Save Your Budget

The situation with the U.S. market economy is bad; and at the moment the light at the end of the tunnel is still beyond reach. Lucky for the wedding world that whether the market is good or bad, people keep getting married! However, as the housing and stock markets continue to plunge, we’ve seen a few squeezes on our bride’s budget. As planners, I think the most important thing that needs to be conveyed to brides and hosts is not to panic. Just because your budget has been diminished a bit, doesn’t mean that you can’t have a fabulous wedding and trick guests into thinking you spent twice the amount. Here’s a few tips:

1 – “BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER.” This little saying applies to weddings in more ways than one.
First off, keep in mind that with each person invited/attending your budget will significantly rise. So let’s use an example of a bride that originally planned to spend $35K on her wedding, but because her fiancé and dad had some stock market troubles, they think it better to not spend more than $25,000. For a total budget of $25K, you will expect to spend about $12,500 on the reception. Most of this will go towards catering. The difference of 10 people at a wedding is the difference of: 10 meals with beverages (typically $100 per person for a country club wedding or nicely catered outdoor affair), a full table of rentals (chiavari chairs for 10 ≈ $90; chargers, flatware, and place settings for 10 ≈ $100; linens: table cloth, napkins, and chair pads ≈ $90 = $280), and centerpieces ($75 to $150+). When the bride, groom, and family can eliminate 10 people from their guest list, the savings can be around $1400 or possibly more. At Your Fantasy Affair, we’re seeing more and more small lavish affairs for 100 guests, as brides are becoming less willing to compromise on their beautiful designs to accommodate Dad’s business clients. With the U.S. market issues facing all Americans, occasional friends and acquaintances are more likely to understand why they missed the invitation due to wedding budget constraints.

“Bigger isn’t always better” with your arrangements as well! Yes, we’d all love to have lush florals that reach the sky, but the more bloom power on your table the higher your cost. Tall vases will require larger arrangements, so take a tip from the pros and spring for gorgeous bud filled low arrangements and fancier linens and lighting. When looking at your reception room the first major impacts will be the color and texture of your tables and the way light plays up the drama of your event. Secondly the eye will go to the arrangements, so don’t scrimp but don’t blow all your budget on floral.

2 – DOES THE RECEPTION HAVE TO BE ON A SATURDAY EVENING? The cost of dinner is much higher than the cost of a Sunday Brunch. The cost of a Saturday wedding is also much higher than the cost of a Thursday. If you’re able to discuss your date with your most important people (close family and bridal party), and those that love you most will come no matter when the wedding is held; consider booking a weekday wedding or Sunday Brunch.

By having the wedding on an “off” day, you most likely will also eliminate the extra guests that aren’t crucial to attendance. For instance, Mom’s boss is more apt to stay home with his wife and kids on a Thursday evening than stay up late boogying on your dance floor. If you still want to make sure everyone can come, than Sunday Brunch is a great alternative. Your guests won’t be working over the weekend, and any out of towners can fly home Sunday evening.

3 – TYPICALLY WEDDINGS AT HOME DON’T SAVE MONEY. Unless you’re envisioning a backyard barbeque with hotdogs & hamburgers, a la George Banks (“Father of the Bride”), typically a wedding at home will end up costing you more money than if you had rented a nice space close by. Why’s that? Think of the logistics: 1- Most homes aren’t equipped with enough bathrooms for all your guests. So many home weddings have to bring in port-o-pottys. 2 – Most rooms in a home won’t accommodate more than one to three tables, so if you have more than 30 people you will have to move the wedding outdoors. 3 – When playing with the weather and a backyard wedding, it’s often recommended to rent a tent which can eat at your wallet. 4 – When trying to accommodate guests in a home, you’ll often have to move around furniture or even move it out. Even though the housing market is down, the cost of moving companies is not. At the end of the day, you’ll also find the ease of keeping the wedding out of your home was worth the $750 rental fee of popular close by location.

4 – WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, JUMP ON A PLANE.

Ever dream of getting married on a mountain top in Aspen? Or maybe having your first kiss as man and wife under an olive tree in Tuscany? Well what’s stopping you?

If your budget is being squeezed, but you still want to have the event that’s talked about for years to come, consider a destination wedding. I know you’re thinking, “But then my parent’s neighbors and high school friends won’t be able to come.” It is a legitimate concern… but remember: those friends and family that love you most, will be there no matter what. At the end of the day, those you spend the most time with on your wedding day are close family members and your bridal party. Why not enjoy a whole weekend with them without interruption and distraction?