Getting married doesn’t have to be expensive, but having a proper wedding is always costly. Finding the money to finance it can be difficult, too, which leads to cutting corners on the cost of the event itself. However, there are a few places where you need to be careful never to cut money. Sometimes, these are practical expenses that need to be covered, like food. Other times, they can be based more on aesthetics, like what type of decorations you use.
Here are a few places where you can’t cut corners when it comes to planning your wedding.
Wedding Flowers
The right wedding flowers can elevate your wedding to untold heights. They bring the venue together and make it more beautiful, going with the colors that you’ve chosen for your wedding. With that being said, flowers can be very expensive. They cost around $1,500 but generally range from $700 to $2,500. It can be tempting to cut costs here, but this would bring down your wedding as a whole without the proper flowers. You’ll need them for your wedding party and your reception, and you want pictures of your wedding to include beautiful bouquets. So, remember to consider that before you look to save money on flowers.
Lodging Accommodations for Older Family Members
Your family is all going to want to come to the wedding, including all of your older family members. Unfortunately, many older family members struggle with things like their mobility, and they may even need extra medical attention. After all, while 51% of older family members who need care live in their own home, 33% need to live with a caregiver or in a nursing home of some kind. So, when you’re choosing a hotel for everyone to stay at, you need to make sure that they can accommodate family members that need assistance of some kind.
The Wedding Photographer
You’re not going to have time to take photos yourself, and your wedding guests probably won’t get shots where the lighting is just right. Meanwhile, the night goes by so quickly that you will probably want help to remember it. That’s where the wedding photographer comes into play. Don’t skimp on a wedding photographer; hiring an excellent one will ensure that they take great photos to help you remember your wedding for years to come.
Transportation From the Reception to the Hotel
It’s important to remember that most weddings don’t happen right where everyone is going to sleep at night. They need to get from the venue to the hotel, and you’re responsible for everyone’s safety. In states like Texas, the maximum blood alcohol concentration that you can have before you’re considered to be drunk driving is .08%. Driving while drunk is incredibly dangerous and can impact not just your own life but other people’s lives as well. Weddings are often an occasion where alcohol is consumed. So, provide transportation to make sure everyone is safe throughout your special weekend.
Thank You Gifts
Many people like to think that a wedding is just about them, but there are a lot of people who put effort into making sure that a wedding goes well. Because of this, you’re going to need to thank them in some way. It’s traditional to get a gift for everyone in the wedding party a gift of some kind. This can get expensive quickly and is an expense that you really can’t afford to ignore. Beyond that, it’s important to make sure that you send thank you cards out to everyone who attended and for whatever they may have gotten you.
Your wedding should be one of the most fun nights of your life. So, make sure to go out and enjoy the night without worrying about the cost during the evening. Worry about that before you get there; just don’t forget the basic costs you need while you plan!