Spin-off - where to skimp, where to splurge

Splurge:

Dress/Accessories

Booze

Photos

Food

Center pieces

Save

Invites/stds/programs

Flowers

Favors

Ceremony decor

Chairs/covers

I feel like photographer is kind of on both lists, I'm paying for a good reliable photographer but saving by skipping getting ready photos and there's no grand exit so he's also leaving a little earlier

Splurge:

1. Food

2. Booze

3. DJ

4. Unique venue - we had a beautiful venue that had a big impact and enabled us to use few decorations

I wouldn't say we saved on our photography but it was definitely low on our list. My feeling is it doesn't impact your experience of the day so it is not as important.

Save:

1. Flowers (only did bouquets)

2. Photobooth

3. Invites/STDs (sent STDs but made them myself)

Things that were over the original budget:

1. Venue (food/drink included in this)

2. Photographer (about 33% over budget)

3. DJ (twice original budget)

4. Accommodations for wedding party (rented out an inn)

Things that were under the original budget to pay for above:

1. Paperless Post for STD/Invites $40.00 total

2. Skipping favors, welcome bags, etc

3. Keeping flowers simple $275 total

4. No guest shuttle, but I'm still a bit sad about that

5. Dress was half the original budget

Splurge:

1) Food (and I mean really good food! FH and I are foodies and we want tasty, organic and local vegetarian food)

2) Photography (I choose a film photographer because I love the look and feel of film! So light and airy! But I did choose their smallest package to save some money)

3) Venue (Outdoor gardens all the way! Location provides an onsite tent as well, so no need to rent)

4) Dress (I did go over budget on the dress, but my mom loved it so much!)

5) Music (Live band rather than DJ)

Save:

1) Flowers (doing it all the eucalyptus garlands and flower arrangements ourselves)

2) Alcohol (We don't drink)

3) Favors

4) Cake (having a small naked cake and then just sheet cakes for everyone else)

5) Invitations (designing and printing them myself!)

I'm also saving on calligraphy for the envelope addresses. I'm cheating I'm going to purchase a really nice calligraphy font and then print out the addresses on the envelopes in a faint font, and then take the time (with my bridesmaids) to write over all of them.

Splurge:

1. Food and drinks

2. Dress

3. Pretty, unique venue that doesn't need a lot of decoration

4. Photographer

5. Solo musician

Skimp:

1. Favors

2. Invitations/STDs/Programs

3. DJ (brunch wedding)

4. Videographer (I actually would love to have one, but I don't have the budget for one without taking away more important things)

5. Flowers/decorations

I don't know that I really splurged on anything as I did research and negotiated where it was possible to get great deals BUT the areas that are most important to me that I would be willing to splurge would be food/alcohol, DJ, Photographer,my dress and my ring. Things I skipped or am skipping-programs,videographer, tons of decor(I don't think my venue needs a lot), expensive invitations

This was easy for me at the beginning - then fiance surprised me by really caring about some of the things on my 'scrimp' list, so they got upgraded despite my planning. Instead of a small cutting cake with sheet cake in the back for serving, we're doing a big 4-tier display - but he's getting it in trade from our baker (he does their IT support). Instead of emailed invites and all-online RSVP, he's insisting on 'proper' stationery suites. But HE's on the hook for all the extra work that entails!

Splurge:

1) Venue/Food

2) Photographer

3) Dress

4) DJ

5) MUA/Hair

Scrimp:

1) Decor (borrowed/DIYed)

2) Flowers (DIYed, a few from florist)

3) Stationery (Fiance changed from email-only/all online to DIY-printed stationery)

4) Cake (Fiance changed from small cutting tier w/sheet cake to big 4-tier)

5) Favors

Must have:

Great photog

Delicious food

Awesome cake

Dress

Can skimp on:

Flowers/decor

Invites/std

Our most haves were:

1) great food

2) alcohol

3) venue that fit our vision and 50 guests (we used a 1930s mansion which was perfect for our "vision")

4) great photographer

5) lots of flowers (that was my personal splurge)

Things we skipped:

1) favors

2) videographer

3) DJ (we had a dinner for 50 guests and made playlists - didn't really plan on a dance party until everyone started dancing anyway LOL)

4) fancy cake (ours was simple but pretty, decorated with real flowers)

Splurge

1. Food

2. Venue

3. Photography

Skip

1. Programs, menu cards and direction cards

2. Boutonnieres

3. Videographer

Splurge

1. Alochol

2. Photography

3. Videography

4. DOC

5. DJ

Skip

1. Save the dates

2. Menu cards

3.Ceremony programs

4. Extra decor

5. Asking bridesmaids/groomsmen with proposal boxes (They loved their proposal boxes, but now I am struggling to get them Thank you gifts. )

Splurge: Photo/Video, Food, alcohol, music, honeymoon

Skimp: Invites, Decor, Favors, accessories (wearing hand me downs, and 5$ bracelet)

Skimping...small guest list, off season, 2pm ceremony so between meal times, dress from Etsy, printing invites myself, silk bouquets, other flowers from costco.

