Where to splurge and where to save on your wedding day
You’re newly engaged — congratulations.
Equipped with your wedding Pinterest board, opinions from literally everyone and your Cloud 9 attitude, you are officially ready to plan a wedding.
But where do you start?
Local events will help you become acquainted with all aspects of the wedding day. You’ll meet with industry professionals, ranging from food to music to decor — and more.
Consider attending:
- North Carolina Bridal & Wedding Expo on March 14-15 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; or
- The Perfect Wedding Guide Show on March 29 from noon – 4 p.m.
Both events will introduce you to the latest trends and let you see, touch and experience everything firsthand to help you envision your special day.
This Saturday, you can save even more at the 2nd Annual Goodwill Bridal Pop-Up. Beginning at 9 a.m., bridal gowns will start at $25, and other dresses and suits start at $10 with on-site vendors to help you with your planning.
But with so many options, where should you allocate your money? From invitations to florals to photography, there’s so much to consider.
We asked nine wedding industry professionals in the Charlotte area for advice on where couples should spurge and where they should save. Here’s what they had to say:
If you’re going to splurge on photography, here’s where you save.
Tim Hines, wedding photographer at Tim Hines Photography, believes photos provide a lasting memory, but the open bar may be something you can skip.
Splurge: “I believe that brides and grooms should splurge on photography. Couples spend a lot of money on weddings, so I believe that it’s important to hire a photographer that can capture all of those details that they invested in. A great photographer is also useful for those that don’t spend much on some aspects of their wedding because a great photographer knows how to use his or her vision, lighting techniques and composition to bring out the best of any location. After the wedding is over the cake is gone, the music stops playing and the flowers wilt. The couple will only have the photos to relive that day and share it with friends and family for many years.”
Save: “The price of having an open bar can be very expensive, especially if you have guests that love to drink.”
Julie Staley, a wedding photographer and the owner of Old South Studios, shares her thoughts on photography and trendy bridesmaid boxes:
Splurge: “Most of the decisions an engaged couple makes (and budget for) are for other people — the food guests will eat, the drinks they will drink, the music they will dance to. Photography is the one gift the couple gives to themselves to preserve their memories in the most beautiful way. Over time, her gown will go out of style and that beautiful cake will have been forgotten, but the photographs from their wedding day only gain value as the years go by. Therefore, I highly encourage couples to splurge in both the photography and videography categories. Your wedding day is a milestone in your parents’ and grandparents’ lives, too, so do not scrimp in this area.”
Save: “I know it is a trend for brides to send extravagant gift boxes or presents asking their bridesmaids to be a part of their wedding day. In my opinion, a simple note would be just as meaningful and save a good bit of money for the bride in the end. Sometimes Pinterest and Instagram cause brides to feel pressure to overspend in certain categories. Five or 10 years from now, that $50 ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’ Instagram-worthy gift box (sent to 8 ladies) will be long forgotten.”
If you’re going to splurge on stationery, here’s where you save.
Kristen Stewart, owner of Three Little Birds Stationery & Gifts, shares her thoughts on setting the tone with stationery and the value of a smaller guest list:
Splurge: “As a stationer, I of course think one of your splurges should be on stationery. Stationery sets the tone and provides your guests a preview of what wonderful things you have planned for your wedding. From save the dates to invitations to menus, so many of your senses can be engaged with beautiful paper. And guests always appreciate the details! In addition to stationery; we think photography and videography are the most important ‘splurges.’ Like love, faith and joy, these are three things will remain throughout your marriage.”
Save: “Couples can save by having smaller, more intimate weddings. Nobody can invite everyone they know, especially in the day of social media where you ‘know’ thousands of people. A good question to ask when planning is that if you have not seen a person (or at least talked to them via telephone) in 6- 12 months, should they really be invited? The smaller headcount means you won’t have to sacrifice on any other aspect of your wedding.”
If you’re going to splurge on the honeymoon, here’s where you save.
