Since we’ve been planning our wedding, we’ve decided to keep everything as easy on us as possible. The less headache, the happier we will be. That doesn’t mean that we don’t still want the day to be beautiful.
We’re working on a budget, and we’re paying for the wedding ourselves without any outside help. Originally, we were planning on having our wedding at a venue in a local park. They provided the building, we would provide everything else. It was really pretty, but more importantly, it was really, really cheap. $700+ cheaper than the next cheapest place we could find. And the next cheapest place wasn’t pretty at all.
Then we started planning. We were going to need chairs. Tables. A DJ. A caterer. Decorations like candles and table cloths and tulle. We were going to need a permit to play our music loudly. We were going to need a bartender and alcohol and a permit to even serve that.
So I looked up other places we could have our wedding. Because planning all of that sounded miserable to me. And adding the numbers up, it wasn’t as cheap as I was expecting.
Then we found it. The perfect place. A restaurant that has a room where they host weddings and parties. And it’s super pretty. And the fee to rent the room is minimal. Very minimal. And it includes tables and chairs and a sound system to hook up an iPod and table cloths and decorations and candles and everything. And they set it all up. The food and drink is expensive, which is why the room’s so cheap, but after doing the math we’ll actually be saving money by getting fancy food at the pretty, non-DIY venue than at the cabin in the park that would have needed an overhaul.
The moral of the story is don’t assume that because something is nicer it is inherently more expensive. Don’t assume that because you’ll be doing it all yourself that it will be inherently cheaper. Be a smart consumer and really take the time to compare your options. We’ll be less stressed and have our pockets left a tiny bit fuller after saying, “I do,” because that’s what we did.
If you’re attending a wedding and looking for an outfit, you can start your comparison shopping at Soulmates Dresses. You could win a $100 or $50 credit to the store using the Rafflecopter below! Thanks to Jessica from Mo’Money Mo’Houses for putting this all together! Best of luck everyone! Shop smart!
That’s great! We ended up going with a catering company who would come in and set up all the tables and chairs and tablecloths and whatno for both the wedding and reception. We initially were going to rent a truck and DIY, but like you said, when we ran the numbers it didn’t make sense.
Outsourcing and going with the easier (often nicer) option can be the right financial move, too.
All the best with your wedding plans!
It seems counter intuitive, doesn’t it? But it really was the cheaper option for us! And thank you!
Having to bring in everything on your own can add up fast. As you’ve found, sometimes a middle ground is the best value.
Absolutely. We’re not going all out (because, frankly, we can’t, and even if we could I couldn’t justify blowing enough for a downpayment on a house on what is essentially a party,) but it’s been a nice surprise that that middle ground is comparatively affordable.
Best of luck with planning the big day! The event goes by so fast, enjoy it!
Thank you! And I will definitely remember that!
This giveaway looks fantastic, but mainly I now really want to come to your wedding–this sounds awesome, and go you for pulling together something so fantastic!
Haha, thank you thank you. I need to start planning all those little things now. Not going to worry too much about minute details, though.
Patience is truly a virtue. Had you not had the patience to find the perfect place, what then? And you are wise to be practical about your wedding. Better start married life with sufficient funds because you will definitely be adjusting including the financial side.
Absolutely! I actually don’t see our finances changing that much other than a few government perks. We’re already living together. And then we had kids. And now we’re getting married. But I prefer to keep things in separate accounts while the lines of communication stay open. So not too much will be different.
Yay for finding a venue!! I completely agree about not assuming the price tag of a certain place – we assumed ours was going to be pricey, and it ended up being comparable to less aesthetically pleasing venues. Can’t wait to hear more about planning! 🙂
It’s so fun planning the same time as so many other writers! Comparing notes is great.
The place in the park is definitely adorable, but it sounds like you’re saving yourself a massive headache! We wanted to do more things for the wedding ourselves, but when push came to shove I’m glad we did it they way we did — the venue took care of everything, and I only had to worry about getting myself there and calming my nerves.
Are you going to incorporate any more DIY elements into the wedding, like favors or decorations?
That’s the same boat we’re finding ourselves in. We might do favors, and we’re having an iPod playlist be our DJ, but that’s pretty much it.
Is there a path to the building? I was thinking in case it rains, you don’t want to muddy up your dress. The location looks very beautiful. Are you having a spring or summer wedding?
This actually isn’t where we’re getting married. We were considering a place in the park, but the restaurant turned out to be more affordable. AND this is a stock photo. Haha. The place in the park we were considering did look pretty similar, though.