Saving Money

So you only would have the photographer for four hours only? That’s kind of pricey then for that short period.
The dress tip is accurate - I got a white evening gown and it was less than $30 aha and it looked just like a wedding dress. You can try places like lulus, windsor, azazie, even amazon
I think it’s ok to not do full bouquets and no boutonnieres

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To the photographer - No, we will be going around town with her afterwards to take pictures. She will also be there for everyone getting ready. It's more like 6 to 7 hours.

View Quoted Comment Oh ok in that case for photo and video for 7 hours that’s actually a pretty good price

Hi Halie!


Money/Budget is difficult to pinpoint because it differs so much across state/region that you live in. I’m in Ohio and can share some of the same things we wanted to cut back on, just keep in mind that it can vary by location.
We found a photographer for $1000 for ALL DAY services! It took a lot of digging, but there are always newer, emerging and fantastic photographers, everywhere! Through doing this, we could afford a second photographer as well. Our videographer is $1400 and that’s not even the cheapest package he offers. My advice is to spend the time digging if this is a place you’d like to spend a little less on.
Dress - Our region has a chain (Luxe Redux) that sells designer gowns at a fraction of the cost. All of my friends have found dresses there for under $900. Again, digging into shops in your area will help this if you’d like to go with the typical bridal dress. I’ve seen gorgeous prom options as well that could make great wedding dresses.
Flowers are included in our venue so I struggle with advice for this category. However, there are tons of non-floral options out there that I think are awesome! We’re doing a ton of candles for centerpieces. Going with greenery will help with cost as well. A few of my friends have done a mix of real and fake flowers to lower the cost so I definitely think you have some options and wiggle room in this category.
Hope this helps! Enjoy planning

I think $3,600 for a photographer and videographer for 6 to 7 hours is very reasonable. When we were researching photographers there were photographers in our area that their packages started at $5,000 without a videographer. I also researched videographers and they ranged from $1,500-$3,000.


I got my dress from a bridal store. It was a wedding dress. You can try to find dresses that aren't standard wedding dresses that would be cheaper.
You can do whatever you want for flowers.

If it's one of your top three things, you definitely don't want to go too cheap with it. You want someone you're comfortable with who takes photos in a style that you love. Whether or not it's a good deal depends on where you're located. Here, that's a very good deal. That price would normally get photography only and no travel. You can, and should, compare the prices of other photographers you like. Look around and then choose the one who fits the best and is within your budget.

Look for wedding dresses on resale sites, Azazie, Lulus, and even bridesmaid dress stores like Kennedy Blue.

You can do florals however you want to! There's nothing wrong with skipping boutonnieres or bouquets. Go with whatever works for your vision of your big day! No one will miss them.

1. Photo & Video - I would say $3,600 is average, teetering on the verge of a bit expensive, just with regard to the length of your wedding because usually the packages depend on the length of the wedding. For example, we have hired our photographer and videographer (separate vendors) for essentially a full day (10 hours) for $4,000 USD ($5,900 AUD). We are having 2 cameramen for about 4-5 hours (1 for the remainder of the day) but that was thrown in as a bonus because our videographer has done all weddings in the family.

2. If you want to save on a dress; hire one! I bought mine but you will save so much money by hiring!

3. Boutounnieres are totally unncessary, we aren't having them either. I don't think a small bouquet of flowers will be an issue, however I do think they should be carrying at least something so their hands are occupied.

That's a great price for photo/video and going around afterwards.

I went to a sample sale and got my dress there. It was a Kleinfeld dress, should have been $2k or more... I got it for $200. Even after alterations, I still paid less than $1000.

We used fake flowers from Budget Bride to lower our costs. (Also, took out the allergy factor, which was great, as my father is allergic to pretty much all flora.) For all the BP flowers, plus centerpieces, we paid less than $500... and the BP flowers looked *super* real.

Photography is definitely a good price considering you getting both still photography&videography in that package.

Dress - I ordered from a site/store called Cocomelody. Very affordable and they were able to customize the dress(es) I wanted!

Flowers - have you thought about doing mostly greenery? We’re doing almost all greenery for our flowers (bouquets, boutonnières, centerpieces etc. and that is saving us a bunch of $

Blooms/flowers cost more generally speaking.

I would say that is a great rate. That is what I am paying and I have two separate pros doing photography and videography.

Photography -- I would say the price they quoted you is average for 6-7 hours and for photography and videography. My husband and I didn't want a videographer so we spent less for ours.

Dress -- I got my dress from David's Bridal. I got lucky b/c my dress fit like a glove and I didn't need any alterations.

Flowers -- I don't think your plan is weird at all. If that's what you want, than that's what you should do. I'm not a flower person and the smell of real flowers gives me and my husband a headache so we used fake flowers that were very realistic. I made my bouquet and my bridesmaids bouquets to save some extra money. I couldn't see myself spending hundreds/thousands of dollars on something I don't like, lol.

In the end it is your wedding, your vision, you will never please everyone and that's ok so long as you and your FH are happy.

Photography - I think the price for the photographer is pretty good considering its photo and video.

Dress - Lulus has a ton of dresses that are low budget and come in white. Windsor also has some dresses that can pass as a wedding dress. Saved by the dress has some nice dresses at decent pricing as well. Azazie, who I'm considering to order my gown from has a wide selection at great pricing,

Flowers - I myself am opting for minimal floral decor. I think you can come up with some lovely non floral centerpieces, decorations with pinterest. You can also save money by using greenery instead.

I went to a bridal salon and ended up choosing a white bridesmaid dress that cost $168. It wasn't my original plan but I'm so glad I went that route! (They didn't have anything white in stock so I had to use my imagination.) The wedding dresses felt so heavy to me and were crazy expensive.

As far as flowers go, check some DIY stuff on youtube/Pinterest. You can buy bulk "real touch" flowers on Amazon that have petals made of thin pieces of foam; the roses I purchased look great. Michaels has sales too with florals if you want to make your own stuff.

Photography- My fiancé is a photographer and he has never charged anyone more than $1,500 and he is there all day, from arrival to send off. I personally think $3,600 is A LOT unless there are two shooters. and even then it’s kinda a lot.
Dress- look at davids bridal!!! they have a TON of very beautiful dresses and some of them are like $99