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Image via Mark Horton Photos
Oh, the challenging task of managing a wedding budget! Where does one begin, huh? Typically, the initial step for many couples is to search for the average cost of a wedding in the UK and acquire a wedding budget planner from a popular blog, hoping that it will comprehensively outline the costs for every aspect of their special day. The tool provides them with arbitrary figures to input into their spreadsheet, frequently overlooking crucial vendors such as a wedding planner, for instance!
However, as soon as the supplier quotes start coming in, they soon discover that NONE of the figures were anywhere near realistic. This blog post aims to dispel the top 5 myths about wedding budgets.
According to some of the large UK wedding blogs, about 45% of couples spend more than they originally budgeted. On average, they went over budget by £10,000, but others exceeded their budget by over £20,000 or even doubled it.
Let's debunk common myths about wedding budgets and reveal the actual cost of a wedding. If you're reading this, you may be curious about:
How much does a wedding cost?
How much should I spend on wedding photography?
How much does a wedding photographer cost?
How much does a wedding planner cost? (A whole blog on this one here.)
How much should I spend on a wedding venue?
Debunking Wedding Budget Myth #1: The belief that a magical wedding budget calculator can accurately determine the ideal expenditure for each vendor
Reality Check: Numerous variables come into play when determining the appropriate amount to allocate to each category in your budget. Therefore, a universal wedding budget calculator does not exist!
This can include:
Your priorities (Do you want to focus on flowers, entertainment, or food?)
Location (City versus country)
Number of guests
Region
Style of wedding (Will it be outdoors, intimate or large, dry hire or at a country estate, minimalistic or lavish?)
Wedding Budget Myth #2: The prices of all wedding vendors will align within a particular range
Reality Check: The cost of a vendor can fluctuate significantly due to various influencing factors, leading to a wide range of prices!
This can include:
Experience
Quality of work or products
Demand
Location and region
The specific package you book plus add-ons or upgrades
Wedding Budget Myth #3: Relying on the concept of an "Average Wedding" as a benchmark for planning your exceptional wedding may not be ideal
The Reality: Weddings portrayed on websites like Hitched often differ from those seen on blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram. It is widely known that individuals (and businesses) tend to highlight only the most exceptional moments on social media. They are unlikely to share images of events that are perceived as "average." After all, who plans a wedding envisioning it to be merely "average"? It's crucial to bear in mind that the weddings featured on social media and Pinterest often come with a higher price tag than usual. Many of these are styled photoshoots, with floral arrangements and designs that are far more lavish than what you would typically find at an "average" wedding!
Wedding Budget Myth #4: Purchasing supplies such as chargers or decorations at wholesale or at second-hand prices is a more cost-effective option than renting them
The Reality: Unless you have ample free time and genuinely enjoy photographing your items extensively for resale on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or eBay, this activity can be a significant time drain. Considering how hectic life can be, it's worth noting that even tasks as simple as ordering wedding photos can be challenging for some individuals. Thus, the prospect of investing additional time in selling used items may seem daunting. It involves uploading numerous photos of your decor online, in the hopes of attracting a local buyer who shares the same specific preferences in terms of colour scheme, font style, and guest count. Often, this approach may not yield substantial financial benefits. Instead, it could consume your time, occupy space with unused items, contribute to environmental waste, and ultimately prove unproductive.
Debunking Wedding Budget Myth #5: Opting for a "unique" or DIY venue such as a barn, field, or your parents' backyard does not necessarily result in cost savings
The Reality: These types of venues are far from cost-effective because they lack the essential amenities found in established venues. This includes a kitchen, restrooms, generators, lighting, PA systems, rigging, refrigeration, tables, chairs, tableware, glassware, linens, security, waitstaff, setup crew, outdoor structures, cleaning crew, and parking. The list is extensive. Essentially, you are creating a venue from the ground up! When considering such a venue in comparison to other wedding venues, you are not making a fair comparison. Therefore, ensure you factor in all the necessary elements, rather than just what you believe you need.
As an example, I have recently planned and coordinated an outdoor wedding at a couple's estate, incorporating a 'casual festival vibe' for 160 attendees, with the overall costs surpassing 100K!
So what should you actually expect to pay for some of your wedding costs?
FOOD & BEVERAGE:
When you go out to a “nice” meal, how much are you spending, including alcohol, tax, and tip? £80? £160? Now, at this restaurant, are you also paying for the linens, tables, chairs, china, and flatware too? Probably not. So think again if you think you’re going to spend less than £40 per person for dinner (like some budget calculators tell you). A more likely price is closer to £120-£200 depending on your menu, location, and service style.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Even though the “average” couple spends £1000-£2,400 on a photographer, you should expect to pay closer to £3,600-£6,400+ for a wedding photographer. It could be on the lower end if your wedding is in a smaller town and you’re not buying albums, and on the higher end or even double (or more!) if your wedding is in a metropolitan city or you’re travelling to a destination like Italy, France or further.
BANDS & DJs:
There’s a pretty wide range with these two. DJs can range from just over £800, to almost £6,000 or more for a “name” artist. Bands, depending on their level of experience, size, and location can start around £2,000, but most will be closer to £4,000 for a basic 5-piece band. This can easily escalate to £8,000 to £15,000 (or more) for a 10-piece band.
FLOWERS:
There are many places where you can have flowers at your wedding. But for simplicity’s sake, let’s break it down into the main cost drivers:
Wedding Ceremony Backdrop: Depending on the scale, intricacy, and design, this piece can start around £1,000 for an already constructed structure with flowers attached to it. If you want something more intricate or lush, expect to spend closer to twice or even quadruple this amount. Most of these pieces have to be constructed on-site on the day of your wedding, so you’re not only paying for the flowers, but also the labour to assemble it.
Bridal bouquet & bridesmaids bouquets: These can go from £80 for a smaller bridesmaids bouquet and up to £300 or more for a fuller bridal bouquet. And don’t forget the custom-dyed silk ribbon. That’s extra. Again, these take time to assemble, and the more bridesmaids you have, the more bouquets you’re going to need.
Centrepieces: There’s a huge range for these arrangements. Depending on how large and lush, they can range from £100 for more petite ones, to £280 or more. Multiply that times one per round table or times two to four per rectangle (space pending), that’s a minimum of £1,200 to £3,360 for 12 tables (100 people divided by 8 per table).
Conclusion:
Wedding budgeting can be tricky and unpredictable. If anyone tells you there’s a magical formula to predict how much your wedding will cost, they’re just telling you what you want to hear. Proper budgeting takes into consideration multiple factors like priorities, location, venue, and wedding style. That is why you shouldn't rely solely on wedding budget calculators you find on some wedding blogs! One way of being in control of your wedding budget is getting a pro on board who can guide you through everything. A good wedding planner will not only give you a realistic budget for your wedding, but will help you avoid costly mistakes, save you money and so much precious time. Use their expertise and experience to avoid stress and regret.
Find out if we are the right planner for you by booking a no-obligation discovery call today!
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