The modern wedding industry is a behemoth, and one that has led the cost of the average wedding to reach new heights in recent years. Many a couple have found themselves investing vast sums of money to create the “perfect day” with each individual area deemed to be vitally important to the overall experience.
To be frank, this is simply untrue. While those who sell smaller details – such as invitations, bridesmaid gifts, and so on – will encourage the need for perfection (i.e. heavy spending!) to “complete” their day, there are really only three wedding components that are worth investing money in. If you prioritise these three areas when setting your budget, everything else will naturally fall into place – without the need to spend a fortune on every little detail.
THE VENUE
The venue is usually the single largest budget area for a wedding for a good reason, as the space sets the tone for the entire event, and is the backdrop that can change the entire feel of the day. Additionally, it’s also important to factor in that impressive venues with period features – like Clevedon Hall in the photo below – can actually save you money, as the interior is incredibly spectacular in itself, so there’s no need to spend extra on additional items and decor.
RECEPTION FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT
It’s possible to spend thousands of pounds on small, supposedly essential details and decor for the ceremony itself – decorations, string quartets, and so forth. While these elements can be wonderful, if you’ve got one eye on the budget, there is an important factor to consider: the ceremony is the most important, but it’s also the briefest – you’ll spend far longer at your reception than you will at the altar. As a result, it makes sense to tailor your budget accordingly, with the main focus on the reception rather than the ceremony itself.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER
In an age where everyone has a camera attached to their smart phone, one of the areas of the budget to bite the dust is usually the wedding photographer. While you could ask friends and family to take photographs, wedding photography is a very specific art, and a professional will always produce the best possible pictures – they’ll know how to capture the light, how to find the perfect candid moment, and they’ll also know how to edit the photographs to look their best. While it’s tempting to cut the photographer from your budget, resisting this urge ensures you’ll have the best possible images to preserve those precious memories, making a professional photographer an investment for the future as much as for the day itself.
The perfect wedding doesn’t need to be an expensive wedding. If you focus on the three areas above when setting your budget, you should find that everything else naturally follows. The smaller details may seem essential when you get stuck into the planning, but many people won’t even notice! So focus on the core basics – and, most importantly, you as a couple – and all will be well. Please share you tips for a saving money on your autumn wedding in the comments below, I’d love to hear your ideas for cutting costs on your big day!
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