Where to Splurge and Where to Save in Your Wedding Budget

Handling a wedding budget is a tall order. There are so many decisions to make before the big day comes, particularly how much you should spend on each part of the festivities. Thankfully, there’s a little trick you can use called divide and conquer—- lay out all of the impending expenses and categorize whether to splurge or save.

You can work out the exact figures deeper into the planning, but having an overview of how you’re spending your money is a good place to start. Here are some ideas to help you decide what’s worth spending on and where you might cut corners.

Splurge: Venue

The wedding venue is central to how your ceremony and reception will go. It’s the backdrop for your whole celebration, it’s the basis for the theme and so much more.

Ideally, the venue would be the first thing you check off your wedding budget. About 82% of couples book the venue before they plan anything else. Prioritize getting value from what you pay for when the time comes.

Save: Decorations

Decorations vary from wedding to wedding depending on the theme. While some may prefer grandiose options like flowers and lights, you can certainly find other alternatives that may not cost as much. Thrift and get creative with what you’re getting.

Some couples may choose to skip decorations altogether. Many venues are beautiful enough on their own, so you may not feel the need to add anything.

Splurge: Food and Drinks

Food can be a central part of your wedding, so consider aiming to impress. Curate dishes that will provide your loved ones with an unforgettable dining experience, or opt for a buffet to give them as many options as possible. Between the cocktail hour, dinner reception and dessert, you want to keep your guests happy and satisfied throughout the day.

Photo Credit: Sarah Roshan Photography

If you want to save a little in terms of food and drinks to maximize your budget, appetizers are a good place to cut back. Limiting your cocktail hour to 2 or 3 hors d’oeuvres is just enough to keep your guests happy without going overboard.

Save: Wedding Dinnerware

Spending on your food and beverages doesn’t have to mean going all out with your dinnerware. Purchasing brand new plates and cutlery can feel like a stretch for a one-time use. Consider purchasing disposables instead to bring costs down and simplify cleanup.

Splurge: Wedding Photography

Your wedding is a unique moment in time, and it’s important to have mementos to remember the event. Splurging on your wedding photography allows you to invest in high-quality photos to bring you back to your special day.

A wedding photographer can cost about $2,000 to $10,000 depending on their experience. Look at different portfolios and see who clicks with the style you’re looking for.

Save: Wedding Invitations

Wedding invitations are important, but they don’t have to be a significant part of your budget. Consider handmaking them to save money, or use more affordable materials to lower costs.

For instance, rather than using embossed paper, look for high-quality paper instead and create a template to make up for it. You can add a little flare to the envelope by sealing and stamping it with melted wax.

Splurge: Wedding Entertainment

Whether or not you’re planning on a large wedding, investing in quality entertainment options is the perfect way to create an unforgettable night. Between music, games and other unique features, you can entertain guests and have fun with your new spouse.

Photo Credit: From The Hip Photo

• Photobooth: Give guests the chance to snap and print photos at a photobooth. Provide fun props and signs to make the pictures even more fun and memorable.
• Wedding music: From the entrance to the first dance to the last song of the night, wedding music accompanies you at every step of your special day. Hire a quality band or a DJ to provide tunes all night long.
• Wedding games: If you want a more active and engaging form of wedding entertainment, consider organizing a few games. You can do life-sized Jenga or chess with your guests. Wedding toast bingo is also entertaining, and you get to personalize the cards with different cliches and statements.

Keep in mind you don’t have to do everything. If you have a photobooth, you probably don’t need games as well to keep guests entertained. Focus on what will be most appealing to your friends and family.

Save: Wedding Favors

While you want to thank and appreciate your guests for attending, you can maximize your budget by skipping expensive and impractical favors. For instance, skip the tiny figures of you and your future spouse. Instead, give consumables like personalized tea bags or homemade soap bars featuring your initials and wedding date.

Extra Tips for Handling Your Wedding Budget

Figuring out where to splurge and save creates plenty of gray areas, especially at the start of wedding planning. Use these tips when drafting your budget.

Decide as a Couple

At the end of the day, couples should choose what parts of their wedding are most important to them. When you narrow down your priorities, you get to determine how you should spend your money. Everything is simply a suggestion until you’re finally ready. If you and your partner decide to save on food and drinks or splurge on favors, go for it — what counts is that you and your spouse spend on the aspects that matter most to you.

Map out Your Budget

Once you’ve chosen where to splurge your wedding funds, remember to sort out your finances. There may be unforeseen circumstances and expenses along the way, so having a little breathing room in your budget can relieve the pressures.

Try to Take Things Slow

You and your partner are responsible for setting the deadline. Give yourself as much time as you need to make the financial decisions behind the scenes. If things feel overwhelming, hit pause until you’re ready to get back into the discussions.

Spend Wisely on Your Wedding

You can only stretch your wedding funds so much before things start to get out of hand. Know what elements are important to you to figure out where you should splurge and save. With enough thought and financial discipline, your personal event planning will run smoothly.

Author bio: Cora Gold is a wedding writer and editor of Revivalist magazine. She aims to inspire couples to achieve the wedding of their dreams. Connect with Cora on LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter.