Weddings are expensive. There. We said it. As wedding professionals, people expect us to pretend like the cost of weddings are normal or reasonable, but it is not unusual for a New Jersey wedding to cost well over the average American’s yearly salary, and six figure weddings are certainly not unusual in our area. The willingness and ability of many people in our area to spend so much on a wedding can put pressure on other people who may not have the same financial means, which can wreak havoc on a wedding budget. That is why it is important to look at places to save and places to splurge when you are putting together your wedding.
- Save on your dress. A fabulous dress does not have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. Some of the popular bridal TV shows have given brides the expectation that beautiful bridal gowns are not available unless you are willing to spend thousands of dollars. That is simply not true. First, big bridal retailers and bridal shows have sales where gowns start at under $100. Second, even high-end boutiques offer deep discounts on gowns that have been used as samples. Third, looking at dresses that are not labeled as brides dresses can save significant amounts of money; during prom season, a bride may be able to find a gorgeous white gown for a fraction of the cost of a similar gown in a bridal salon.
- Splurge on your shoes. You are going to be on your feet most of your wedding day, and quality shoes are more likely to offer the support and comfort you need to get you through the day. This is especially true if you have any type of foot problem.
- Save on the drinks. You can offer alcohol at your party without offering a full bar selection; talk with your venue about ways to reduce your potential bar bill. This might include limiting the offerings to certain beers and wines or even limiting your range of non-alcoholic options to tea, water, and lemonade instead of sodas. Each venues pricing will be different, but their pricing should be transparent and they should be willing to work with you on reducing your costs.
- Splurge on the food. Guests remember wedding food. When we say splurge, we do not mean you have to offer the fanciest food or that the food has to be sit-down service. However, you want to have plenty of food and enough choice to make sure none of your guests are hungry, because hungry people are cranky people. You may even want to change your service options if doing so allows you to serve a better menu. For example, you may find that you can offer your guests a much better meal if you go with buffet service than if you go with a seated dinner.
- Splurge on photographs. We know that everyone you know has a smartphone and will be snapping pictures at your wedding. We also know that those pictures are not going to come close to comparing to the photographs captured by a professional photographer like Jackie. Not only does Jackie know the technical specifications to get the best pictures, but she also knows how to make people feel at ease in front of the camera, so that she can capture their personalities. Photographs are how you are going to remember your wedding for decades to come; they are worth a splurge.
- Save On The Date. Think off season! You can have a beautiful winter wedding for a fraction of what it would cost in the summer/fall months. Maybe skip Saturday night too. Friday & Sunday weddings are just as fun and will cost you much less.
These are our top tips on where to save and where to splurge. Chris Marino (DJ/Owner), Jackie Cassidy (Photographer/Owner) or any of the wedding professionals at Limelight Entertainment would be happy to chat with you about their experiences with theme weddings and tips on how to save money and still have the wedding of your dreams! While we pride ourselves on offering high-quality and affordable DJ, photography, and photo booth services for weddings and other events, what drives our reputation and made us one of Wedding Wire’s Couple’s Choice wedding vendors is our commitment to customer service. Call 888-900-0042 or Contact Us Today to find out why couples love to add a little Limelight to their weddings!
Limelight Entertainment is happy to offer our years of experience as wedding and event professionals to anyone planning a wedding, free of charge.
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Happy Planning!
Chris Marino
