What I was saying is that IMO, you shouldn't splurge on food. Unless it is absolutely the most declicious thing anyone has ever had, they probably won't remember it. However, it wouldn't make sense to go to the complete opposite spectrum. Food that is bad and people can't eat? Well that's not worth any amount of money, no matter how cheap. My point was food at $200 a plate? Probably not worth it in the end. That money can be spent on something like photography or the dress or, or, or.....
photography. so, so glad we hired who we did. the pictures were worth every penny we paid and then some!
didn't spend money on makeup or videographer or flowers, totally ok with that. wish i had spent more on my dress - i didn't love it, just liked it, and looking at my pictures i wish i was wearing something else. :/
Our budget was really limited so we had to look for services that were pretty inexpensive but would also offer great quality.
Almost half of our budget went to the food and the rest were spread to different services. The least expensive items were the souvenirs, make up, invitation (DIY) and flowers. Videography was free, courtesy of my hubby's friends. We saved on photography by choosing a photographer that agreed to take pictures and have them save it high-res on a CD since hubby wants to put the wedding album together. My dress was not too expensive as well but was still pretty in the photos.
Bottomline, it really depends on your priorities. As long as it makes you happy, I say go for it! :)
A great question, I loved that I spent extra on getting 2 sets of photographers! One to start the day, the others came in in the middle and eneded up with me until my after party. It gave us such a wide range of different shots, from the beginning of nerves, prep, ceremony, to relaxing with our closets friends at the end and dancing the night away.
If you cannot do that, Spend a significant amount of photography, I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to look back on these.
Ok, I wrote this big LONG post and then realized that it was just too much detail for this thread. So, I'm going to post it on my blog and just make my friends read it. :-P
The most memorable things from my wedding really had to do with decisions I made that didn't cost me a thing. For example, chosing not to hide in a bridal suite and to stand out and greet my guests as they came in. That (among many other decisions I'm so glad I made) gave me the opportunity to greet my aunt and uncle who I hadn't seen in years and I knew had drive many, many hours to be at the wedding as well as all the other guests.
That being said all the little details that no one even notices brought me so much pleasure both before the wedding, during, and now with the pictures. Guests don't notice the invitations, the flowers, the signage that I designed to put all over the reception area, but they were worth every DIY hour I put into them. However, I'm very thankful that I ditched a few projects at the last minute for the sake of my sanity. No one noticed they were missing, and I was a much happier, calmer bride.
I'm extremely thankful that I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful detail orriented, OCD friend who would be my DOC. I'm not sure what I would have done without her. And if you don't have a friend like that who is willing to do that for you, then I highly recommend budgeting money for one.
I'm very thankful that we stayed within a budget and had a celebration that we could afford and we didn't not go into sufficating debt for. I loved our small, intimate, community orriented wedding, and I do not resent that we didn't not have the money for a formal dinner, or an open bar, or a DJ, or anything else. The only thing I wish we'd had more money for was the photography. Sometimes I covet the gorgeous photographs that other brides have. But we simply did not have the money. Our friends did a much better job than any photographer that we could have afforded, but I really do wish that we could have had one of the $5000 photographers whose blogs I stalk.
Definitely the food and open bar. . . everyone had a blast at the reception! Watching my aunts, grandma, and parents tearing up the dance floor with our awesome friends is something I'll never, ever forget.
Remember that it's all about having fun with your family/friends and celebrating your marriage!
We didn't spend a ton of money on food (about $30 per person, including appetizers) but it was really good - we had a great chef - and people definately noticed. We had a lot of people ask us who catered (although I have to say that I think part of the reason the food was so good is that our chef came with the venue - his kitchen was there. I have not had a lot of good "trucked-in" food, and I think that food catered off the premises is perhaps more likely to be dried out, overcooked, and generally inedible.)
