Splurge Vs. Save

Always a hot topic when wedding planning begins, is where to save and where to splurge? Everyone has their own must-have list, but what about all those other items… how important to you are they?

Flowers: They are stunning, add so much to the ambiance to the day. So, should you splurge on expensive peonies? If you love them, yes! Peonies are incredible, they’re so dainty, full and luxurious…. and expensive. They can run over $15 PER BLOOM. They’re only in season a few short weeks, here locally, but of course you can have them imported ($$). Either way, you can blow a floral budget really quick on lots of them.

So, how to save? Splurge on the brides bouquet and save on the bridesmaids bouquets and centerpieces! Why? Well, for starters your bouquet will be in 90% of photos that include you! Allll those family formals, bridal party photos, photos of you and your new spouse…. there’s that bouquet! Also, in your detail shots, I use the bouquet to add a floral element to many photos. So… you should love your bouquet! If one of your must-have’s is peonies, but your budget is tight? Just put them in your bouquet, it will make it special and you’ll love it.  You can add ranunculus and garden roses for a similar effect in other areas of decor… also, greenery is HUGE right now! Opt for more greens in your bouquets and centerpieces, or better yet, some garland! Ooooh, I love some garland!

The bar. In the south, if you have booze, you foot the bill. I know cash bars are popular elsewhere, but not here. So, you still want to have the cocktails flowing, but the budget is tight…. don’t serve hard liquor. People can get just as loose on champagne, beer and wine. If you really want liquor, pick a specialty drink… maybe you love bourbon, so just serve it and skip the vodka, rum, etc. We skipped the liquor at our own wedding and I know it saved us tons! Also, providing kegs of a few kinds of beer can save you tons over buying bottled beer. (we did this too, and had them hid behind the bar, with the bartender…. no one was doing keg stands!)

Also, when we got married, I made a spreadsheet of everyone and marked if they were a wine or beer drinker… and calculated how much booze to buy based on that. Over half our guests didn’t drink and if a catering company had handled my alcohol, they would have likely charged me per head and not not taken into account that over half my guests didn’t even drink.

Favors: Skip them. They’re cute little trinkets that no one really wants. They find a way into people’s back seats or kitchen drawers to die. I love a good coozie, but dang, I’ve got buckets full of them!

Floor length linens. Why are high-water table cloths still a thing? Stop renting them, they look ridiculous.  It’s like showing your spanx because your dress is too short… undergarments aren’t meant to be seen, and neither are table legs. The only exception is a nice wood table. And don’t get me started on paper/plastic table cloths (throw away kind)…. they are only appropriate at back yard bbq’s and even then, I don’t like them. (if your wedding is a back yard bbq, still rent full length linens… it’s not that expensive!)

Venue: Your venue is probably your biggest expense. When selecting your spot, think or ask about these things: Must I use their catering? Can I bring my own alcohol? Will their be a cake cutting fee? Is there a cork fee for bringing my own wine? Do you get full use of the space, or will it cost extra for a spot to get ready? Does the venue offer tables, chairs, etc.? These will all impact your bottom line.

What did you or are you splurging or saving on?