in knowing that no matter what, I didn’t have to get drenched on my wedding day. This was a plus plus, because up until my wedding day, the forecast was teasing rain (thankfully, it couldn’t have been more wrong). Also, if you’re having a summer wedding and don’t want to be sweaty all day…… do not, I repeat do not, secure a pricey venue that has zero AC for your day! This was a must for me. My outdoor ceremony was short and sweet, we took some pics, and then I knew I was coming back to an AC’ed reception. For me personally, this was needed for an August 19 wedding. On the contrary, maybe you’re having an outside wedding on a super cold day. If you’re anything like me, you’re going to at least want some kind of a heated reception area once you get through the ceremony.
Photograph by Kat Bradshaw Photography - Never just assume that a venue is “out of your price league.” While researching venues, I came to find out that so many of the prettiest places were among the most reasonable, whereas the ones that weren’t that spectacular were pricey. I’m sorry, but if you tell me I owe you thousands upfront and offer me almost zero perks….and I still need an outside caterer? No thanks. Never make assumptions no matter how extravagant something may look. The true cost may pleasantly surprise you. Don’t make the mistake of going for the top marketed or top advertisements. Your perfect fit may be an underrated wedding venue that you may never know about without doing some digging or asking around. Mine was just that! I was having a random conversation with a friend from church, and I asked her thoughts on spots in the area. That conversation led me to landing the perfect venue I otherwise wouldn’t have known about.
- Be smart. If you know your budget is only $5,000….don’t book the venue that tells you it’s $5,000 just to rent the place without any perks. I say $5,000 because that’s a very popular booking rate in the Nashville area right now. If you spend $5,000…are you eliminating your dress, food, dancing, photography, videography, flowers and all decor in the process then? Remember food alone can cost thousands. Can you really afford to drop that much on simply booking the venue?
- Tying all of the above together, cut corners when necessary. If you find yourself going way over budget, ask yourself what you can eliminate. Maybe your dream dress is going to cost almost double what you originally planned. Unless you’re comfortable with this increased budget, ask yourself if you should now cut back on the guest list, find a more frugal catering option or get a smaller cake? (etc.)
- Keep your focus, do your research, keep calm and stay polite in the process….and everything will run smoother.
In part 2, I will tell you about my day…..and how I managed everything. Stay tuned..