We spent about $1500 on our band, who played all evening. We definately could have spent less (and certainly could have spent more) but the band was great - and everybody really enjoyed the music. The music and dancing is definately our greatest memory of the evening - because frankly you don't get to eat a lot at your own wedding.
The cake was really great - not just to eat but as far as decorating. we had it decorated with a whole list of words related to marriage and our relationship. Not only did people eat almost all of it, but they spent a lot of time reading it. Every one of our guests who sent pictures has a dozen of the cake! It was about $800 for 150 really generous servings so again, not on the cheap side but certainly less than we could have spent.
I would agree that you have to set your priorities - where you spend your money will depend on what is important to you. We didn't really "splurge" on any one thing, IMO (we did the whole thing for just under $15k). What we tried to do was to find something really nice for a price we could afford, in every case. And you really don't have to spend a ton of money. My cousin got married last weekend, and her FI's sisters did the food - which was homemade tamales, enchiladas, posole, spanish rice, and carne asada - and it was fantastic. We went back for seconds. I think that people get into thinking that more money equals more better, but you absolutely don't have to spend $5000 to get nice wedding photos, or $100 a head to get really good food. Shop around, think about what YOU like and what YOU want, and don't get suckered into thinking that you have to spend a lot.
And I do have to say something about the dress. I spent ~$700 on my whole kit - dress, shoes, undergarments, veil - including alterations. If you fall in love with a $5000 dress, I can certainly understand that. But you can absolutely get a gorgeous and well-made dress, at an actual bridal salon, for well under $1000. Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to order internet, or shop at DB, or buy secondhand - although those are all reasonable options, I would do some actual shopping first, because it's likely you CAN get a dress made just for you at an affordable price, and support a locally-owned business at the same time.
In response to Rebecca--
What I was saying is that IMO, you shouldn't splurge on food. Unless it is absolutely the most declicious thing anyone has ever had, they probably won't remember it. However, it wouldn't make sense to go to the complete opposite spectrum. Food that is bad and people can't eat? Well that's not worth any amount of money, no matter how cheap. My point was food at $200 a plate? Probably not worth it in the end. That money can be spent on something like photography or the dress or, or, or.....
posted by empyle1 Newbee: 47 posts 4 months agophotography. so, so glad we hired who we did. the pictures were worth every penny we paid and then some!
didn't spend money on makeup or videographer or flowers, totally ok with that. wish i had spent more on my dress - i didn't love it, just liked it, and looking at my pictures i wish i was wearing something else. :/
posted by staceyb Helper bee: 220 posts 4 months agoOur budget was really limited so we had to look for services that were pretty inexpensive but would also offer great quality.
Almost half of our budget went to the food and the rest were spread to different services. The least expensive items were the souvenirs, make up, invitation (DIY) and flowers. Videography was free, courtesy of my hubby's friends. We saved on photography by choosing a photographer that agreed to take pictures and have them save it high-res on a CD since hubby wants to put the wedding album together. My dress was not too expensive as well but was still pretty in the photos.
Bottomline, it really depends on your priorities. As long as it makes you happy, I say go for it! :)
posted by cassie Newbee: 13 posts 4 months agoA great question, I loved that I spent extra on getting 2 sets of photographers! One to start the day, the others came in in the middle and eneded up with me until my after party. It gave us such a wide range of different shots, from the beginning of nerves, prep, ceremony, to relaxing with our closets friends at the end and dancing the night away.
If you cannot do that, Spend a significant amount of photography, I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to look back on these.
posted by abomb26 Worker bee: 93 posts 4 months agoOk, I wrote this big LONG post and then realized that it was just too much detail for this thread. So, I'm going to post it on my blog and just make my friends read it. :-P
The most memorable things from my wedding really had to do with decisions I made that didn't cost me a thing. For example, chosing not to hide in a bridal suite and to stand out and greet my guests as they came in. That (among many other decisions I'm so glad I made) gave me the opportunity to greet my aunt and uncle who I hadn't seen in years and I knew had drive many, many hours to be at the wedding as well as all the other guests.