Courtney Glenn, one of the owners of J. Major’s Bridal Boutique, believes it’s best to spend the most on memory-focused aspects of the wedding and to save on smaller details that don’t impact the couple or their guests:
Splurge: “A bride and groom should splurge on the things that are going to be most important to them. First, a wedding planner. It’s worth the splurge to avoid the stress and to be able to enjoy everything about your day!. Second, your honeymoon. Those memories are priceless and something you get to enjoy just the two of you. Third, your photographer/videographer. You will remember your day forever with your pictures! Lastly, your attire. You deserve to look & feel like a million bucks.”
Save: “A bride and groom can save in areas that don’t include them or that guests won’t notice as much. For example, you can downsize your cake for just the two of you and do sweet treats for guests. You can save a little on florals and choose to place them in the main accent areas that everyone will notice. Your guests won’t notice every little detail, so save in a few of those small areas. Our best advice is to prioritize what’s most important to you. Whatever is at the end of the list — save on those things.”
If you’re going to splurge on a wedding planner, here’s where you save.
Sara C. Hall, co-owner of Hall & Webb Event Design, speaks to the importance of a good wedding planner and a smaller guest list:
Splurge: “Brides and grooms should splurge on a wedding planner, even if it is just for a month-of planner. Having someone (who isn’t your maid of honor or mom) take on the stress of managing the wedding will make for a much more enjoyable, relaxed day.”
Save: “If you were really looking to save money, we always encourage our couples to reevaluate their guest list. Inviting 450 people hoping that only 200 will attend doesn’t ever happen. The more people means the more you have to spend on food and beverage, and it adds up quickly.”
If you’re going to splurge on custom attire, here’s where you save.
Bruce Julian, owner of Bruce Julian Clothier, speaks to the importance of custom wedding-day attire and offers humor on where to save money:
Splurge: “Not just because I’m in the business, but that day is all about you. The wedding dress and the groom’s outfit should definitely be custom-made.”
Save: “Don’t wear shoes.”
If you’re going to splurge on the wardrobe, here’s where you save.
Hunter Bailey, Director of Sales at Hayden Olivia Bridal, believes in splurging in a wedding wardrobe and transitioning to digital invitations to save:
Splurge: “I think the bride and groom should splurge on the items that matter the most to them. Personally, the wardrobe would be where I would suggest they splurge. Your wedding photos are some of the most important photos you will take in your life, and you should be wearing something that you love.”
Save: “I think couples should save money on items that have little meaning to them. Personally, I would recommend saving money on invitations because we all know the invitations either go in someone’s junk drawer or get lost. The invite becomes irrelevant because the attendee ends up texting the bride or groom for details. The future for invitations is definitely digital.”
If you’re going to splurge on videography, here’s where you save.
Ashley Martin, Sales & Marketing Director at Moving Mountains Studios, speaks to videography and venues:
Splurge: “I think couples should splurge on a wedding planner, photography and videography, and a venue that they love.”
Save: “I think couples should save on save the dates/invites, transportation and favors.”
If you’re going to splurge on a statement piece, here’s where you save.
Karen Greenoe, Senior Designer at Lily Greenthumbs, speaks to having a memorable statement piece but saving on bridal bouquets:
Splurge: “One killer statement piece. If it is your front entry table to set the stage as your guests arrive, your head table or a sweetheart table, focus your investment on the one thing that will make a big difference. If you have a killer head table, no one will notice that you had low arrangements on all of your other guest tables … or at least, not many people will notice.”
Save: “Their bridesmaids bouquets. They are there to accent the bride, not take away the attention from her. Just because you have orchids, ranunculus and garden roses in your bouquet, doesn’t mean your girls need the same exact flowers. Ask your florist about look-alikes in the same color family and/or shape for your girls. No one will ever know the difference! Their eyes are all on the bride anyway.”
How to prioritize
Cali Stott, the makeup artist behind Cali Stott Artistry, believes budgets are best determined by prioritizing what’s most important.
Splurge: “I suggest to my brides to determine what is the most important for them on their wedding day, whether it is beautiful photography, good food or the perfect venue, and then say to ‘splurge’ on that.”
Save: “Again, going back to prioritizing. Maybe a couple doesn’t care as much about the linens or type of chair their guests sit in. Basically, prioritizing what is most important for making their day perfect and budgeting from there.”
