I am often asked, "Why are weddings so darn expensive? How can I lower the cost of my wedding? What should a wedding (or vendor) cost? Is this a good deal?" and I thought I would share some quick thoughts on the topic of budget.
1. It's not so much that things are expensive just because it's a wedding -- more often than not, it just seems so, because we're not accustomed to hosting so many people for lunch, dinner, cocktails, what have you. The single most budget-trimming thing you can do for your wedding is to limit the number of people you allow to attend.
2. If you're wondering if something is a "good deal" or not, compare the wedding item to what you would pay for a similar service in real life. For example, if you are hoping to serve a multicourse gourmet meal at your wedding reception, think of the last place you went out for a similarly splashy dinner, and see if the price per person on what you spent for food, beverage, and service compares to what your caterer will charge for something similar. Don't compare apples and oranges however -- if the caterer is including items in the quote like rented tables, chairs, and tableware, ask them to break those items out separately, so you can get a side-by-side comparison with your reality check. Conversely, if you're hoping for a barbecue buffet, check your "deal radar" by comparing the wedding caterer's price per person cost against the typical food, beverage, and service (tip/gratuity) at your favorite BBQ shack.
3. DO share your budget with your vendors and your coordinator. This will save you countless wasted hours going to meetings and poring over proposals that are out of range. If you're uncomfortable stating your budget because you're worried that vendors will just charge you the "max", then shave it down a bit, but do have some idea of a number in mind. If you have no idea where to start in creating the budget, ask a coordinator or try one of the handy downloadable worksheets such as the one found at Martha Stewart Weddings.
4. Prioritize what's important to you, then allot your budget accordingly. If having favors and gift baskets isn't a big deal to you and your fiance(e), then make sure that there isn't a huge outlay in that department. Think of the areas that will have the most impact on you and your guests' enjoyment, and try to concentrate on those areas as far as time, money, and mental resources.
5. Use trusted vendors and negotiate customized packages with them based on your needs, rather than choosing the lowest-cost vendor by default, regardless of quality. Sometimes the lowest cost is the best choice, but not always. It makes no sense to save $500 using a vendor who may or may not deliver what you want; when an experienced and creative one will have plenty of expert ideas on how to get as close as possible to your target vision within your budget, and will also do a great job!
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