Budget Friendly Bride 101 | Wedding Venue

Choosing the right venue is critical when wanting to create a mood for your day. In the midst of planning, I was asked one very important question and it helped me to shape my idea of what I want for my wedding day. I was asked “If you could only spend your money on three things for your wedding day, what would they be?” Hands down, my answer, was number one the venue! I want my guest share in the experience that I want to create.

Step 1: What experience do you want to create?

For me it’s important my guests are able to see and feel the love when they walk into our venue. I want romance and a room filled with candles. It was also important that I had the option of choosing to have our ceremony outdoors and coming inside for the reception. If you read part one; you know I really wanted a beach wedding but that became more than I bargained for.

Step 2: Research and Visit Venues

I spent countless hours researching wedding venues in my area and getting quotes and taking tours. It’s important to see the venue in person.  A place can look amazing online but not be what you want once you arrive. Also, remember you have a lot of talented photographers that can make a place look great but in reality it’s just okay. Also read reviews! Although everyone won’t leave a good review it’s nice to know what other people think about a place. You’ll find helpful information.

For example, a former bride wrote that the bathrooms were small and the venue provided nowhere for bridal party to get dressed. Although I really liked the venue that was a deal breaker for me. I refused to pay for a 12-hour rental and would not have the space to get ready.

Be sure to look out for additional fees; some places require a security fee if you’re serving alcohol or additional fees for bringing in an outside caterer.

Friendly Tip: No matter the place you choose you will most likely need an all-day rental.

Step 3: Decide if the venue fits into your budget

Although this should probably be your first thought before viewing venues; some will offer all-inclusive packages that making saying yes to a venue worthwhile and budget-friendly. Know your budget and stick to it. I believe it’s important to have two numbers in mind. What you want to pay and what you’re willing to pay.

I hope you find these tips to be helpful in your wedding planning journey.

Good luck and happy planning!

Budget Friendly Bride 101 | Choosing Your Wedding Date

If you’ve stumbled upon this post, you are probably getting married, Yay! Congratulations! But let’s face it, what is the FIRST thing people love to ask once you announce your engagement, “When is the wedding?”. 

True Story: I did not choose my wedding date until 2 months after we were engaged. During the initial planning process the date changed several times. What we learned? Choose a date that you love and THEN also, pick a backup date!

Now, I HAVE to share what I’ve learned to help you choose your date and a cost effective one at that! Originally, I wanted a simple, beautiful seaside wedding and I assumed that for the time of year I wanted, it would be no big deal. WRONG!! I quickly learned that there are so many elements of a beach wedding (even on a low scale) that had NEVER crossed my mind! It became incredibly complicated and I backed away. I then realized that choosing the right time of year can save you A LOT of coins! 

Helpful Tip: If you’re considering a beach wedding, keep it small unless you have a designated space for your reception (i.e. hotel or offsite venue). Most beaches are open to the public and unfortunately, you cannot control your background as much as you would like. You may have to have a permit as well.

•••HERE•••

In our case, we thought it would be fun to turn our dating anniversary into our wedding date. Our dating anniversary is May 7 and May is prime time for weddings. To our surprise, we saw a huge up-charge on pricing and that simply was not in the budget. Our goal is to not be left with a tremendous amount of debt after the wedding so it was back to the drawing board! 

The Peak Season for wedding venues is generally April-June and September – October with of course some variations depending on where you live. Here in the south, we tend to favor more outdoor events and choose a wedding in late spring or early summer. However, if you are open to any date, consider choosing a date that is “off season”! You will quickly see that you will save at least $1,000 or more. You will also save big if you choose to do a weekday wedding.

It’s important to have more than one date. Wedding venues book quickly especially for peak season times.

We chose our date based on a few things:

1.     Time of year

2.     Important family obligations (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)

3.     Pricing

Don’t forget, you also have to consider how long you want to plan your wedding. The average couple spends an average of 15 months planning for their wedding. 

Having a beautiful wedding can be done efficiently and economically! 

I hope you find this helpful and I can’t wait to hear all about your big day!

Stay tuned for part two on how to choose your venue!!