When you’re planning on getting married, you can’t help but look at Pinterest, Instagram, and even TikTok for inspiration for your big day. There, you’ll see amazing pictures and videos of couples with fireworks, cigar bars, stunning floral installations, lounge furniture, and more. After all, it’s social media. You’re going to see things that are “Instagram worthy.”
What many of these images don’t have, though, is the price tag attached to them. Even if you source everything yourself (something I don’t recommend if you want a stress-free day), it can still add up. With that in mind, here are a few tips for having your dream day without getting caught up in the social media hype.
Keep Your Budget in Mind
The most important thing you can do is lay out a budget and keep it in mind for your wedding. The majority of your cost will be on food, service, and
An absolutely stunning styled shoot that occurred at the Wadsworth Mansion in 2014.
Photo by: JAG Studio
drinks, followed by the venue. You’ll then want to make sure to have a photographer, florist, and band or DJ for music. Then, you can think about budgeting for extras after that. It may be tempting to skimp on one of the other parts of your wedding. You may want to focus on extras, such as lounge furniture, décor, and lighting. However, you want to make sure you have the solid basics before focusing on these extras.
You should also keep in mind how much it costs to pull off some of the pictures you see online. While styled shoots are amazing for inspiration (we’ve had some absolutely stunning ones here at the mansion), pulling them off for all of your guests can be pricey. Always look into the price before committing to the idea you see in a photo or video.
Think of Guest Experience
This brings us to the second point: your guests’ experience. While dining outdoors may look stunning in photos, the reality of doing that may be difficult depending on the time of year. In the summer, you want to keep the heat in mind and if there is enough shade for your guests. During the early spring or autumn, you’ll need to worry about how chilly it will be and if it will be warm enough. Similarly, you’ll also want to think of a plan if it rains. Tents are an added cost, but definitely are something you’ll need if you’re planning for things to be largely outdoors.
Don’t Add Things for the Sake of Adding Them
Editorial Shoot planned by Kate Juboori Events Photo: Alisha Norden Photography
When you’re planning your wedding, extras should be something that you and your guests will enjoy. With that in mind, you shouldn’t add extras to your wedding just for the sake of adding them to have a photo with them. Instead, consider what you and your partner truly enjoy. After all, there’s no point in adding a cigar bar if only four of your guests enjoy cigars. Take a moment to decide what sort of things are important to have at your wedding and what everyone would like. When planning your wedding, you don’t want to have so many moving parts that you feel overwhelmed (and if you do have a lot of moving parts, you’ll definitely want to consider a planner).
The fact of the matter is that your wedding is meant to celebrate the union between you and the person you love. Don’t get caught up in the photos you see online, or even all of the extras you feel like you need to make your day special. Instead, focus on what matters: celebrating your big day with the ones that you love.
