Biggest Spending Regrets of Couples During Wedding Planning

November 23, 2020

Let’s be real, wedding planning can be a huge undertaking and some couples even think that a wedding is one of the biggest to pay for - only second to buying a house. Weddings can really cost a fortune - even when trying to save money in some aspects. And when you’re in the middle of your wedding planning phase, every decision can feel like a top priority. You will think that everything should be perfect for you and for your guests making it more difficult to find the aspects where you can save money on. Even if you intend your wedding to be low-cost, but only after the wedding will you realize which components were actually worth spending money on and which ones you would have cut back and saved money. According to cnbc, in 2019 the average cost of a wedding is $39,000.

When planning your wedding, avoid having a tunnel vision and think only about the day itself, but also think about what happens afterward. Most trends come and go so be sure to focus on what would really impact you on your special day and how would you’d like to remember your wedding day - this will help you rethink your wedding planning and which decisions should be put first and help you save money.

You spend so much time planning your wedding that you might forget that is only one day, and that goes by really fast. Some couples wish they had hired videographers to capture precious moments, speeches, their kiss, and their first dance. They want to see their dreams come to life in front of them and be able to relive it again and again. Some couples also regret spending too much on a wedding videographer. Therefore it is highly important in finding the right balance of quality and cost.

Here are what most couples regret spending their money on when planning their wedding.

An over the top expensive wedding dress

Some of you might disagree with this … you’ll only wear your dress once! Some brides will justify their overly expensive custom-made wedding dresses by thinking that they could wear it to other special occasions but in reality, those types of occasions are not that often. We understand that those tailor-made wedding dresses are great for photos and will make you feel amazing, but do not blow disproportionate amounts of money on it (3,4,5). If you talk to any bride about their wedding almost all of them will ever talk about the dress, most of them will talk about the speeches, the ceremony, the vows, the far-off guests who made it to the day, the entertainment, and the gifts. Buy or rent a gorgeous wedding dress but do not try to out-do yourself and spend too much (6,7). You will look gorgeous in any dress because every bride is the center of attention and the queen on her wedding day.

Overdoing table favors

Your tables will look absolutely fabulous up to the point when your guests sit down and eat. Your wedding photographers will take portraits of your tables because they know that they will only stay pretty for a few minutes and your guests won’t even remember (on care) how they looked. The most dashing wedding tables are actually the simplest.

Expensive wedding invitations

We cordially suggest that you do not waste too much money on intricate wedding invitations. Check out small-time and online designers and printers - expensive doesn’t always mean better. DIY wedding invitations are even better and a great solution if you are looking to save a lot of money.

The Bridal Car

You probably won’t want to go to your wedding in an Uber (which has been done before). But spending too much for a vintage car to take you to and fro the ceremony is not required either. As lovely as it sounds, it’s only transporting you from one point to another and you would only be in it for a few minutes (3,4). If your bridal preparations, ceremony, and reception are just in the same place you won’t even need a bridal car!

Flowers

We all know that flowers can be very expensive. And flowers are a vital decision for many because it can be an amazing tool to add color and life to the church or your ceremony venue, and reception - but again, it doesn’t mean that you have to spend at least a thousand dollars on them. Go simple and go elegant to cut back on your flower budget (3,4,5,6).

Cake

There is no doubt that you have seen amazing and gigantic professionally made wedding cakes in some weddings that you have attended. But it is never really the center of attention. We admit, wedding cakes do look good in photos but are rarely something you’ll give credit for an eventful day. A lot of couples regret spending too much on their wedding cake because most guests only ate a small amount as they were already full of food from the reception.

The number of bridesmaids and their dresses

Having too many bridesmaids is not ideal for a couple of reasons. Paying for their dresses is one of them. You wouldn’t want to look back and regret spending too much on their dresses. The fact of the matter is that everyone is staring at the bridal gown and not what the bridal party is wearing (4,5). You could buy something cheaper but is still of good quality and style. Because let’s be honest, your bridesmaids won’t wear them again anyway.

The Expensive (but not so worth it) Wedding Photographer

Maybe you hire a wedding photographer because they have high-ratings and reviews online and you’ve decided that he is the perfect one for the job - not even doing interviews. Instead, you should ask for newlywed couples that you know and ask them about their wedding photographer (2,5). Not discussing your vision and plans with your wedding photographers is a very big mistake and will be one of your biggest regrets. You want to make sure that you and your photographer are in sync with each other (6,7). Look and interview as many photographers as you can so that you can find the perfect one for you.

How to decide what is worth spending on

Prioritize

Even people with a seemingly unlimited budget do not buy everything they want for their wedding. Ask yourself if the thing you want to buy can have a dramatic effect on your wedding and your happiness or is something that is made from a snap judgment and can be crossed off your list? Spend on things that are personally meaningful to you and your partner, not on things that you think would please your guests and things that would look good in photos. This will help you achieve a genuine wedding with the people you love most. We aren’t asking you to be too frugal or restrict yourself - what we are saying is for you to find the right balance and focus on the things that are important.

Keep in mind the day’s purpose

Your guests won’t notice the details in your wedding too much, what they will notice is how happy you and your partner are. If you are having a good time then your guests will also have a good time. And regardless of any particular element, you will have a good time because you will be so happy that you are married - and that’s what’s really important.

According to a survey by a wedding company shows us what engaged and married couples value the most.

Top 10 Wedding Components that Engaged Couples Value the Most During Wedding Planning (2)

Venue

Photographer

Wedding dress and suit

Catering

Entertainment

Flowers and decor

After Party

Hair and Makeup

Wedding Officiant

Invitations

Top 10 Wedding Components that Made Weddings Truly Unforgettable (2)

Venue

Photographer

Entertainment

Wedding Dress and Suit

Flowers and Decor

Wedding Officiant

Catering

Wedding Planner

After Party

Wedding Cake

References:

Posted in Blog Articles, Wedding Planning Tips