That being said all the little details that no one even notices brought me so much pleasure both before the wedding, during, and now with the pictures. Guests don't notice the invitations, the flowers, the signage that I designed to put all over the reception area, but they were worth every DIY hour I put into them. However, I'm very thankful that I ditched a few projects at the last minute for the sake of my sanity. No one noticed they were missing, and I was a much happier, calmer bride.
I'm extremely thankful that I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful detail orriented, OCD friend who would be my DOC. I'm not sure what I would have done without her. And if you don't have a friend like that who is willing to do that for you, then I highly recommend budgeting money for one.
I'm very thankful that we stayed within a budget and had a celebration that we could afford and we didn't not go into sufficating debt for. I loved our small, intimate, community orriented wedding, and I do not resent that we didn't not have the money for a formal dinner, or an open bar, or a DJ, or anything else. The only thing I wish we'd had more money for was the photography. Sometimes I covet the gorgeous photographs that other brides have. But we simply did not have the money. Our friends did a much better job than any photographer that we could have afforded, but I really do wish that we could have had one of the $5000 photographers whose blogs I stalk.
Good luck everyone!
posted by bonniebelle101 Helper bee: 361 posts 4 months agoWow... that still ended up being long. Sorry.
posted by bonniebelle101 Helper bee: 361 posts 4 months agoDefinitely the food and open bar. . . everyone had a blast at the reception! Watching my aunts, grandma, and parents tearing up the dance floor with our awesome friends is something I'll never, ever forget.
Remember that it's all about having fun with your family/friends and celebrating your marriage!
posted by llllaura508 Newbee: 10 posts 4 months agoWe didn't spend a ton of money on food (about $30 per person, including appetizers) but it was really good - we had a great chef - and people definately noticed. We had a lot of people ask us who catered (although I have to say that I think part of the reason the food was so good is that our chef came with the venue - his kitchen was there. I have not had a lot of good "trucked-in" food, and I think that food catered off the premises is perhaps more likely to be dried out, overcooked, and generally inedible.)
We spent about $1500 on our band, who played all evening. We definately could have spent less (and certainly could have spent more) but the band was great - and everybody really enjoyed the music. The music and dancing is definately our greatest memory of the evening - because frankly you don't get to eat a lot at your own wedding.
The cake was really great - not just to eat but as far as decorating. we had it decorated with a whole list of words related to marriage and our relationship. Not only did people eat almost all of it, but they spent a lot of time reading it. Every one of our guests who sent pictures has a dozen of the cake! It was about $800 for 150 really generous servings so again, not on the cheap side but certainly less than we could have spent.
I would agree that you have to set your priorities - where you spend your money will depend on what is important to you. We didn't really "splurge" on any one thing, IMO (we did the whole thing for just under $15k). What we tried to do was to find something really nice for a price we could afford, in every case. And you really don't have to spend a ton of money. My cousin got married last weekend, and her FI's sisters did the food - which was homemade tamales, enchiladas, posole, spanish rice, and carne asada - and it was fantastic. We went back for seconds. I think that people get into thinking that more money equals more better, but you absolutely don't have to spend $5000 to get nice wedding photos, or $100 a head to get really good food. Shop around, think about what YOU like and what YOU want, and don't get suckered into thinking that you have to spend a lot.
And I do have to say something about the dress. I spent ~$700 on my whole kit - dress, shoes, undergarments, veil - including alterations. If you fall in love with a $5000 dress, I can certainly understand that. But you can absolutely get a gorgeous and well-made dress, at an actual bridal salon, for well under $1000. Don't be fooled into thinking that you have to order internet, or shop at DB, or buy secondhand - although those are all reasonable options, I would do some actual shopping first, because it's likely you CAN get a dress made just for you at an affordable price, and support a locally-owned business at the same time.
posted by suzanno Bumble bee: 2,425 posts 4 months ago