WHAT DO WEDDINGS REALLY COST …
AND HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE ALL TOO COMMON STICKER SHOCK?
The cost of planning a wedding is higher than ever before! The Knot, one of the most trusted research bodies in the wedding industry, surveyed close to 16,000 American couples and found that the average cost of a wedding in 2015 was an all-time high of $32,641. (Say what???)
More worrying to me, is that 45% of couples exceeded their ideal budget. Does this mean that couples have unrealistic expectations of how far their dollar will go or are the wedding vendors using sneaky tactics to get you to spend more?
Well, to be honest, both statements have some truth to them.
Now, before you pass out, let me explain that the average cost is somewhat dependent upon the part of the world you get married in. For example, the cheapest place couples tied the knot was in Utah with an average wedding cost of $15,000 and the most expensive was not surprisingly in Manhattan with an average wedding cost of $82,299.
How do you even begin to budget for your own wedding?
Well, given that the number of guests fell from 149 in 2009 to 139 last year – the average cost per guest has actually risen over time. Let’s do a bit of simple math. If we divide the average cost of a wedding ($32,641) by the average number of guests (139), the average cost per guest is just under $235. This includes all of your expenses from wedding dresses and attire to ceremony and reception costs.
Simply put, if you are planning on inviting 100 guests to a wedding in a somewhat populated part of the world you can assume a wedding budget of $23,500 based on the Knot’s research.
So how can you stretch your wedding budget to get more of what you want on your wedding day for less?
Tomorrow I’m going to touch on some tips and strategies that will help you stretch your budget without sacrificing style.
More tomorrow,
~ Lori x
The topic of wedding centerpieces is a hot one with a huge number of online searches every month for cost effective ideas. I thought I’d join the conversation and provide you with some options for less than $30 – a fraction of the price of an average centerpiece.
The ideas I am providing are DIY ones. Labour charges could otherwise elevate the costs outside of the $30 range.
Choose a variety of glass vases or bottles in varying heights. You can collect all types of used containers to mix and match or you can find small items starting at $2. Don’t rule out dollar or thrift stores or even big box stores like IKEA.
Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3
Add single blooms or a just a few of the same type and you have a stylish inexpensive centerpiece.
Photo
Clear glass isn’t your only option, you can add coloured glass to achieve a slightly different mood or feel.
Clockwise from top left: Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Photo 4
Additional textural details like the cut or sawn logs in these photos adds dimension without a lot of cost.
Photo 1 | Photo 2
Milk glass or white vases that mimic the look are a very popular option.
Photo 1 | Photo 2
Silver containers add a vintage feel to your centerpieces. They can be found on eBay, at garage sales or thrift stores. Remember that the pieces do not need to be in perfect condition; in fact some distressing adds a more authentic feel.
Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3
Depending upon where you live, your costs will vary. If you are fortunate enough to live in or are planning to get married in Hawaii, your flower costs will be significantly lower than those areas in the middle of the country where everything has to be shipped in.
However, by using single large blooms, small groupings of blooms or even inexpensive berries or grasses you can create centerpieces that look more lavish than they really are. Use smart shopping tactics to source interesting inexpensive containers or bottles and you are well on your way to having centerpieces for less than $30 each.
Feel free to leave me a comment below.
Lori x
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Bridal bouquets are one of the few elements that are a part of almost every wedding regardless of the size of the budget. Considering that most bridal bouquets start at $150 and many cost around $250 – this is one area where you might want to look for alternatives without giving up style.
There are a number of ways you can do this and the first we’re going to explore is the single bloom option. Using one large bloom is cost effective and can be quite dramatic as shown in the following photo.
Peony Photo
Alternately, you can choose to hold a delicate small bouquet that packs a punch. Choose a fabulous holder like the silver “Tussy Mussy” or an unusual arrangement.
Tussy Mussy Photo | Lavender Bouquet
The next option is to use inexpensive flowers. It might be surprising just how good they can look. Tulips with extra long stems wrapped in ribbon during their growing season would be a great choice. Carnations, generally thought of as looking cheap, are actually lush when grouped tightly together as you can see!
Tulip Bouquet | Carnation Bouquet
If you are adverse to using flowers at all, then the non-flower options available are endless. Here are a few.
Cotton Bouquet | Yarn Bouquet | Wheat Bouquet | Fabric Bouquet | Pinecone Bouquet | Wheat and Pod Bouquet | Paper Bouquet
The benefit to using non-floral arrangements is that they can be created in advance without any last minute stress. You are only limited by your imagination!
Hope you liked these ideas!
Lori x
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