Understanding Wedding Costs
Photo by Elizabeth Mae Photography
It is no surprise that weddings can be expensive. Putting the word “wedding” in front of anything automatically makes the dollar signs spike. This can be a very frustrating concept for many people, especially those who do not work in the wedding industry. I believe this comes from a place of misunderstanding costs of wedding goods and services and a lack of good/helpful information out there.
There can be many reasons why the cost of goods/services are higher for wedding specific events. Services offered for weddings tend to come with higher expectations, more attention to detail and additional tasks which require a lot more time and effort and therefore drive the costs up. Weddings are a very important and special day in a couple’s lives and creating a memorable and unique experience takes a lot of time, planning, resources, staff, experience, etc. So, the cost of planning a wedding tends to be much higher than the cost of say, a corporate event.
Wedding Professionals have to work with a lot of precision and attention to detail to ensure they deliver exactly what the couple envisions. Your Vendors/Wedding Pros have to take into account your venue space (including layout, load in and load out spaces, rules and guidelines), the season you are getting married in, your guest list, your budget, your theme/vision, your food and music, and so much more. It’s not just a matter of showing up with some decorations and food and throwing things together. Your vendors spend months at a time putting together the details and logistics for your wedding to ensure a smooth and beautiful event that fits your unique style and vision.
Photo by Elizabeth Mae Photography
The wedding industry is also more of a seasonal business, with the bulk of events taking place in the Spring and Fall months of the year. This means that wedding vendors are working to make the bulk of their yearly funds during a short period of time and these funds need to be stretched throughout the rest of the year to keep them in business. This can also effect the costs of wedding goods and services, especially if your vendor is a wedding specific professional.
It is important for couples to communicate their budget and priorities to their vendors. If certain things are non-negotiable for you as a couple, let your vendors know that so that they can work within your needed parameters. For example, if you are looking for an elaborate floral display but your current budget only allows for so much, your florist or planner can help suggest ways to achieve the desired effect without breaking the bank.
It’s also important to remember that not all vendors charge the same and making sure you are looking for vendors who can provide you with good value and quality service, over cost, will help ensure you have the best wedding planning experience possible. Lowest cost doesn’t always mean best service or value and vice versa. Determining the value of a service means understanding what is being provided to you by your wedding professional (including their years of experience in their area of expertise, the amount of weddings they take on each year/month or day, their knowledge in the wedding industry, and so much more) but also the connection that you feel with each vendor. When you have a team of vendor who you connect with and fully trust with your wedding day, your experience throughout the planning process and on your wedding day will be so much better. It will allow you to really let yourself enjoy the day instead of worrying about the details.
Photo by Elizabeth Mae Photography
Pulling together someone’s special day is so much more than just random flowers, food, venue, cake, music, etc. It’s a day to celebrate your love for each other and share once in a lifetime moments with your friends and family. It’s about creating magic, bringing dreams to life and creating moments and experiences that are unique to each couple and each wedding day. So, when you’re attending or planning a wedding keep in mind all the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the scenes to bring it all together and the incredible professionals who make it all happen. We are in this business to help make your wedding dreams a reality.
Happy Planning,
Naticia <3
