You are ready to plan one of the best days of your life, but not looking to spend anywhere near what some weddings are costing. You are not alone in this! Many brides want to know how to have all the beauty, but on a budget. It can be hard to say what are the most important parts of planning, and which details are worth spending for. After scouring weddings, listening to wedding planner hacks, we have come up with five tips for you to have an amazing wedding all within a down-sized budget. 

Many couples jump to find the venue, brides are already looking at dresses, but one of the most important details to iron out is the budget! That’s right it’s time to talk about the ‘m’ word. You may think you have your spending on lock, but it’s been reported that almost half of the couples that got married in 2021 reported overspending by around $6,000 dollars.* That’s not pocket change if you are planning to start a life together. You want to take some time, look over the money situation and set a max amount you want to spend. If you really want a better picture you can divvy out the cash for the priority details of your wedding day. Once you have your foundation, you may find the matching watches you wanted to spoil your bridal party with, aren’t the best idea.

Second order of business…the guest list. You may have a number in mind, but when it comes down to it, you will probably want to invite more people than you expected. Once the word spreads of your engagement, you can expect for those 3^rd cousins twice removed to come out of the woodworks! Something about weddings really brings the family, both close and distant, together. You will need an idea of the venues you are looking at to see their max capacities, but set number and stick with it. Take some time to consider those who are really core to your life both as an individual, and now as a couple. The dentist you visited as a child will be okay without an invitation. This conversation can be great as well because you may find you just want the two of you, an officiant, and a witness. Elopements and Micro weddings are on the rise. We’ll cover these details in a later blog!

Now that these to items are covered, you’ll want to do a little research and really decide what matters to you. Details are important, but which ones is up to you and your fiancé. The web is full of ideas and do’s and dont’s, but ultimately you decide what is a must and what can be left out. Think of that analogy of filling a jar up. First with the big rocks, what are the most important details. Maybe it’s location, type of ceremony, theme, or getting all of the out of town family there. Then you move on to the medium size stones; will you have this décor or can you swap it out, what dress, what tux’s or outfit for the groom and his groomsmen. Lastly all the small sandy details at the top. What are the cake flavors, what music do you want, what kind of speeches or toasts. Each of these plays it’s roll, and out of order it wont fit. Remember start with the most important, and then work your way backwards. Know that there are endless ways to have a wedding, so whatever you decide on is the right way!

Consider this; a romantic backdrop, just the two of you gazing into forever together. You hired a photographer, you have the cute outfits, but it’s nothing but romance on the horizon. While the traditional route emphasizes sharing this day with the friends and family you love, a marriage is really about the commitment between the two of you. Those same friends and family will be there to support you both on your journey. Just thinking about eloping adds a sense of adventure. Who doesn’t love a great surprise?! Save the money for an epic honeymoon or invest it into building your legacy. 

 We honestly saved the best for last. It’s not given enough attention, until it is too late, booking a photographer and videographer. You will want to relive the memories of such a precious day over and over. It’s not enough to just experience it one time and these specialists can help you capture the moments. Now that your budget is in place you can take your time with this process. Meet with each and get to know their styles, their story. You have a vision in mind for how you would like to capture your day that will connect with how they do their work. To start your search, reach out to Racayle Harrison Photography and Redwick Films.