Tis the season for spending loads of money! I felt this was a good time to write a post about something I’ve been wanting to write about for awhile. Ever since reading this book.
I vividly remember planning our wedding and the sticker shock of how much everything was costing. Even in a small town in MN, sh*t was expensive! I can only imagine planning a wedding now in Denver or the mountains.
I also feel though there HAS to be a middle ground. A place that you can have a gorgeous wedding that is all you and not take out a mortgage. It’s all a matter of perspective.
In the book Ramit talks about the difference of being frugal and cheap. And there is a difference! Frugal means you spend money on the things that REALLY matter to you. And the other things you forget about.
Cheap is just being cheap on everything. There is a time and place to spend money.
Which got me thinking. In the wedding world it seems like there’s a million and one people all asking for your hard earned money. You need to do this or that just to make people happy. And spend all this money just say I DO.
Craziness I say!
Weddings come in all shapes and sizes, just like each relationship is different. Ask yourselves these questions to find out EXACTLY what’s important to the two of you. And be frugal in your planning!
1. When the day is over, what would you regret NOT doing?
2. What is most important to you both.
(and get as specific as possible! Good photography is not specific)
You have to decide what’s important to you and where you feel good spending money. Is it in the location? The people that you invite? A killer band? Be honest with yourself here, your wedding should be about you, so start at the heart of it.
Being frugal and spending money on just a couple key things does NOT make you cheap or your wedding cheap. I can’t stress that enough, especially with a little creativity you can make a ‘low’ budget wedding look amazing! I’ve seen it done!
Ok so how do you really put this idea into an actual wedding budget?
Let’s say Bill and Suzy are getting married next summer. They are paying for everything themselves and they don’t want to burn their savings on a wedding. (this could really be me and the hubs renewing our vows!!)
They’ve decided that what really matters to them is, having just their very closest friends and family at the wedding. The people that know them inside and out. A location that is naturally beautiful without doing much of anything to. And a photographer that gets them. (like that shameless plug?)
Those are the areas they are willing to spend more then the average because the rest of it doesn’t matter when it comes down to it. Would I regret a cheesy location? Oh hell yea screams the architect in me! Would I regret to many people that I can’t hardly say hi to them for more then a second, YEP. Would I regret crap photos…no brainier.
All the other details become small once you say THIS is what’s important to me. You begin to find ways to cut costs in those other areas. Do things yourself or just not do them all together. And really that’s ok too.
And if by doing this exercise you find you want a big elaborate wedding made for Grace Ormande, but you don’t have the budget…then maybe you wait a year or two. Save up. At least you know what’s important and can plan for that.
My last thoughts. Wedding blogs and magazines showcase loads of ideas and all these details that are fabulous and enticing. But they are NOT necessary. Really I speak the truth. Your guests will not feel slighted because you decided not to do a menu card or favor. And if they are, they shouldn’t have come. Harsh but true.
Do what’s important to you and if keeping things at a respectable price range is important, then do it. This is your wedding. And you are the only one that will regret or not regret it at the end of the day.
xoxo – Rachael
And if you’re even considering contacting me for your wedding next year act quick. The complimentary engagement session ends Christmas!
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