Wedding Budgeting can be extremely difficult. Where do you allocate your limited funds in order to make the most memorable day possible? While we realize that personal taste plays a big part in how you prioritize your expenses, here are some areas where we feel spending more money actually is a good idea.
1. Photography: No surprise here, I am a photographer after all. In all seriousness though wedding photography is in my opinion the last place to skimp. As the old adage goes, “after the flowers are wilted and the cake is eaten all you have left is your photos.” Photographers usually offer packages with value added benefits and products included. If you are in a squeeze prioritize actual coverage over products from your event. You can always add that gorgeous wedding album later, even if it may cost you a bit more outside of the wedding package. I will go in depth about why wedding photography costs as much as it does in a later post.
2. Wedding Coordinator: Sometimes seen as an extravagance I have come to think of the wedding coordinator as the quarterback of your wedding. The coordinator acts as your first line of defense against pesky questions from vendors, relatives, photographers, DJs, caterers etc. The last thing you want to do on your wedding day is be in charge of running it. Most wedding planners/coordinators offer both planning or simple day of services, both of which are well worth the money.
3. DJ: I don’t know a thing about DJing or what makes a DJ a good one or a bad one. I do know is that a good DJ will keep the party on the dance floor.
4. Officiant: This one may be “controversial” but I feel pretty strongly about it. I have listened to one too many officiants stumble through a ceremony. The Ceremony is a beautiful and very important part of your day and an awkward unprepared officiant can ruin it. If you are saving money by having a friend or family member officiate the wedding make sure they are well prepared. Hiring a professional officiant is usually a safe bet, or going with a minister whom you are familiar with is usually a good choice as well.
5. Something unexpected. OK, this may not be a singular vendor rather than an idea. I could have said florist, venue, caterer, etc. but everyone suggests those things. If you are trying to have the most memorable wedding possible I would recommend spending in an area that is completely out of the usual. Wedding guests will usually remember one thing from your wedding, if you are lucky. Your wedding could be the one where you had canoe races, or the one with the quirky Cajun band. Why not bring in adult sized bouncy houses, or hire a carnival. Maybe host a game show during dinner with prizes and fun “the price is right” style games. The ideas are endless. Give your friends a reason to remember your wedding in 20 years.