Any Size Wedding Budget Can Add Up to the Wedding of Your Dreams
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While weddings may seem expensive, the cost per guest can actually work out to be extremely reasonable and when you factor in that this will last you a lifetime of love with treasured memories, every dollar feels like an investment.
Weddings are often one of the biggest single expenditures you are likely to make, second to buying a house. Until you’ve planned your own wedding, it can be hard to understand why someone would spend so much money “on just one day”. However, we find that couples rarely have regrets about spending a lot on their wedding day because it’s totally worth it! In fact, your wedding is more than “just one day,” it’s an investment, the creation of an experience that depicts your love and creates a lifetime of memories with the ones you love most.
That being said, it is important to be realistic about your wedding budget and to stay within a number you can afford. As you start planning, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with possibilities and you may even start to feel like your budget is too restricting. However, our expert team at Wedgewood Weddings can work within every budget; we have decades of experience and we know all the tips and tricks to getting the most of every wedding dollar and making your budget work, regardless of what you have available to spend.
Also, we understand that every couple that sets out to plan a wedding is unique, with their own set of needs, visions, and priorities. What’s important to one couple may not matter to another. So, as you plan your wedding, take advantage of our expertise for creative advice based on your personal approach.
How to Set a Realistic Budget
Let’s be honest, coming up with a realistic number for your budget is usually low on the list of favorite wedding planning activities. But, alas, it must be done. So, go ahead and plan a time to sit down with anyone who is contributing to your wedding fund to find out exactly what everyone’s expectations are. Traditionally, according to TheKnot.com, the bride’s family traditionally pays for the bulk of the wedding ceremony and reception festivities, while the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon.
However, very few couples follow that model these days, so it’s important to avoid making any assumptions. Instead, have an honest conversation about where everyone’s priorities lie and how they wish to contribute. Be open to all forms of help; financial, emotional, time and attention, relevant skills (like calligraphy!). You may find that your future in-laws are willing to invest a large amount, but only if you agree to their list of guests to invite.
Also, if others are contributing to your wedding, discuss when they will be giving you the funds. Will they be writing you a check today, or would they prefer to pay in smaller amounts as fees are due? At Wedgewood Weddings, we require 25% of your total when you book, 25% is due 180 days before your wedding, and the final 50% is due 10 days before your event. So keep that in mind as you discuss your budget with your loved ones.
Once you come up with a number that everyone is comfortable with, stick to it! Couples often find their budgets bursting right when they’re nearing the finish line, so we encourage planning an extra 5% into your budget to cover any unexpected costs. Also, there are always creative ways to reduce wedding expenses; so we promise that your budget is doable.
Understand Where the Money Goes
The biggest reason for expensive weddings is that there are a lot of moving parts needed to pull off such a big party. Everything from the venue, the caterer, the photographer, the wedding attire… it all adds up quickly. The average cost of a wedding in the United States is around $33,900 and at Wedgewood Weddings, our all-inclusive weddings range from $5,000 to $60,000+. We strive to make any budget work; however, the best way to stay within your budget is to have a system to keep close track of where all the money is going.
A typical wedding budget breakdown goes something like this:
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It takes some work, but you can potentially find a vendor to check each one of these boxes one by one. However, chances are that it will be difficult to make the numbers match your percentages exactly, and that is when things get a little dicey with your budget. You might fall in love with a venue that is more than you wanted to spend, so you think you’ll make up for it by hiring a cheaper photographer, but then your caterer added an extra cake cutting fee and suddenly you’re trying to decide if you should just skip the wedding favors altogether.
After seeing couples facing tough decisions again and again, we decided there had to be a better way. It’s awful to see a bride decide to drop her dream cake design or a groom decide that a wedding video is an extravagance too far. That’s why we came up with a revolutionary way to plan and budget your wedding.
When you choose a wedding venue by Wedgewood Weddings, you roll seven of those wedding expenses into one! Our all-inclusive wedding packages cover your venue, catering and alcohol, decor, wedding planner, officiant, invitations, and entertainment! Really, it’s an amazing deal because often, we’re able to do all of this for you for about the same price as you would pay elsewhere for just the use of the venue!
Are you wondering what the catch is? A lot of couples worry that because our venues are all-inclusive that every wedding will end up looking exactly the same – sort of a wedding conveyor belt situation. However, because all our packages are so customizable, you have the freedom to pick and choose which services are right for you. In fact, it is quite rare that a couple chooses to leave a wedding package as-is, and removing a service is always an option too. You are more than welcome to use any of your own vendors (with the exception of catering and bar services), but you’ll get peace of mind knowing you don’t have to!
Everything Is Customizable
Did we catch your eye with all that talk of customizing your perfect wedding package? Well, it’s true! Every Wedgewood Weddings venue has its own set of fully customizable wedding packages. We make it easy on you to create an event that is unique to your tastes, and we’re honest and upfront about the pricing. We break down the process into three easy steps:
- Choose your venue:
We have everything from rustic barns to a beachside windmill! - Customize your package:
Choose from four levels that can be fully customized to fit your vision and budget. - Select a season and day of the week:
Due to the laws of supply and demand, our prices are greatly influenced by season and day of the week.
And because our venues are all-inclusive, most of your big decisions are super easy to make. You can choose from a list of our reliable vendors instead of running around town trying to find ones you can trust.
You can also choose how hands-on or -off you’d like to be. Some couples want to stay in the driver’s seat. They want to make every single decision and approve every last detail to ensure their wedding meets their vision and standards. However, others find they don’t have the time or desire to be that involved and are comfortable with letting someone else handle the details. We have nearly 40-years of experience so you can trust us to handle all the logistics with your best interests at heart.
You could even let some of your vendors get creative based on what is in season or on-trend. For example, you could ask your florist for their advice on in-season flowers and then let that dictate your color scheme. Then follow that scheme through as you choose the rest of your attire and decor.
However involved you want to be in the process, we have the wedding package for you. We will hold your hand every step of the way and answer all of your questions to help you sort out even the smallest of details, or we can hand you our proprietary wedding how-to guide and simply check in with you every few months.
Weddings Come in All Shapes and Sizes
The bottom line is that weddings are as expensive as you want them to be! Whether you want a quiet and small garden wedding or an expensive wedding that would give the Kardashians a run for their money, our team of experts can absolutely make it happen. What is most important is that you and your partner are happily married.
At Wedgewood Weddings, we want you to have the best, most stress-free wedding planning experience possible. Whether you need advice on how to cut wedding costs or are looking for features to splurge on, we’ll work within your budget to create the wedding you’ve always dreamed of. Call or text us today at 866.966.3009 to set up a free venue tour at your nearest Wedgewood Weddings venue whether it’s in Arizona or beyond!
Ready to Get Started?
Say hello to our friendly team and get no-obligation advice wherever you are on your wedding journey! Call or text 866.966.3009 today.
