Right up there with choosing the perfect wedding date is the step of setting your wedding budget. More and more, couples today find themselves covering wedding costs by their own means. Whether you dream of a modest wedding with memorable must-haves, or a grand gala affair with details galore, the way you spend your bridal budget matters. There are special wedding details for any budget, but you have to decide where to invest your spending, honestly and wisely.
I’ve been to my share of weddings! I was a small-town wedding photographer for years, and when I was a single-again 30-something, I attended multiple weddings every year as friends paired up before an audience of beloved guests. And I’ve am married myself! At each wedding I make note of what seemed to matter most to the newlyweds.
Each couple will have to prioritize their must-haves and wish-lists as they make plans toward wedded bliss. The big spenders in every wedding budget are typically photography, venue, the wedding dress, food, and music. While these are important details for any wedding, there are a few others that will hold their own in hindsight as you look back on your marital memories. The main thing is to be honest about how much you can afford, and make list of priorities so that you spend wisely on the details that matter most to you, for your special day.
Below are my personal favorite 4 wedding splurges, and why they are worth the room in your wedding budget.
The Honeymoon. Hello! I have known more couples to skip this traditional kick-off for happily-ever-after as new husband and wife. You may have even told yourself already, We can take a honeymoon later, after we recuperate some of our wedding expenses. My observation continues to be this: the honeymoon rarely happens later. Life happens, sometimes kids happen, new goals and financial obligations happen. The honeymoon gets pushed back month after month, until eventually a couple has a few anniversaries behind them and a honeymoon seems almost irrelevant.
Sisterly Advice: Plan a trip that will let you both unwind from all the wedding planning, and let you revel in your new status as spouses. It doesn’t have to be lengthy, extravagant or worldly; just a get-away that will let you celebrate your marriage milestone and make you smile when you look back over the years. You will remember an intentional honeymoon for as long as you both shall live.
Bridal Hair. And makeup, if that’s your thing. Yes, this detail is for just one day. Yes, you or a friend can probably fix your hair beautifully, up or down, with the help of a YouTube tutorial or a cousin who used to style hair in college. Yes, skipping this luxury could add a little wiggle room to your spending. But also, YES, your sister could leave your curlers in so long that you’re walking down the aisle with a ‘do reminiscent of vintage Shirley Temple (ask your mom, or Google, if you’re familiar with this throwback). Your maid of honor could paint a smokey eye that even a stage actor might need to tone down. Instead, skip the stress, let your bridal party and wedding guests take their own time to make themselves pretty for your big day, and let a professional do you up. You will have a style that flatters, AND holds, through the photos, the vows, the cake, and even the after-party.
BFF Advice: Before you hire the first stylist or makeup artist with the best Insta-photos, ask your usual stylist, if possible, because she will already know YOUR hair, your style, and have rapport with you. She may even have referrals for makeup, or a second stylist to help with flower girls and bridesmaids.
Your Invitations. Yep! I said it. And yes, I love to creating lovely invitation suites that are timeless and unique. Putting aside that you’re reading this suggestion on a calligraphy designer’s website, I still hold by this tip. Your wedding guests will keep your invitation proudly displayed on their refrigerator for weeks leading up to your big day, and probably for a little while after. Your favorite loved ones may even hold on to your invitation among their own albums or keepsakes. A beautiful invitation can set the entire tone for your wedding, and become a treasured and personal work of art for years to come. If you have the budget, you can splurge on fully custom invitations, or find semi-custom options that won’t break the bank, but will make a beautiful statement to your guests.
My Dad’s Advice to Grooms: My parents were happily married for 30 years. As an adult, I would hear my dad whisper to new grooms that one of the best wedding gifts my parents received was a wall hanging of their wedding invitation. It hung on the wall next to their bedroom door, where they could see it daily. My dad would tell grooms that he never forgot an anniversary because of that framed invitation! So consider how your wedding stationery will be a memorable investment, far beyond its intended role as your event’s data messenger.
Bridal Bouquet. Totally worth it. Even if you don’t plan to save your bouquet, a professional floral arrangement will last for days, at least, after your wedding. Your wedding day is the day you’ll invest more time and money into making yourself even more lovely than usual, so why scrimp on the flowers that will accent your entire ensemble? If you can’t bring it with you to admire on your honeymoon, then let your mother or maid of honor appreciate the blooms after the party ends. You can save money on centerpieces with store-bought blooms that your friends arrange for you, but think of your bridal bouquet as an investment. Your photographer will even capture stunning images of your bouquet, and later you can send the photo to your favorite watercolor floral artist to create a one-of-a-kind painting of your beautiful blossoms.
Wifely Wisdom: Dried or preserved flowers are a sentimental thought, but not always the easiest to maintain or display over time. Your bouquet can collect dust and be difficult to move home to home, without risking a little damage each time you clean or pack. If saving your bouquet is not a practical addition to your wedding keepsakes or home decor, consider creative alternatives to prolong the beauty, and the sweet memory, of your bridal bouquet. Ask your wedding photographer to capture images focused on your bouquet, whether it’s displayed as a still-life portrait, or cleverly composed to feature you, your hands with rings, or your veil in the background. There are also artists who will capture your bouquet in watercolor, making a unique, one-of-a-kind canvas or print for your home. Or, get inspired to make a collage or shadowbox with pressed petals or flowers, or ribbons, from your floral arrangement, and feature them in a frame with your favorite wedding portrait.