When it comes to wedding planning, there's going to be a lot of expense involved. Even a shoestring-budget wedding can be costly, and you might find yourself forking out copious amounts of money to get the day of your dreams. However, weddings don't need to be overly expensive.
According to various sources, the average cost of a wedding in the US in 2024 was around $30,000. While this is a substantial sum, there are ways to significantly reduce this budget depending on the type of wedding you desire. However, there are certain areas that should not be compromised on. Let's explore these key areas and how to allocate your budget wisely.
Photography
Wedding photography is important, and this isn't one of the areas that needs to be streamlined. While you should research available photographers, you also need to try to find the best deal. Opting for a cheaper photographer to save money can lead to tears once the day is over and the shots are received, so if you are looking for areas to indulge in and allocate your limited budget to, direct them towards professional wedding photography services to help you cherish your day for many years to come. This is especially important if you are not having a standard wedding and you need expert elopement photography services to help you capture a unique venue or out-of-the-ordinary wedding location.Catering Service
Food is food, right? Not always, and there will be many talking points about your day, and the food served will be one of them. The quality of your catering choices will impact both the wedding party and your guests, and while you can choose any type of catering you wish, choosing the best service you can afford in your budget will go a long way. You don't need an extensive 7-course tasting menu, but you need high-quality food that caters to the theme of your day and the guests' preferences.Venue
Your wedding venue will play an important role in how the day pans out, and the last thing you want to do is scrape by on the cheapest venue you can find. Chances are, it won't give you the atmosphere you're looking for or even want. Look at venues within your budget, consider your options, i.e., decor and staging, and be careful about trimming the budget for this aspect of the wedding because it could end up being a massive mistake.Entertainment
You absolutely don't want to be that boring wedding, so you need to make sure the entertainment you bring on board is suitable for the type of wedding you want to engage all of your guests in. The exact type of entertainment should be based on your preferences, guests, and venue, as not all entertainment will be suitable for all weddings. But skimping on the budget for entertainment can backfire massively and leave you with a lackluster reception.While many aspects of wedding planning and small details can be compromised on or adapted to lower the budget, the big-ticket items, such as those mentioned in this post, should be afforded a healthy portion of your budget so that you can create the wedding day of your dreams.