8 hours Ago By Shelby Wax
There’s no getting around it—a wedding can cost a lot of money. Between florals, feeding all your guests, venue fees, and fashion, your wedding budget can quickly be stretched thin with all the small factors that make the celebration special. Of course, not every possible addition to your party has to be included.
Even industry pros like wedding planners—who can profit off a bigger overall spend—think that certain costs can be cut from your nuptials to make it a better event that's run more efficiently and feels more reflective of you. “Your wedding should reflect what matters most to you and your partner. It’s about celebrating your love and the things you hold dear,” says wedding planner Jove Meyer .
“If something isn’t truly important, don’t waste money on it. Spend where it counts! At the end of the day, your wedding is about the love in the room, don’t lose sight of that as you plan.” “I advise my clients to identify their ‘non-negotiables’ and their ‘compromise categories.
' Everyone participating in the wedding planning can write down their top three non-negotiable items and then know that everything else is up for compromise,” shares Jolene Peterson, owner of full-service event company Laurel & Rose . “I encourage couples to figure out what truly matters to them, and don't splurge on something if it isn't a priority to you. Hate cake? Opt for bite-sized desserts, an ice cream bar, cheese platter, or whatever you like instead.
" While your wedding choices ultimately come down to what you choose to spend your money on, there are a few things wedding planners wouldn’t mind you cut from your budget. See a few top planners’ not-so-favorite line items ahead. Large Wedding Parties While you might want to have every close friend by your side as a wedding party member , Meyers says he always tells clients, “The bigger the party, the bigger the price tag.
More people means more logistics from glam, flowers, food while they’re getting ready, gifts, transportation...
you get the picture.” Peterson agrees. “While a large wedding party can seem like a really fun way to include friends from many chapters of your life and those closest to you, it is an easy way to spend (and stress) more,” she says.
“Trimming (or cutting) your wedding party will save you more than just money—it can make your entire planning process smoother, less stressful, and more enjoyable. Worry less about paying for three extra hair and makeup stylists at 9 a.m.
for your dozen bridesmaids, and focus those funds on making all of your guests feel extra special.” Welcome Bags While welcome bags are a nice gesture to your guests coming in for a destination wedding, oftentimes, a tote filled with 10 different items can create excess waste and drain your budget. “Of course it is nice to be greeted in your hotel room or rental home with a lovely welcome, but cutting down on welcome bags and gifts for guests is an easy way to save,” says Peterson.
“Most luxury resorts now offer some sort of water refill or reusable water stations, so filling guest rooms with plastic water bottles feels wasteful and unnecessary. If you really want to welcome guests in a meaningful way, consider leaving a personalized note, a hotel amenity, or one practical gift instead.” Favors In a similar vein, Meyers advises not investing in wedding favors for the sake of just giving something.
“Favors can feel like a ‘must-have,’ but if they’re not something meaningful, they can just end up being stuff guests don’t really need or want,” he shares. “Instead of spending on favors that’ll likely get left behind, invest in an experience that guests will enjoy during the wedding. Or, skip them entirely.
Your guests don’t need a parting gift—you just hosted a whole celebration. That’s more than enough!” Upgraded Wine Selections As you are working out your contracts with the caterer, there’s often a choice to step up your bar package. When selecting wine, don’t feel obligated to splurge.
“Alright, hear me out: upgrading the wine is often a waste of money,” says Meyer. “Unless your guest list is full of wine aficionados, most people won’t notice the difference between a $25 bottle and a $75 bottle. They’re happy with the house wine and probably won’t even realize they’re drinking something more expensive.
” He adds, “If you want to splurge on a nicer wine, maybe offer it to a table that will truly appreciate it, but don’t feel like you have to upgrade for everyone.” Cocktail Hour A hot take from wedding planner Michelle Norwood ? Cut out the cocktail hour. “It is honestly the biggest waste of money,” she says.
“While I admit there are times when cocktail hour is much needed for flips and photos, if your event doesn’t call for the need of a cocktail hour, skip it.” She notes that “only three couples to date have taken my advice.” And if you do have a cocktail hour, don’t go overboard on this short part of the wedding.
“This is not the place to drop $25k-plus on entertainment,” says Norwood. “You can have great entertainment, but no need to spend much for one hour. Background music is perfectly fine as there is typically no dancing during cocktail hour.
” Meyers adds to limit the food service during this period. “You don’t need to serve a full dinner at cocktail hour. It’s tempting—I get it—but it’s a waste of money, and it can actually mess with your dinner plans,” he says.
“Instead of going all out with three or four food stations during cocktail hour, spread out the food love throughout the event. Upgrade your dinner, offer a late-night snack, but don’t go overboard during cocktail hour. It’s a budget saver and guests will still be more than satisfied.
” Champagne Toasts When it comes to the part of the night where wedding party members grab the mic for speeches , many couples choose to have a pour of Champagne served throughout the room. “A little bubbly always makes things more festive, but pouring Champagne for every single guest feels silly and unnecessary,” says Peterson. “High-quality Champagne gets pricey and caterers will be charging you for every guest who gets a pour, regardless of whether they drink it or not.
We find that not only do most guests prefer to continue drinking whatever they have ‘in hand,’ but some guests are no longer imbibing at all. Whether due to personal preference, medical reasons, or lifestyle choices, the sober and sober-curious guests could feel uncomfortable (or excluded) during the champagne toast. Avoid it and let guests decide what drink is right for them.
” Signature Cocktails Considering adding a special themed cocktail to your bar menu? Maybe give that a second thought. “Hot take: we also sometimes advise against signature drinks to save costs, especially when nothing feels quite like a ‘signature’ drink for the couple,” adds Peterson. “Signature cocktails can be a fun way to add a personal touch or highlight a unique element from a special destination (like including local produce from a venue’s onsite gardens), but they often end up costing thousands in extra bar costs due to unique ingredients, extra labor, and added product.
” Her suggestion? “Offer a well-rounded drink menu that includes a variety of options for drinkers and non-drinkers alike.” Elaborate Day-Of Paper When it comes to investing in paper goods, Norwood says you don’t have to go all out on your day-of designs. “ Invitations yes, day of paper no,” she shares.
“No one is touching it outside of the menu, so keep the paper and details simple. Everything doesn't have to be letter-pressed, embossed, and calligraphed.” Specialty Bar Glassware While a beautiful glass or two in your tablescape can make a difference, the numerous drinks coming from the bar don’t necessarily need spectacular stemware.
“We love a cool coupe and a fancy tumbler as much as anyone, but when it comes to rentals, an easy way to cut costs is to go a bit more basic on the bar glassware,” suggests Peterson. “The number of glasses you'll need for all the bars—wine glasses, martini glasses, pint glasses, rocks glasses, tumblers, coupes, and more—can quickly add up into the thousands.” She offers, “Instead of investing in fancy glassware for the entire bar service, consider opting for a mid-range option for the bars and reserve the upgraded glassware for either one specialty drink or the table settings, where guests will appreciate them throughout the night.
” Farewell Brunch The morning after your wedding can be a difficult time for many guests who partied hard and need to catch a flight in a few hours. While you might want to give your friends a final hug with breakfast foods and mimosas, it’s very possible that they will end up skipping your day-after event anyway. “The attendance is low,” notes Norwood.
“Have a blowout after-party instead.”.
