Establishing and managing costs can be one of the most stressful things about planning a wedding. I’m sure we’d all agree that getting married can be extremely expensive and working out how to budget for your wedding is not always easy…especially when your social media accounts are saturated with beautiful pictures of high-end weddings in picturesque locations. However, there are plenty of amazingly talented suppliers out there who can work within a range of budgets to create your dream wedding.
The first thing to do is work out what your priorities are. Are there some aspects of the wedding that are more important to you than others? This is very much a personal thing so it’s important to have a chat with your partner and work out what’s at the top of the list. For me, having a great wedding photographer and an amazing band in the evening were my top priorities – luckily my husband-to-be agreed!
I spoke to a few local suppliers for some tips on how to create a budget and stick to it.
VENUE
If you’ve found your perfect venue but it’s out of your budget, why not consider changing your date. I’ve seen a massive increase in weekday and winter weddings over the last few years due to the significant difference in price. I chose to get married on a Friday and really enjoyed spending the weekend after the wedding with my friends and family where we were able to continue the celebrations.
If the venue you’ve picked has a great interior then a winter wedding can be a great way to keep the costs down. It’s hard to guarantee sunshine at any time of year and I’ve often photographed some unseasonably warm weddings over the festive period. One thing to bear in mind is the sun will obviously set a lot earlier at this time of year so it may be worth considering an early ceremony.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Your wedding photos stay with you long after the big day so I believe it’s extremely important to ensure you trust the photographer to do a great job and capture all those otherwise missed moments. According to Your Perfect Wedding Photographer the average couple spend £1,590 on their wedding photographer. You can of course find a photographer for just a few hundred pounds but this can be a reflection on not only the level of experience but the amount of time that’s dedicated to post processing – an aspect of our jobs that often gets forgotten.
If you’re on a tight budget, I’d recommend hiring an experienced photographer for a shorter part of the day to document the things that are most important to you. This could be the portraits and the ceremony or the evening celebrations. By doing this you’re sure to get some amazing images at just a fraction of the price making it easier to budget for your wedding day.
HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST
Hair and make up can be a very personal thing so it’s important to find the right person for the job. I spoke to the very talented Holly Kathleen and Hair by Jaydean to get their opinions on how to budget for your wedding day.
“Artist’s fees vary depending on the location, where they trained, level of experience and quality of products in their kit. Generally, artists with more experience and qualifications will charge more because they are of a higher caliber. It is important to really study a potential artist’s gallery to see the style of their work and overall quality/finish.”
Holly Kathleen | @hollykhairandmakeup | www.hollykathleen.com
“The saying you pay for what you get springs to mind! Do your research and of course compare your quotations. Choosing your stylist for your big day should not only be a love of a portfolio and expertise but also a person you can feel comfortable to work with on your special day.”
Hair by Jaydean | @hair_by_jaydean | www.hairbyjaydean.com
FLORIST
The price of flowers can vary dramatically depending on the look your going for. Tracey from Floribundi and Abbie from Welwyn Florist about how to establish and maximize your budget.
“There is no set price for your wedding flowers, it depends on your flower preferences and how many floral designs you would like for your wedding. Typically, we have found that our bridal flower budgets start at £1,000 and span to £10,000. As each wedding is personal this isn’t the same for every wedding, we can cater for wedding flower budgets below £1,000 too. It is important to go into a florist with a budget in mind, so they can adapt ideas and floral creations to you.
Budgets are very personal and quite dependent on the venue and style of the wedding. To some couples flowers are more important (and personal to them) than others. Venues sometimes benefit more from “dressing” so budgets are very difficult to pin point. It’s also very on trend to have lots of bridesmaids and groomsmen sometimes 10+ so you have to remember that this affects budget for flowers.
Abbie from Welwyn Florist | @welwynflorist | www.welwynflorist.co.uk
Talk to an expert about your style and venue. A good florist will be able to make many suggestions on relocating flowers throughout the day and maximising budget. For instance flowers designed for the wedding breakfast can be “borrowed” for the ceremony service” Tracey Floribundi
Tracey from Floribundi | @floribundi | www.floribundi.co.uk
THE DRESS
The dress is an important part of any bride’s big day and it’s so easy to get carried away with looking at pictures online only to find they are all way out of your budget! Lucy from Lucy Hart Bridal had some great insights into how to stick to a budget.
“Think about your budget before you start shopping for your dress. Each bridal shop you visit will have a price range, so research this before you visit the shop. It’s ok to phone ahead and ask this question. Don’t be tempted to try on dresses outside of your budget as you don’t want to fall in love with the one you can’t afford. You’ll then compare this to every other dress you try on. There really is a dress for every budget these days so be confident in shopping within your price range. Buying a sample gown can be a great option if you’re working to a budget but have designer taste. We stock amazing designer gowns, in as good-as-new condition and at a fraction of the original price. You can literally save thousands of pounds so it’s well worth considering and means you don’t have to make any compromises.”
Lucy Hart Bridal | @lucyhartbridal | www.lucyhartbridal.com
THE CAKE
Wedding cakes have changed so much since I started photographing weddings. From naked cakes to cheesecakes, there’s something for everyone!
“There is a cake for every budget, however, if you are going to a bespoke wedding cake maker expect to pay much more than supermarket prices. Many cake makers will not only design and make your wedding cake but also use top quality ingredients and provide a liaison and delivery service to your venue. French Macaron favours, biscuits, cupcakes, cake pops and other treats can also be provided by a wedding cake maker so keep this in mind when factoring cost.”
Debbie from Amazing Grace Cakes | @amazinggracecakes_uk | www.amazinggracecakes.co.uk
HOW TO BUDGET FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY
If you have any other suggestions about how to budget for your wedding day please leave your comments below.