Splurging...honeymoon. I'm trying to get FH to downgrade actually lol

Spurge: Food, drink, hair, FH new suit, dress. Skip: STD, real flowers, programs, veil, jewelry.

@FFW you talking about secondlines made me realize you're in NOLA, me too! FH and I were talking about secondline bands earlier today!

The only thing I have booked so far is the venue (which is a great deal), but I plan to save on flowers, dress/shoes, and photography (not popular I know). I plan to splurge on booze, food, lighting, and band.

Oh I have skimp on just about everything. I even tried to save on photography but in the end the pictures is all you have left so I went with the photographer that I really wanted and by far is the most expensive part of our wedding. I didn't skimp or think twice on the barista either. I did skimp on the catering and because of having the barista I cut out pop and only having the caterer serve lemonade, coffee, and water. The barista is making fresh fruit smoothies. The minister for the ceremony is our associate pastor and we are very close to her. The soloist is a very dear friend and she refuses to be paid. Here is the deal with my wedding. If you look at my picture you will notice that I am very pale almost white. That picture was taken last July when I was just being diagnosed with my kidney issues. I have made many friends that have had kidney transplants or are in renal failure. So a wedding is a huge celebration of life for us that many don't get to experience. Many of my guest don't attend weddings because they cannot physically for one reason or another. My soloist had a kidney transplant 4 years ago and I took her for a couple of her follow up appointments after her transplant. She says it is an honor to sing at my wedding because we both made it. So basically I am blessed and very loved. So in short I have skimp in many areas because I am cheap but also we are being gifted some very expensive services. My brother gave me a $100 gift card to Hobby Lobby for my birthday. With the gift card and a 40% off coupon is what I purchased our unity cross with. Since I have a soloist for the wedding we are just doing background music for the reception and FH is taking care of that. He has an amp and whatever technical gadgets he needs to make that happen. Our wedding is different because of my health issues so there is a lot we cannot do.

Must Have/Splurge

1. Venue: We wanted an all inclusive venue with amazing food, open bar, and modern.

2. Decor: we have to use one of the three florists that our venue recommends. Our flowers have become an unexpected splurge. Every time I think about how much I'm spending on flowers I cringe.

3. Videography

4. Wedding Gown/Shoes: my FH doesn't cry because I look that damn good I'm turning around and starting over Lmaoo

5. Officiant: her price was unexpected (1k) but I just love her professionalism and the ability to personalize the entire ceremony.

Skips:

1. Favors

2. DIY decor

3. Photo booth

4. Transportation

Must haves:

good photographer

nice venue

good food

I didn't really 'splurge' on anything, though my cake was way more expensive than I thought it would be. Everything else was within the budget.

I went cheaper on flowers and centerpieces (silk, diy), we paid photog by the hour instead of buying a huge package, and we are using the venue's awesome sound system instead of a DJ. We also went cheaper on our attire - FH is actually wearing something he already owns, and my dress was $70 off the rack at Macy's.

I feel like mine are basically what everyone else has said. I'm sure there are more Skips that I just cant think of right now, because I'm at the point where basically feel like I could do without just about everything lol

Must Have:

Photo/Video

Food/Alcohol

DJ

Dress (I’m including H&MU)

Honeymoon!

Can do without (Skip):

STDs

Expensive invites

DIY anything (i'm just not that crafty)

Splurge

1. Food

2. Attire

3. Photography

4. Flowers

5. Favors- your guests will expect them

6. Day of coordinator- really helpful

Skimping on

1. No STD/Engagement Party

2. DJ- we are doing playlist for reception

3. Fancy Centerpiece- we got large glass vases at Dollar Tree to put leftover flowers in

4. Cakes- bridal and groom's- $300 total for both

5. Veil- I'm DIYing