#Money Matters What to spend your money on
Organize your wedding budget and figure out where your money should go. Planning a great wedding starts with setting realistic expectations, expecially as it relates to your budget. Here, you will find information on the factors that will take up your budget and hidden costs to look out for.
The trick to hosting a great wedding on a budget is to keep your costs in line with that will matter most.
What should I spend my money on you ask? The answer is pretty simple, the experience!
In order to host a great wedding, you need to keep your guest's experience in mind. I say host a great wedding as opposed to simply having a great wedding because the reality of the matter is, you are hosting your friends and family at your wedding, and inviting them to share in the festivities with you.
What People will always remember most during your wedding is how they felt. Give them a memorable experience. Invest your money on the experience they will have. It can all boil down to these 4 areas.
Catering (including beverages)
Keep in mind the points I noted in my previous post. Create a menu that invites all! make sure vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian and allergies are accounted for. A simple, well-executed menu tops even the fanciest of meals! No need to re-invent the wheel here. Go safe with a menu with flavors everyone can enjoy. You can always add in surprises by offering a few options during cocktail hour or as a separate display if you want to showcase your inner foodie!
Entertainment
If you are hiring a DJ, get someone who will get the crowd jumping and reflect your individual style as a couple. Ask if they do anything interactive with the crowd and get their input on your songs list. Your guests should have a great time and entertainment will be the way to do it! If your budget allows for a band, then once again, make sure they play music that reflects you as a couple as well as your family and friends.
Venue
Sometimes, even the most magical locations can turn out to be a nightmare! I will write another post on venue selection but in the meantime, remember this: your guests! is your location easily accessible? does it provide adequate lighting and comfortable temperatures? Will your table arrangement be tight in the given space or on the other hand, is the space too large? Is the space walkable? Are the restrooms easily located? Ask yourself, if you were a guest at this wedding, would you enjoy spending 4+ hours in this space? Then ask yourself, do I see myself getting married here.
Orchestration and overall flow
This is not a shameless plug for WeddingDayof services! But imagine going to a wedding where nobody knows where anything is and the entire event is chaotic. No matter how nice the decorations were or how amazing the couple looked, you will always remember the chaos, frustration and feeling like you didn't know what to do or where to go! Give your guests a positive experience they'll remember for life!
Happy Planning!
MM
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Let's plan a wedding! What do you need to consider? What does everything cost? This is a comprehensive list of the components of wedding planning and the costs you should be prepared for
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Unfortunately, it's not so simple! In my humble opinion, your wedding event should not be a huge financial burden. You certainly don’t want to start your married life with the stress of significant debt! Inevitably, there are pieces to the wedding that will take over your budget. Each wedding is unique so there are factors to consider when budgeting. In this #MoneyMatters series, I hope to share some great money saving tips as well as information and tools to help you plan your wedding.
Sample Costs to Consider
Catering (food)
- Keeping your guests in mind, make sure your menu is a reflection of you as a couple. Maybe you like really spicy foods, consider the fact that everyone will not enjoy that. Thus, I suggest incorporating a few milder options for your guests. Middle of the road is not bad! make sure you ask questions and schedule a tasting to sample everything.
Alcohol
Alcohol can get pretty costly depending on what you are serving at your wedding. Something to consider while planning, is will beer, wine, and a signature cocktail suffice? If your guests are not big drinkers or maybe you’re hosting a mid-afternoon or brunch wedding, you may find this alternative to be a good option. Do you want a wedding with no alcohol? try having “mocktails” they are juice-based beverages made to look like cocktails, but without the alcohol! This will significantly lower the cost and your guests will still have a good time with the drinks!
Labor (if not included)
If you are hosting an event in a park or barn, for example, your caterer may charge separately for labor to include servers and bartenders. The standard is about 1 server per 25 guests for plated dinners. The buffet will require servers based on the stations you have for your wedding. Bartenders will usually be 1 per 50-75 guests.
Wedding Venue
Some venues (especially those that do not have in-house catering) will charge a rental fee. Investigate! Make sure you know what the fees are along with any additional charges and taxes.
Transportation
If your event is in multiple locations, how will your guests get to and from? Transportation costs can get high depending on how many people are being transported, distance and time.
Happy Planning!
MM