The B Word
Almost every wedding has one. A big one. A little one. Some we stand by and others we avoid. Either way- they end up controlling most of the decisions made at a wedding. What am I talking about?
The BUDGET.
Raise your hand if you've already planned your whole wedding on Pinterest.
You know exactly which colors you want, which blooms will fill your bouquet, how much "bling" your dress will have, how big your centerpieces will be and which hors d'oeuvres will be passed during cocktail hour. *raises both hands* :) If I'm honest, I had 2 boards. One that I had been working on for years before I was even engaged, and another for my friends to pin ideas to once my wedding planning was underway.
As the planning begins, you might realize that the budget you had in mind for things may need adjusting. Maybe a certain type flower that you wanted is a little pricier than expected or maybe the caterer only offers packages that require a food & beverage minimum that will need to be accounted for. This is where some tough decisions have to be made. Are you going to splurge a little or skimp somewhere else? What are some things you HAVE to have and what are some things you could maybe do without? This is where I'm going to offer you some food for thought. :)
I can't tell you where to cut. But I can DEFINITELY suggest where you should splurge.
SPLURGE ON YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER.
I know. This suggestion seems slightly biased. But here's my reasoning. And I promise I'm keeping your best interest in mind.
Your flowers will wither.
Your makeup will get washed off.
Your up-do will eventually need to come down.
Your cake will get eaten.
Your guests will go back home.
Your dress will get dirty, possibly torn or tethered at the bottom & you'll most likely never wear it again.
All you will have to remember your wedding (& all the pretty little details) by- are your photographs. (Well- and you'll have your husband & ring... but you get what I'm saying.)
If there's one thing my past job as a collector taught me- it's that people will find a way to pay for the things they want, no matter what it costs. REALLY listen what I'm saying here. I'm not suggesting you go out and blow your whole savings on a photographer and eat Ramen for the first 6 months of your marriage. What I am suggesting is that you consider adjusting your budget to INVEST in the photographer that you REALLY want capturing your wedding day.
Trust me when I say your photographs will hold their value, even years down the road. I've yet to meet a bride who regretted spending a little more than expected on her photographer. I have, on the other hand, heard brides say "I wish we would have picked a different photographer. We went with a cheap photographer and I hate my pictures. I never even look at them". This. Breaks. My. Heart. <\3
I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". Having said that, I fully understand that not everybody comes from the same financial background and that there are several different price points out there all across the board. Maybe paying for professional photographer for full-day wedding coverage just isn't an option for you. And that's ok, too. An alternative route that you may want to consider is hiring a professional photographer for a formal bride/groom portrait session prior to the wedding. This way you can insure you get decent photos of what's really important and LOVE the photos that you will have to cherish!
If you've had a wedding of your own, or maybe even helped a friend plan their’s, what are the main areas that you felt were important to budget for? Which part of the wedding do you feel is important to splurge on? What are the areas where you feel you can cut corners? Please share thoughts/opinions in the comments below! I want to hear from you! :)
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