HEY GUYS!!! Okay- so today we are gonna be talking all about your wedding budget!!! I honestly hate talking numbers… but we have the world’s most AMAZING wedding planner, Nicole of Exhale Events, who has made this entire process (budget included) stress free & totally manageable.
SO- I will let the pro take it from here. HEY NICOLE- break down this whole budget things for us plz ;)
Prioritizing Your Wedding Budget with Nicole of Exhale Events!!
Once you’ve gotten over the joy and excitement of your engagement and you start to plan your dream wedding, one of the most important things I recommend you do is sit down and prioritize your wedding budget. Sitting down and understanding your budget, wants and needs will help ensure that the planning process moves smoothly. Brides and grooms tend to want to avoid this topic, because if there are multiple financial parties involved, it may be uncomfortable at times.
1. Figure out what is important to you + your future spouse
Every couple puts value on different things, and this is a crucial point in determining your budget. Perhaps music is important to you both, or you are “foodies.” Whatever your priorities are, it’s important to understand what your costs are, and then increase that a bit to ensure this area is given some extra love and attention during the planning process.
2. Look at Your Guest List
What most couples don’t realize that an extra 8-10 guests isn’t just 10 more meals, but it is another floral arrangement, 10 more chargers and place settings, another linen, more chairs, etc. A larger guest list means that you are spreading the budget over more people – therefore increasing all areas of your overall budget.
For example, you can do way more with $5,000 worth of florals for 100 guests versus 200 guests. Each can be achieved, but if florals are important to you, the look of florals for 100 guests with that budget will be significantly greater than with 200 guests for the same budget.
3. Consult Your Wedding Planner
When you hire a professional, they often times can find cost cutting/saving measures to give you the look and feel that you want. Additionally, someplanners will have discounts with certain vendors to pass along. Your wedding planner will review all contracts and ensure that everything is in budget and be sure to not lose the overall vibe you are going for. Wedding planners can make magic happen – call them your fairy godmother if you want, but gifting yourself a wedding planner is more than just a logistics guru, but also a great negotiator.
What about a destination wedding?!
Destination weddings are a great way to tie a trip and experience into a fun wedding weekend! For starters, your guests are getting to experience a place that they may have never been before. Depending on your budget, if you can offer a welcome party and then some fun activity on your dime, it makes your guests feel special, especially after traveling the distance to celebrate the next chapter in your love story. It’s a major bonus if you go to an all-inclusive resort where your guests will not have any additional worries.
Destination weddings are often a more intimate to celebrate with your closest family and friends, and spend quality time celebrating with a select crowd.
A smaller crowd means that if you are choosing to do traditional wedding elements at the destination it will be cheaper based on quantity. Instead of 15 tables you may only need 2-3 tables in floral. Food costs for 100 people vs. 30 people are also significantly different. If you are looking for a great alternative to throw an amazing experience, and have a smaller budget, a destination wedding may be something to consider!