For smaller weddings, especially where brides are looking for a more bespoke experience, it’s important to know what you want from your big day and how much money you’re willing to spend.
First off, determine how many people you’ll need to fit your wedding party and if you have any friends or family members who you wish to include. While some couples prefer a small group of close friends and family, others consider this part of their budget and ensure they invite specific people. In addition to determining the number of guests you’ve invited, figure out how much you plan to spend on each person you invite. How expensive is your favourite cake recipe versus how much do you plan to pay for it? Consider all costs when planning your wedding including food, drinks, vendors and other expenses.
Think about your wedding day priorities.
Before you start talking to vendors, think about your budget and what matters most on your wedding day. That may include gifts for families or favourite pets or the opportunity to have photos of your dog entered into the album of your choice.
What services do you need?
Before you start shopping for your wedding day, think about what things really matter to you. And don’t just consider budget however small when choosing vendors. Every vendor has different skills and abilities, and some are more important than others. Be sure to hire a photographer who understands your family and can capture their faces! Book a professional hairdresser or someone who knows how to put together a colour palette. If you want a planner, then make sure they’re one of your friends or family members who know you well and love helping you with everything.
What items don’t you want to miss out on?
You may not need champagne flutes or an appetizer menu, but it’s important to choose what suits your wedding best. If money is tight, don’t wait on hot air balloons or petroglyphs! Get something that will allow you to enjoy your celebration and support local businesses.
How many guests can you handle?
That question is always at the top of your wedding budget list, but it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing situation. For smaller weddings, sure, booking live music or providing lots of food is expensive, but considering just how much money you need for vendors and what items you do want to get yourself that perfect ceremony style won’t break the bank.
What’s your budget?
We get it, budgets are tight and they always change but don’t worry about that when choosing a venue! A great way to determine if you can afford to rent a venue is to know what you want to spend and stick with only spending within your limits. For example, if you only have $400 to play with, why would you want to lease space from an expensive hotel? There are plenty of venues in Chicago, Illinois that will cost around £50/day or less and besides, if you want to save money, maybe you shouldn’t choose a restaurant cooking out next weekend for dinner.
What style of wedding do you want?
First off, decide what kind of wedding you want. You can choose between a casual outdoor festival-style wedding or a more formal white tie event. Both options have their perks, so take into consideration how much money you’ve budgeted for your ceremony and reception and if there are any venues or vendors that you definitely don’t want to spend the money on.
Hi, I’m Diven Laxman, a Birmingham wedding photographer that captures real moments from luxury weddings to mountainside elopements. Our shooting style combines Fine Art and Photojournalism into a look we call Artistic Visual Storytelling. Our style is unposed, fun-loving, creative and natural.
