Theres no getting around ita wedding can cost a lot of money.
Of course, not every possible addition to your partyhasto be included.
Your wedding should reflect what matters most to you and your partner.
Diane Keaton, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Kimberly Williams inFather of the Bride.
Its about celebrating your love and the things you hold dear, says wedding plannerJove Meyer.
If something isnt truly important, dont waste money on it.
Spend where it counts!
I advise my clients to identify their non-negotiables and their compromise categories.'
Opt for bite-sized desserts, an ice cream bar, cheese platter, or whatever you like instead."
See a few top planners not-so-favorite line items ahead.
Or, skip them entirely.
Your guests dont need a parting giftyou just hosted a whole celebration.
Thats more than enough!
When selecting wine, dont feel obligated to splurge.
Alright, hear me out: upgrading the wine is often a waste of money, says Meyer.
Theyre happy with the house wine and probably wont even realize theyre drinking something more expensive.
Cocktail Hour
A hot take from wedding plannerMichelle Norwood?
Cut out the cocktail hour.
It is honestly the biggest waste of money, she says.
She notes that only three couples to date have taken my advice.
And if you do have a cocktail hour, dont go overboard on this short part of the wedding.
This is not the place to drop $25k-plus on entertainment, says Norwood.
it’s possible for you to have great entertainment, but no need to spend much for one hour.
Background music is perfectly fine as there is typically no dancing during cocktail hour.
Meyers adds to limit thefood serviceduring this period.
You dont need to serve a full dinner at cocktail hour.
Upgrade your dinner, offer a late-night snack, but dont go overboard during cocktail hour.
Its a budget saver and guests will still be more than satisfied.
Avoid it and let guests decide what drink is right for them.
Signature Cocktails
Considering adding a special themed cocktail to your bar menu?
Maybe give that a second thought.
Offer a well-rounded drink menu that includes a variety of options for drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
Invitationsyes, day of paper no, she shares.
No one is touching it outside of the menu, so keep the paper and details simple.
Everything doesn’t have to be letter-pressed, embossed, and calligraphed.
The attendance is low, notes Norwood.
Have a blowout after-party instead.
