Before I became a wedding planner, I helped a lot of friends plan their weddings. The very first time, I was taken aback by the sticker price. As I helped plan more and more weddings, it became obvious why.
Now, I know a lot of people think that this is just because we call it a wedding, but the more experience I get, the more obvious it is that this isn’t the case at all. Weddings are expensive, because there are expectations of what a wedding “should” be without realistic analysis of how much something should cost.
Imagine: you’re going out on a date with your significant other, a special date night just for the two of you. What would that look like? Perhaps there’s food, perhaps there’s live music and dancing, maybe even drinks and dessert. Or perhaps there’s some other special activity or entertainment.
Whatever that looks like, imagine how much you spent enjoying that lovely evening together. Now imagine multiplying that cost by the number of guests you want to have at your wedding.
What’s your reaction when you see that number? Shocked? Appalled?
Welcome to wedding planning.
Remember that weddings are luxury items. In a typical scenario, you’re asking a large group of people you don’t know to set aside their space, time, feed you and your guests all night, cater to your needs, and ensure the enjoyment of the event.
When the event is over, all you have left are the memories (and hopefully photos and videos). It’s a great way to mark an important milestone, but with that comes a cost.
Whether you’re willing to pay that cost or not is a personal decision. Nobody said your wedding had to be date night for you and your closest 150 friends. It can be whatever you want it to be!
Maybe a large wedding isn’t for you, and you’d rather keep it intimate. Perhaps your idea of date night doesn’t come with an expensive price tag and you’re willing to keep it slim on the wedding planning side as well.
Whatever you decide, I find it best to walk into the situation with your eyes wide open. Make the decisions that are right for you (and your budget), and don’t let false expectations ruin what will always be a special day.
While you’re planning, keep in mind that your vendors are here to help! Yes, you will have to pay for this help, and you can expect to pay more for experienced, seasoned vendors (as you would with any service). However, having a professional team that has your back can be the difference between an event that you will remember fondly, and an event that leaves you frustrated and crying.
If you’d like to chat more about how I can help you plan, feel free to schedule a consultation here. I’ve helped many couples manage their budgets and save money as they are wedding planning, and I’d love to help you, too!