Spin-off - where to skimp, where to splurge

Must have (for me)

1. alcohol

2. food

3. photog

4. fabulous dress and shoes

5. good DJ

Can do without-

1. STDs

2. fancy invites

3. photobooths and other extra entertainment

4. favors

5. Extravagant venue that forces you to cut costs elsewhere- pick a nice venue but it doesn't have to be so over the top that you have to have a cash bar

Must have:

photo/video

food/alcohol

dress

MUA

DJ

Not necessary:

STDs

favors

limo

hair (I can do my own if I wanted to save money)

extravagant invites

I didn't really have 5 splurges, because I found ways to save money and still get what I want with most things. It was mostly the big things I'm not really skimping on. But what I consider splurging/skimping may be different than the next person (considering our budget is $3000)

Splurge:

1. Photographer

2. Videographer

3. Food

4. Honeymoon

Save:

1. Flowers/Decor

2. Dress/Accessories

3. Makeup/Hair

4. Venue (ETA: We got a sweet deal with our venue, so it was a savings)

5. Guest List (Does this count? We are keeping it extra small, so that is saving us a ton)

6. Stationary (Invites, STDs, etc.)

Splurge

1. Alcohol

2. Awesome DJ, trust me

3. Great photography

4. Not having to setup or clean-up the wedding

5. Good food

Skip

1. Expensive flowers (order smaller bouquets, no floral centerpieces)

2. Extravagant invitations, programs, place cards, etc.

3. Mr and Mrs. decorations

4. DIY venues, no matter how beautiful, they amount of work makes them suck

5. Fancy chairs

Splurge:

food/alcohol

photographer

videographer

DJ

Skimp:

dress

guest transportation (we're doing a school bus)

fancy invites

centerpieces (just doing candles)

There's a difference between must have and can't go cheap on. My must have items aren't expensive.

1. Favors

2. Flowers--I'm getting silk because wayyy cheaper

3. Simple centerpieces

4. Venue--I found a great venue for way cheaper than other ones I was looking at.

5. Idk...haha I'm not really saving too much unfortunately

I definitely agreed with @Lauren B. Your venue doesn't have to be over the top to be nice and get the job done.

1. Food/alcohol (this actually wasn't a "splurge" for me, per se, since I am off season and saving a lot by doing that.)

2.DJ

3. Photographer

4. Honeymoon

Everything else is just icing. I am hoping to be able to save quite a bit and am willing to take alternate routes to get something at least close to what I want.

Things I am skipping on: response cards without postage (RSVP online only), no programs, bouquets (real touch silk flowers), dress (used-purchased from another bride)

Things we got for free/gifted, but I would have skimped on: invites (FH's half brother), cake (my dad & stepmom), favors (FH's aunt), RD (FH's family)

Things I wouldn't have skimped on but got for free/discounted: bar (recent development, FFIL is covering... YAY!), DJ (half his normal wedding rate bc he's FH's aunt's friend- so essentially we are paying his nonwedding rate ($100 an hour), bc he charges double for weddings $200 an hour)

Splurge: videography, photography, catering, BMs (I'm paying for hair, MUA & dress rental), and secondline band (with cop & permit nearly $1k for 30 mins).

I would have liked to splurge more on the chairs I wanted (extra $1,200) & probably put another $1-2k into reception decor.

Sorry, should have been more clear. Food is a must,, but having good food vs not good food. Music/entertainment is a staple, but theres a difference between playing Pandora and a Good DJ.

Splurge:

1. A lot of alcohol

2. Good food

3. DJ

4. Photographer

Things I'm leaving out:

1. Favors

2. Fancy Cake

3. Photobooth

4. Flowers (using forages pine boughs and pinecones)

5. Make up/ Hair stylist

6. RSVP cards - online only

We're finding ways to keep even our big costs reasonable, including getting married at his graduate university's chapel and using an inclusive venue outside of the city. Venue is definitely our splurge as we still wanted a nice package, and my dress is also a splurge even though I bought it at a sample sale salon.

Skimps: Our centerpieces will be mostly greenery and florist is my grandma's BFF, DJ is a family friend, and hair/mua is giving me a great deal from my best friend's referral. I'm using Vista Print for STDs and will probably use them for invites as well, and we're skipping day-of programs and favors.

What we are splurging on: gifts for our people, my dress (although it is under budget, I will go above and beyond with alterations so I feel comfortable), having a party bus, having a videographer, and kind of our honeymoon. The honeymoon is definitely not crazy expensive, in a good tight budget, but we splurged on the flights being direct and will on excursions... and when I shop for outfits and bikinis I will splurge a little haha. And my parents splurged on the reception venue... my mom insists on filet as an option which is a more expensive choice. I appreciate them so much, but would have definitely just done chicken or fish as the options if it were up to me.

What we are skimping on: invites (DIYing, love them), centerpieces kind of (half the tables are very low cost), DJ is giving us a deal, our photographer is professional but is the least expensive we found (we just want the memories).

Splurge:

DJ

food/booze

renting a room for bridal party to get ready (instead of a hotel room)

HMUA

Skimp:

Centerpieces

flowers (just bouquets/bouts)

no favors

invites (I am using vistaprint for basic ones)

no photobooth

Using the cake included without an upgrade

transportation-hotel is super close to venue. It would take longer to drive than walk

My midrange is photos, my shoes, dress (I got lucky with clearance)

Splurge/needs

1. Food

2. Alcohol

3. Photography/video

4. Dj/Music

Skimp

1. Fancy STD/ Invitations

2. Favors

3. Photo booths

4. Venue- biggest savings

5. Fancy centerpieces

Splurge:

1. Good food

2. Good alcohol

3. Band

4. Photographer

5. Professional hair & make up

Save:

1. Flowers (candle centerpieces, simple bouquets)

2. Stationary (making my own simple invitations and no STDs, programs, or menus- I am splurging for inner/outer envelopes though)

3. Favors

4. Dress/accessories (although I did go over budget on my dress whoops)

5. Transportation (we're getting married downtown so everything is walkable)

Splurge: food/alcohol, photographer, dj, hair & mua

Skimp: favors, invites, decor

For Me....

Splurges:

1. Alcohol

2. Food

3. DJ

4. Photography

5. Attire related items (professional hair, makeup, dress)

ETA: 6. hospitality suite at hotel for the BP to get ready in

Save:

1. Favors (not having them)

2. Stationary (spent less than $500 total)

3. Photo Booth (not having one)

4. Cake (small cake and cupcakes for $325)

5. Huge honeymoon (going to key west for a week after, but saving international travel for 2017)

My mid-range items are florals (<3K)

Splurge:

1) photography

2) food & drink

3) dress (didn't expect to splurge, but I fell in love!)

4) honeymoon

Skip:

1) STDs

2) cake

3) videography/photobooth

4) transportation

5) flowers (made paper ones instead)

I'm going with

1. Playlist over DJ (no thanks to some loud dude on mic that you have to make a playlist for anyway)

2. Minimalistic flowers and lanterns for tables

3. The Photography is the only thing I'm not willing to skimp on

4. Beautiful outdoor location so no decor for the isle

5. Doing tons of DIY because I have the time and shopping around before making any decisions